Genetically divergent filoviruses detected in Rousettus and Eonycteris spp. bats in China exhibited 61%-99% nt identity with reported filoviruses, based on partial replicase sequences, and they demonstrated lung tropism. Co-infection with 4 different filoviruses was found in 1 bat. These results demonstrate that fruit bats are key reservoirs of filoviruses.
Keywords: China; Eonycteris spp.; Filoviridae; Rousettus spp.; Yunnan Province; filoviruses; fruit bats; genetic diversity; lung tropism; natural reservoirs; reservoir; viruses; zoonoses.