Trafficked Malayan pangolins contain viral pathogens of humans

Pangolins are the most trafficked wild animal in the world. To investigate their viromes, the authors sequenced meta-transcriptomes from 161 smuggled Malayan pangolins and assembled 28 vertebrate-associated viruses, 21 previously unreported in vertebrates. Sixteen viruses in the Hunnivirus, Pestivirus and Copiparvovirus genera were designated pangolin-associated, with all pangolin hunniviruses lacking the L-protein. Sequences of four human-associated viruses—respiratory syncytial virus (Orthopneumovirus), Rotavirus A and Mammalian orthoreovirus—were detected, alongside five mammal-associated and three tick-associated viruses. An HKU4-related coronavirus, originally found in bats, was identified. These findings indicate that trafficked pangolins may be reservoirs or conduits for emergent pathogenic viruses.