Pteropine Orthoreovirus in an Angolan Soft-Furred Fruit Bat () in Uganda Dramatically Expands the Global Distribution of an Emerging Bat-Borne Respiratory Virus.

Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV; : ) is an emerging bat-borne zoonotic virus that causes influenza-like illness (ILI). PRV has thus far been found only in Australia and Asia, where diverse old-world fruit bats () serve as hosts. In this study, we report the discovery of PRV in Africa, in an Angolan soft-furred fruit bat () from Bundibugyo District, Uganda. Metagenomic characterization of a rectal swab yielded 10 dsRNA genome segments, revealing this virus to cluster within the known diversity of PRV variants detected in bats and humans in Southeast Asia. Phylogeographic analyses revealed a correlation between geographic distance and genetic divergence of PRVs globally, which suggests a geographic continuum of PRV diversity spanning Southeast Asia to sub-Saharan Africa. The discovery of PRV in an African bat dramatically expands the geographic range of this zoonotic virus and warrants further surveillance for PRVs outside of Southeast Asia.