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Suu-Ire R, Obodai E, Bel-Nono SO, Ampofo WK, Mazet JAK, Goldstein T, Johnson CK, Smith B, Boaatema L, Asigbee TW, Awuni J, Opoku E, Kelly TR. Surveillance for potentially zoonotic viruses in rodent and bat populations and behavioral risk in an agricultural settlement in Ghana. One Health Outlook 2022; 4:6. [PMID: 35256013 PMCID: PMC8901269 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-022-00061-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Ghana, the conversion of land to agriculture, especially across the vegetative belt has resulted in fragmented forest landscapes with increased interactions among humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. METHODS We investigated viruses in bats and rodents, key reservoir hosts for zoonotic viral pathogens, in a small agricultural community in the vegetation belt of Ghana. We also administered questionnaires among the local community members to learn more about people's awareness and perceptions of zoonotic disease risks and the environmental factors and types of activities in which they engage that might influence pathogen transmission from wildlife. RESULTS Our study detected the RNA from paramyxoviruses and coronaviruses in rodents and bats, including sequences from novel viruses with unknown zoonotic potential. Samples collected from Epomophorus gambianus bats were significantly more likely to be positive for coronavirus RNA during the rainy season, when higher numbers of young susceptible individuals are present in the population. Almost all community members who responded to the questionnaire reported contact with wildlife, especially bats, rodents, and non-human primates in and around their homes and in the agricultural fields. Over half of the respondents were not aware or did not perceive any zoonotic disease risks associated with close contact with animals, such as harvesting and processing animals for food. To address gaps in awareness and mitigation strategies for pathogen transmission risks, we organized community education campaigns using risk reduction and outreach tools focused around living safely with bats and rodents. CONCLUSIONS These findings expand our knowledge of the viruses circulating in bats and rodents in Ghana and of the beliefs, perceptions, and practices that put community members at risk of zoonotic virus spillover through direct and indirect contact with bats and rodents. This study also highlights the importance of community engagement in research and interventions focused on mitigating risk and living safely with wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Suu-Ire
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Evangeline Obodai
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Samuel Otis Bel-Nono
- One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, Davis, CA, USA
- Military Veterinarian (Rtd), P.O. Box CT2585, Accra, Ghana
| | - William Kwabena Ampofo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jonna A K Mazet
- One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tracey Goldstein
- Zoological Pathology Program, c/o Chicago Zoological Society, 3300 Golf Rd., Brookfield, IL, 60513, USA
| | - Christine Kreuder Johnson
- One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brett Smith
- One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Linda Boaatema
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Joseph Awuni
- Accra Veterinary Laboratory, Veterinary Services Directorate, Ring Road East, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eric Opoku
- Ghana Health Service, 28th February Road, Accra, Ghana
| | - Terra R Kelly
- One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, Davis, CA, USA.
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2
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Begeman L, Suu-Ire R, Banyard AC, Drosten C, Eggerbauer E, Freuling CM, Gibson L, Goharriz H, Horton DL, Jennings D, Marston DA, Ntiamoa-Baidu Y, Riesle Sbarbaro S, Selden D, Wise EL, Kuiken T, Fooks AR, Müller T, Wood JLN, Cunningham AA. Experimental Lagos bat virus infection in straw-colored fruit bats: A suitable model for bat rabies in a natural reservoir species. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008898. [PMID: 33320860 PMCID: PMC7771871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a fatal neurologic disease caused by lyssavirus infection. Bats are important natural reservoir hosts of various lyssaviruses that can be transmitted to people. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of rabies in bats are poorly understood, making it difficult to prevent zoonotic transmission. To further our understanding of lyssavirus pathogenesis in a natural bat host, an experimental model using straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) and Lagos bat virus, an endemic lyssavirus in this species, was developed. To determine the lowest viral dose resulting in 100% productive infection, bats in five groups (four bats per group) were inoculated intramuscularly with one of five doses, ranging from 100.1 to 104.1 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50). More bats died due to the development of rabies after the middle dose (102.1 TCID50, 4/4 bats) than after lower (101.1, 2/4; 101.1, 2/4) or higher (103.1, 2/4; 104.1, 2/4) doses of virus. In the two highest dose groups, 4/8 bats developed rabies. Of those bats that remained healthy 3/4 bats seroconverted, suggesting that high antigen loads can trigger a strong immune response that abrogates a productive infection. In contrast, in the two lowest dose groups, 3/8 bats developed rabies, 1/8 remained healthy and seroconverted and 4/8 bats remained healthy and did not seroconvert, suggesting these doses are too low to reliably induce infection. The main lesion in all clinically affected bats was meningoencephalitis associated with lyssavirus-positive neurons. Lyssavirus antigen was detected in tongue epithelium (5/11 infected bats) rather than in salivary gland epithelium (0/11), suggesting viral excretion via the tongue. Thus, intramuscular inoculation of 102.1 TCID50 of Lagos bat virus into straw-colored fruit bats is a suitable model for lyssavirus associated bat rabies in a natural reservoir host, and can help with the investigation of lyssavirus infection dynamics in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lineke Begeman
