Volume 14, Number 6—June 2008 Coronavirus Antibodies in Bat
Biologists To the Editor: Severe acute respiratory
syndrome–associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a new coronavirus
that caused an epidemic of 8,096 cases of SARS and 774 deaths
during 2002–2003 (1). Attempts are ongoing to identify the
natural reservoir of SARS-CoV. Several horseshoe bat species
(Rhinolopus spp.) from Asia (2,3) and a sample of bats from
Africa (4) have been found to be infected by and potential
reservoirs for various SARS-like CoVs and various CoVs that are
not SARS-like (2–4). However, transmission of bat SARS-CoV from
bats to humans has not been reported. During October 2005, we
looked for serologic evidence of infection among bat biologists
attending an international meeting in the United States. After
giving informed consent, volunteer biologists completed an
anonymous survey and provided 10 mL of blood. Serum samples were
tested at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
for antibodies against inactivated human SAR