Bats host noteworthy viral pathogens, including coronaviruses, astroviruses, and adenoviruses. Knowledge on the ecology of reservoir-borne viruses is critical for preventive approaches against zoonotic epidemics. We studied a maternity colony of Myotis myotis bats in the attic of a private house in a suburban neighborhood in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, during 2008, 2009, and 2010. One coronavirus, 6 astroviruses, and 1 novel adenovirus were identifi ed and monitored quantitatively. Strong and specifi c amplifi cation of RNA viruses, but not of DNA viruses, occurred during colony formation and after parturition. The breeding success of the colony was signifi cantly better in 2010 than in 2008, in spite of stronger amplifi cation of coronaviruses and astroviruses in 2010, suggesting that these viruses had little pathogenic in. uence on bats. However, the general correlation of virus and bat population dynamics suggests that bats control infections similar to other mammals and that they may well experience epidemics of viruses under certain circumstances
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