Paramyxoviruses in Bats in Poland—The First Detection

Bats are hosts to many diseases that emerge in humans and livestock. Knowledge about the diversity and circulation of paramyxoviruses in European bat populations, despite their recognized importance, remains limited. Here, we present data on the first detection of paramyxoviruses in Poland in the new bat species of Cnephaeus serotinus and Cnephaeus nilsonii, which have never been previously recognized as paramyxovirus hosts, as well as in Myotis daubentonii and two unknown bat species. Viral RNA was detected in fecal and intestinal samples using the semi-nested RT-PCR protocol followed by Sanger sequencing. A widespread comprehensive phylogenetic study supported by haplotype network analyses of 376 nt sequences of paramyxoviruses detected in bats worldwide revealed that paramyxoviruses are closely related to the host and strongly correlate to the area of origin.