Rademan, RochelleGeldenhuys, MarikeMarkotter, Wanda2023-10-172023-10-172023-02-23Rademan, R., Geldenhuys, M. & Markotter, W. Detection and Characterization of an H9N2 Influenza A Virus in the Egyptian Rousette Bat in Limpopo, South Africa. Viruses 2023, 15, 498. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020498.1999-4915 (online)10.3390/v15020498http://hdl.handle.net/2263/92949DATA AVAILABILITY: Data presented in this study is openly available at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (accessed on 11 January 2023).In recent years, bats have been shown to host various novel bat-specific influenza viruses, including H17N10 and H18N11 in the Americas and the H9N2 subtype from Africa. Rousettus aegyptiacus (Egyptian Rousette bat) is recognized as a host species for diverse viral agents. This study focused on the molecular surveillance of a maternal colony in Limpopo, South Africa, between 2017–2018. A pan-influenza hemi-nested RT-PCR assay targeting the PB1 gene was established, and influenza A virus RNA was identified from one fecal sample out of 860 samples. Genome segments were recovered using segment-specific amplification combined with standard Sanger sequencing and Illumina unbiased sequencing. The identified influenza A virus was closely related to the H9N2 batinfluenza virus, confirming the circulation of this subtype among Egyptian fruit bat populations in Southern Africa. This bat H9N2 subtype contained amino acid residues associated with transmission and virulence in either mammalian or avian hosts, though it will likely require additional adaptations before spillover.en© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).SurveillanceH9N2Influenza A viruses (IAVs)Egyptian rousette bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)South Africa (SA)SDG-03: Good health and well-beingArticle