Spectrum of Respiratory Viruses Identified from SARS-CoV-2 Negative Specimens in Watansoppeng, a Bat City in Eastern Indonesia

Respiratory infections account for millions of hospital admissions worldwide. Understanding the etiology could aid management and preventive strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality. Bats are reported as one of the animal reservoirs for many emerging respiratory viruses. SARS-CoV-2 negative specimens from Wattansoppeng city, South Sulawesi, a natural habitat for Acerodon celebensis and Pteropus alecto fruit bats were analyzed to study the spectrum of respiratory viruses. Samples were screened for influenza virus, Enterovirus, Paramyxoviridae, Nipah virus, Coronaviridae, and Pneumoviridae. Of 210 specimens, 19 were positive for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)-A, RSV-B, human parainfluenza (HPIV)-1 virus, HPIV-2, human rhinovirus (HRV)-A, HRV-B, HRV-C, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), influenza A virus, and CV-A6. Influenza virus was of seasonal H3N2 subtype. The HMPVs were of genotype B1 and A2a, while one of the RSV-A was ON-1 genotype. The viruses mostly affected children with unknown severity. No novel viruses were observed in this study.