A new tentative lyssavirus, Lleida bat lyssavirus, was found in a bent-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) in Spain. It does not belong to phylogroups I or II, and it seems to be more closely related to the West Causasian bat virus, and especially to the Ikoma lyssavirus.

In 2018, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 12 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.

Extensive surveillance in bat populations in response to recent emerging diseases has revealed that this group of mammals acts as a reservoir for a large range of viruses. However, the oldest known association between a zoonotic virus and a bat is that between rabies virus and the vampire bat. Vampire bats are only found in Latin America and their unique method of obtaining nutrition, blood-feeding or haematophagy, has only evolved in the New World. The adaptations that enable blood-feeding also make the vampire bat highly effective at transmitting rabies virus. Whether the virus was present in pre-Columbian America or was introduced is much disputed, however, the introduction of Old World livestock and associated landscape modification, which continues to the present day, has enabled vampire bat populations to increase. This in turn has provided the conditions for rabies re-emergence to threaten both livestock and human populations as vampire bats target large mammals. This review considers the ecology of the vampire bat that make it such an efficient vector for rabies, the current status of vampire-transmitted rabies and the future prospects for spread by this virus and its control.

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are widespread pathogens. However, the extent of PV infections in bats remains largely unknown. This work represents the first comprehensive study of PVs in Iberian bats. We identified four novel PVs in the mucosa of free-ranging Eptesicus serotinus (EserPV1, EserPV2, and EserPV3) and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (RferPV1) individuals and analyzed their phylogenetic relationships within the viral family. We further assessed their prevalence in different populations of E. serotinus and its close relative E. isabellinus. Although it is frequent to read that PVs co-evolve with their host, that PVs are highly species-specific, and that PVs do not usually recombine, our results suggest otherwise. First, strict virus–host co-evolution is rejected by the existence of five, distantly related bat PV lineages and by the lack of congruence between bats and bat PVs phylogenies. Second, the ability of EserPV2 and EserPV3 to infect two different bat species (E. serotinus and E. isabellinus) argues against strict host specificity. Finally, the description of a second noncoding region in the RferPV1 genome reinforces the view of an increased susceptibility to recombination in the E2-L2 genomic region. These findings prompt the question of whether the prevailing paradigms regarding PVs evolution should be reconsidered.

Alphaviral equine encephalomyelitis is a mosquito-borne infection that causes severe neurological disease and fatalities in horses and humans in the Americas. Consequently, the equine alphaviruses (Eastern, Western and Venezuelan) are of considerable concern worldwide and are notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health. In addition, these diseases are considered a potent potential biological weapon, emphasising the need to develop an effective vaccine. Alphaviral equine encephalomyelitis is caused by Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEEV), Western equine encephalomyelitis virus (WEEV) or Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEEV), which are related members of the Alphavirus genus in the Togaviridae family. Although related, the three viruses are genetically and antigenically distinct. The disease is characterised by fever, anorexia, depression and clinical signs of encephalomyelitis, and may be fatal in up to 90% of cases, for both humans and horses, particularly in the case of EEE. Surviving horses develop lifelong immunity but may have permanent neuropathology. The aim of this paper is to analyse the scientific information available on the evolution of EEE, WEE and VEE, and any potential vaccines. La encefalomielitis equina por alfavirus es una infección transmitida por mosquitos presente en el continente americano que causa una grave enfermedad neurológica, a veces mortal, en el caballo y el ser humano. De ahí que los alfavirus equinos (del Este, del Oeste y venezolano) susciten considerable preocupación en todo el mundo y sean de declaración obligatoria a la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal. Además, se considera que estas enfermedades pueden constituir una potente arma biológica, lo que hace aún más necesario dar con una vacuna eficaz. Los agentes etiológicos de la encefalomielitis equina alfavírica son el virus de la encefalomielitis equina del Este (VEEE), el virus de la encefalomielitis equina del Oeste (VEEO) y el virus de la encefalomielitis equina venezolana (VEEV), que son miembros emparentados del género Alphavirus, familia Togaviridae, pero difieren en sus propiedades genéticas y antigénicas. La enfermedad, que se caracteriza por la presencia de fiebre, anorexia, depresión y signos clínicos de encefalomielitis, puede ser mortal en hasta el 90% de los casos, tanto en humanos como en caballos, sobre todo en el caso de la EEE. Los caballos que sobreviven adquieren inmunidad vitalicia, pero a veces subsiste una neuropatología crónica. Los autores analizan la información científica existente sobre la evolución de la EEE, la EEO y la EEV y sobre posibles vacunas. Les encéphalomyélites équines dues à des alphavirus sont des infections transmises par les moustiques qui induisent une grave maladie neurologique ainsi que des cas de mortalité chez le cheval et l’être humain dans les Amériques. Les alphavirus équins (de l’Est, de l’Ouest et vénézuélien) font donc l’objet d’une très grande attention au niveau mondial et leur détection doit être notifiée à l’Organisation mondiale de la santé animale. En outre, le risque que ces maladies soient utilisées en tant qu’armes biologiques est important, ce qui accentue l’impératif de développer un vaccin efficace. Les agents responsables de ces maladies sont respectivement les virus de l’encéphalomyélite équine de l’Est (EEEV), de l’Ouest (WEEV) et vénézuélienne (VEEV), trois membres apparentés du genre Alphavirus appartenant à la famille des Togaviridae, mais néanmoins distincts aux plans génétique et antigénique. La maladie se manifeste par une fièvre, une anorexie, un abattement et les signes cliniques de l’encéphalomyélite ; l’issue est fatale dans 90 % des cas aussi bien chez l’homme que chez le cheval, en particulier dans les cas d’encéphalomyélite équine de l’Est. Les chevaux qui survivent à l’infection développent une immunité pour le restant de leur vie mais peuvent toutefois présenter des troubles neurologiques permanents. Les auteurs analysent l’information scientifique disponible sur l’évolution de ces maladies à alphavirus ainsi que sur les perspectives de développement de vaccins.

We detected Bartonella in 11 of 109 insectivorous bats from France and 1 of 26 bats from Spain. These genetic variants are closely related to bat-associated Bartonella described in Finland and the United Kingdom and to B. mayotimonensis, the agent of a human endocarditis case in the United States.