European distribution and intramuscular pathogenicity of divergent lyssaviruses West Caucasian bat virus and Lleida bat lyssavirus

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111738
• Publication Date: 2025-01-02T08:11:23Z
• Authors: Stefania Leopardi; Laurent Dacheux; Jordi Serra-Cobo; Ágota Ábrahám; Branka Bajić; Hervé Bourhy; Szilárd-Lehel Bücs; Ivana Budinski; Martina Castellan; Petra Drzewniokova; Heliana Dundarova; Francesca Festa; Lauriane Kergoat; Maxime Leuchtmann; Marc López-Roig; Dominique Pontier; Maria Francesca P...; Emmanuelle Robardet; Dino Scaravelli; Barbara Zecchin; Zsófia Lanszki; Tamás Görföl; Gábor Kemenesi; Paola De Benedictis
• Keywords: Lyssavirus

Among lyssaviruses, West Caucasian bat virus (WCBV) and Lleida lyssavirus (LLEBV) raise concern as their divergence from rabies leads to the inefficacy of available prophylactic agents. Both viruses were described in Miniopterus schreibersii. We investigated European distribution WCBV LLEBV by screening sera schreibersii across eight countries, finding widespread serological evidence positivity up 70%. evaluated intramuscular lethality wild type isolates Syrian hamsters. induced 100% a clinical disease compatible with furious rabies. All animals infected remained healthy for 40 days, despite one individual testing positive brain. confirmed LLEBV's a-pathogenicity using mice. Infected hamsters developed antibodies day seven, regardless outcome. This study highlights circulation Europe suggests differences neuro-invasiveness and/or pathogenesis that are crucial risk assessment.