Evaluation of amplicon-based sequencing method for the European filovirus (Lloviu cuevavirus)
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Lloviu virus (Lloviu cuevavirus, LLOV) is the first filovirus discovered in Europe in Schreibers's Bent-winged bats (Miniopterus schreibersii) during a die-off event in 2002 in Spain. In this last 20 years increasing amount of data suggest a wider circulation of LLOV amongst Schreibers’s bats presumably across its whole geographic range. Characterization of LLOV virus at the genomic level is challenging because the limitation of sample quantity and quality. Targeted, amplicon-based next generation sequencing gives us the opportunity to gather valuable knowledge on the evolution and epidemiology of the virus and overcome these limitations.
The purpose of this study was to test the efficiency of the previously developed amplicon-based sequencing method for the bat-related European filovirus on several recently collected samples and sample types (bat flies and bat whole blood).