Can bats transmit the novel corona virus? In Mittelbaden, the small mammals live under many roofs on the edge of the Black Forest. Reports of Asian bats have caused concern over the past few weeks. But experts see no danger with regard to their German relatives.
Bats usually appear threatening in vampire films. In the context of the corona pandemic, the only mammals that can fly are becoming the focus of interest for scientists and laypeople. In media reports, bat caves were even referred to as the source of deadly viruses.
Bats live on the top floors of many old houses in the foothills of the Black Forest, all of which are strictly protected. Can these transmit the novel corona virus? To anticipate: Nobody has to fear for their health.
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Martin Straube is a veterinarian at the Ortenaukreis district office. The veterinarian, who has a doctorate, knows his way around and published a book in 2015 entitled “False Vampires and Flying Dogs – The Mysterious World of Bats”.
Lots of viruses discovered
His expertise is so great that his colleagues at the Rastatt district office call him when they are dealing with bats. “In any case, there is no special expertise in our house in this regard,” admits the Rastatt press spokeswoman Gisela Merklinger and refers to Offenburg.
According to the expert, with 1,400 species, bats are the second largest order of mammals and have been disproportionately researched virologically in recent decades. It is therefore not surprising to Straube that many viruses have been discovered in them. However, each bat species does not in itself harbor more viruses than other (wild) animals.
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Corona viruses cause diarrhea in calves
“Corona viruses are widespread in the animal kingdom, including cats, for example,” says Straube. “They can cause diarrhea in calves.” However, these corona viruses have nothing to do with the novel corona virus, which experts call SARS-CoV-2. Corona viruses form a large family. Representatives of these corona viruses have also been detected in European bats. “But these are not related to SARS-CoV-2,” Straube emphasizes.
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According to the expert, viruses and their hosts, whether they are animals or humans, have had a long history together. “Virus and host adapt to each other so that they do not interfere with each other,” says Straube. “This is the ideal condition.” It is counterproductive for the virus to harm the host’s health or even kill it.
However, the transition from a new virus to humans or animals is critical. “If a virus makes the transition to a living being whose immune system is not adapted, serious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2 can result.”
It all started with the Asian horseshoe bat
Martin Straube reports that a virus similar to SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in an Asian horseshoe bat. Apparently, this bat species and the virus had been living together for a long time. “It is not known that the Asian horseshoe bat gets sick from it,” says Straube. “The direct transfer of this virus to humans is practically impossible due to the different surface structures of the cells. These viruses cannot penetrate human cells. “
The forerunner of SARS-CoV-2 did not just jump over from the Asian horseshoe bat to another animal at least two decades ago. It has changed in this animal and was finally able to make the transition to humans.
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Huge stress for exotic animals in animal markets
The veterinarian considers the markets with exotic animals in China to be quite dangerous. “Extremely stressed animals sit together in a confined space that would never have met in nature. Conditions that make the transition of viruses easier. Today we humans penetrate into the last natural spaces. This is also our first contact with one or the other pathogen. “
Our bats pose no danger
Martin Klatt, biologist and speaker for species and biotope protection in Nabu
The bats in Mittelbaden pose no risk to humans. “They have been living with us for a long time without playing a role as disease carriers,” explains Straube.
More than 20 bat species in Germany
“Our bats pose no danger,” emphasizes Martin Klatt. The biologist from Bühl is a consultant for species and biotope protection at Nabu. In total, more than 20 bat species live in Germany. For example, 15 species of bats were found in the species protection report for the east link of the Baden Airpark in Rheinmünster.
“The pipistrelle is the smallest and most common species that is native to us,” reports Klatt. “It weighs only three and a half to eight grams and can be stored behind every shutter.” The largest species in Germany and in Central Baden is the large mouse ear, which reaches the wingspan of a blackbird.
Klatt makes a distinction between bats that at least temporarily live in buildings reported by people, and bats that only live in the wild. This includes the Bechstein bat, which is a typical forest dweller. The gray long-eared ear that was discovered in the mother house of the Neusatzeck monastery, on the other hand, relocates to its nursery for raising the young in the roof structure of buildings.
“Not only all bat species are strictly protected by European law,” emphasizes Klatt. “The same applies to their quarters.”
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Klatt warns of speculation
Klatt is happy that speculation about bats and corona has not worried people in the region too much in recent weeks. “I was neither called on this matter nor personally addressed,” he says.
“Fortunately, people are reasonable. It is simply absurd to compare Chinese bats with our native species. ”
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