Bat guano fertilizer as a source of Betacoronavirus: First molecular evidence linking Rhinolophus coelophyllus to viral reservoirs in Thailand
Issued Date
2026-03-01
Resource Type
eISSN
19326203
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105032776055
Journal Title
Plos One
Volume
21
Issue
3 March
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Plos One Vol.21 No.3 March (2026)
Suggested Citation
Suwannasing R., Kimprasit T. Bat guano fertilizer as a source of Betacoronavirus: First molecular evidence linking Rhinolophus coelophyllus to viral reservoirs in Thailand. Plos One Vol.21 No.3 March (2026). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0344265 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/115795
Title
Bat guano fertilizer as a source of Betacoronavirus: First molecular evidence linking Rhinolophus coelophyllus to viral reservoirs in Thailand
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Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Commercial bat guano fertilizers distributed in Thailand were screened for the presence of coronavirus genomes to assess potential public health risks. A total of 41 samples were analyzed for Alphacoronavirus (AlphaCoV) and Betacoronavirus (BetaCoV) using partial Spike (S) gene sequences. Two samples (4.88%) tested positive for AlphaCoV, showing 97.08–99.27% sequence similarity, while one sample (2.44%) was positive for BetaCoV with 98.91% similarity. Due to the greater relevance of BetaCoVs to human health, the BetaCoV-positive sample underwent host identification via partial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene analysis and next-generation sequencing. The results revealed Rhinolophus coelophyllus as the likely natural reservoir. This study provides the first evidence of bat-derived BetaCoV genome in a commercial fertilizer in Thailand and highlights the importance of monitoring wildlife-derived products for emerging zoonotic viruses.