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (LB); (AAC)
| | - Richard Suu-Ire
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley C. Banyard
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Eggerbauer
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Island of Riems, Germany
- Thüringer Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz, Bad Langensalza, Thüringen, Germany
| | - Conrad M. Freuling
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Island of Riems, Germany
| | - Louise Gibson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hooman Goharriz
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel L. Horton
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Daisy Jennings
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Denise A. Marston
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu
- Centre for African Wetlands / Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Silke Riesle Sbarbaro
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David Selden
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L. Wise
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Thijs Kuiken
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Island of Riems, Germany
| | | | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (LB); (AAC)
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3
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Hayman DTS, Luis AD, Restif O, Baker KS, Fooks AR, Leach C, Horton DL, Suu-Ire R, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN, Webb CT. Maternal antibody and the maintenance of a lyssavirus in populations of seasonally breeding African bats. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198563. [PMID: 29894488 PMCID: PMC5997331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens causing acute disease and death or lasting immunity require specific spatial or temporal processes to persist in populations. Host traits, such as maternally-derived antibody (MDA) and seasonal birthing affect infection maintenance within populations. Our study objective is to understand how viral and host traits lead to population level infection persistence when the infection can be fatal. We collected data on African fruit bats and a rabies-related virus, Lagos bat virus (LBV), including through captive studies. We incorporate these data into a mechanistic model of LBV transmission to determine how host traits, including MDA and seasonal birthing, and viral traits, such as incubation periods, interact to allow fatal viruses to persist within bat populations. Captive bat studies supported MDA presence estimated from field data. Captive bat infection-derived antibody decayed more slowly than MDA, and while faster than estimates from the field, supports field data that suggest antibody persistence may be lifelong. Unobserved parameters were estimated by particle filtering and suggest only a small proportion of bats die of disease. Pathogen persistence in the population is sensitive to this proportion, along with MDA duration and incubation period. Our analyses suggest MDA produced bats and prolonged virus incubation periods allow viral maintenance in adverse conditions, such as a lethal pathogen or strongly seasonal resource availability for the pathogen in the form of seasonally pulsed birthing.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T. S. Hayman
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory (EpiLab), Infectious Disease Research Centre, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Angela D. Luis
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, Montana, United States of America
| | - Olivier Restif
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kate S. Baker
- Institute for Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Clint Leach
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Daniel L. Horton
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - James L. N. Wood
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Colleen T. Webb
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
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Suu-Ire R, Begeman L, Banyard AC, Breed AC, Drosten C, Eggerbauer E, Freuling CM, Gibson L, Goharriz H, Horton DL, Jennings D, Kuzmin IV, Marston D, Ntiamoa-Baidu Y, Riesle Sbarbaro S, Selden D, Wise EL, Kuiken T, Fooks AR, Müller T, Wood JLN, Cunningham AA. Pathogenesis of bat rabies in a natural reservoir: Comparative susceptibility of the straw-colored fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) to three strains of Lagos bat virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006311. [PMID: 29505617 PMCID: PMC5854431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a fatal neurologic disease caused by lyssavirus infection. People are infected through contact with infected animals. The relative increase of human rabies acquired from bats calls for a better understanding of lyssavirus infections in their natural hosts. So far, there is no experimental model that mimics natural lyssavirus infection in the reservoir bat species. Lagos bat virus is a lyssavirus that is endemic in straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) in Africa. Here we compared the susceptibility of these bats to three strains of Lagos bat virus (from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana) by intracranial inoculation. To allow comparison between strains, we ensured the same titer of virus was inoculated in the same location of the brain of each bat. All bats (n = 3 per strain) were infected, and developed neurological signs, and fatal meningoencephalitis with lyssavirus antigen expression in neurons. There were three main differences among the groups. First, time to death was substantially shorter in the Senegal and Ghana groups (4 to 6 days) than in the Nigeria group (8 days). Second, each virus strain produced