Initially the assembled sequence of the L segment was interrupted by 35 gaps. To extend the ISKV PbGER L segment, primer walking was utilized. Individual bats were tested back for ISKV PbGER with newly designed specific primers and confirmed by conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing in tissues of nine individual bats. The virus was named Issyk-Kul virus strain PbGER (ISKV PbGER) after the origin of the bats in Prackenbach, Germany. The identified virus sequences shared the highest identity with the strain Issyk-Kul virus KR709221 and were confirmed by sequence assembly and comparison to Issyk-Kul virus reference strain KR709221. The total read number after sequencing was 9,806,241 reads of which 7970 were specifically mapping to Issyk-Kul virus (ISKV), a member of the genus Orthonairoviridae. Organ tissue homogenates from 12 bats ( Eptesicus nilssonii) showing histopathological alterations were pooled and purified using the TUViD-VM protocol and subjected to virome sequencing 13. However, in this manuscript we describe the further characterization of a novel Issyk-Kul virus strain PbGER (ISKV PbGER), from German bats by virome sequencing by annotation and phylogeny. In a comprehensive study the virome of European bats in nine pools was sequenced and, besides three novel nairoviruses, numerous viruses were identified 12. Another bat orthonairovirus, identified by metagenomics, originates from fecal samples of Molossus molossus bats from French Guiana 11. Phylogenetically, Ahun nairovirus appears as a new clade, distinct from other orthonairoviruses 10. A bat nairovirus, Ahun nairovirus, has been detected in lung tissues of one Pipistrellus pipistrellus and one Myotis mystacinus 9, 10. Orthonairoviruses are often transmitted by ticks, although the vertebrate reservoir host of the viruses remains unknown the virus has not been found in wild ruminants or other animals in enzootic areas. NSDV and other members of the genus, like Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, Dugbe virus and Ganjam virus, are highly pathogenic to animals and humans 8. Within the order Bunyavirales, the family Nairoviridae contains the genus Orthonairovirus, named after the Nairobi sheep disease orthonairovirus (NSDV) species 7.
bunyaviruses) that may also have the ability to cause severe disease in humans. Subsequently, bats are increasingly being recognized as potential reservoir host of other viruses (i.e. Numerous studies have been focusing on the identification of other highly pathogenic viruses possibly transmitted by bats, and a plethora of novel viruses was described 6. Bats have been identified as reservoir hosts of several highly pathogenic viruses such as Hendra virus, Nipah virus and SARS virus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.