New types of coronavirus found in Kyrgyzstan

Russian scientists have discovered new types of coronaviruses carried by bats in Kyrgyzstan.

Researchers at Tyumen Medical University are conducting scientific research in this field. According to experts, studying samples of bats living in Kyrgyzstan, in which new types of dangerous viruses were found, will be promising. Scientists will be able to understand the nature of the “Corona” virus that affected most of the countries of the world in 2020. Experts will also understand why bats specifically were carriers of this dangerous virus.

Interest in studying bats increased with the emergence of the “Covid-19” pandemic, which revealed how little we know about these mammals. Dr. said: Maria Orlova, Assistant Professor at the Department of Disaster Medicine at Tyumen University: Many surprises await us, and random discoveries indicate that bats are more strongly linked to the circulation of infection than previously thought. Scientists have made a number of discoveries, including the discovery of three new species of moths that live on bats. According to biologists, it could be a carrier of plague and other ancient diseases.

Dangerous parasites are widespread in the regions of Siberia and Mongolia. In addition, Maria Orlova continues to study parasites associated with reptiles, lizards and snakes.

Experts point out that the organisms that live on bats have not been fully studied. For example, there are morphological mites that do not resemble previously described insects and likely live in China, so in the future, employees of the Tyumen University of Medicine plan to cooperate with Chinese specialists to conduct a more detailed study of a new type of dangerous tick.

It is worth noting that Maria Orlova is the only specialist in Russia who studies parasites that live on bats.