a distinct clinical syndrome. Third, the spread of virus to peripheral tissues, tested by hemi-nested reverse transcriptase PCR, was frequent (3 of 3 bats) and widespread (8 to 10 tissues positive of 11 tissues examined) in the Ghana group, was frequent and less widespread in the Senegal group (3/3 bats, 3 to 6 tissues positive), and was rare and restricted in the Nigeria group (1/3 bats, 2 tissues positive). Centrifugal spread of virus from brain to tissue of excretion in the oral cavity is required to enable lyssavirus transmission. Therefore, the Senegal and Ghana strains seem most suitable for further pathogenesis, and for transmission, studies in the straw-colored fruit bat. Rabies is a neurologic disease that causes severe suffering and is almost always fatal. The disease is caused by infection with a virus of the genus Lyssavirus, of which 16 species are known. These viruses replicate in neurons, are excreted in the mouth, and are transmitted by bites. Dogs are the most important source of rabies for humans, but recently there is a relative increase in people contracting the disease from bats. To better understand the development of human rabies caused by these bat-acquired viruses, we need to study this disease in its bat host under controlled circumstances. To do so, we chose a naturally occurring lyssavirus–host combination: Lagos bat virus in straw-colored fruit bats. We compared three available strains of Lagos bat virus (all isolated from brains of this bat species) for their ability to mimic a natural infection. We used intracranial inoculation to ensure infection of the brain. All three strains infected brain neurons, resulting in fatal neurologic disease, however only two of the strains showed the ability to reach the site of excretion—the mouth—and were considered a suitable virus to use for further studies of this disease in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Suu-Ire
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Veterinary Services Department, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana
- Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lineke Begeman
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ashley C. Banyard
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C. Breed
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Eggerbauer
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Island of Riems, Germany
| | - Conrad M. Freuling
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Island of Riems, Germany
| | - Louise Gibson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hooman Goharriz
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel L. Horton
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Daisy Jennings
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan V. Kuzmin
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Denise Marston
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu
- Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Silke Riesle Sbarbaro
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David Selden
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L. Wise
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Thijs Kuiken
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Island of Riems, Germany
| | - James L. N. Wood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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5
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Peel AJ, Wood JLN, Baker KS, Breed AC, Carvalho AD, Fernández-Loras A, Gabrieli HS, Gembu GC, Kakengi VA, Kaliba PM, Kityo RM, Lembo T, Mba FE, Ramos D, Rodriguez-Prieto I, Suu-Ire R, Cunningham AA, Hayman DTS. How Does Africa's Most Hunted Bat Vary Across the Continent? Population Traits of the Straw-Coloured Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) and Its Interactions with Humans. Acta Chiropterologica 2017. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2017.19.1.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alison J. Peel
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - James L. N. Wood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - Kate S. Baker
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C. Breed
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Arlindo De Carvalho
- Direção Geral de Ambiente, Avenida Kwame Krhuma-Caixa Postal 1023, São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Andrés Fernández-Loras
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Harrison Sadiki Gabrieli
- Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA), Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries (MLDF), P.O. Box 1026, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Guy-Crispin Gembu
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, République Démocratique du Congo
| | | | | | - Robert M. Kityo
- College of Natural Sciences, School of BioSciences, Department of Biological Sciences. Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tiziana Lembo
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
| | - Fidel Esono Mba
- Instituto Nacional de Desarrollo Forestal y Manejo del Sistema de Áreas Protegidas (INDEFOR-AP), Calle Jesús Bakale S/N, Bata, Equatorial Guinea
| | - Daniel Ramos
- Parque Natural do Príncipe, Avenida Amilcar Cabral, Cidade de Santo António, Ilha do Príncipe, São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Iñaki Rodriguez-Prieto
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - David T. S. Hayman
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
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6
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Mannerings AO, Osikowicz LM, Restif O, Nyarko E, Suu-Ire R, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN, Kosoy MY. Exposure to Bat-Associated Bartonella spp. among Humans and Other Animals, Ghana. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 22:922-4. [PMID: 27088812 PMCID: PMC4861528 DOI: 10.3201/eid2205.151908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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7
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Peel AJ, Baker KS, Hayman DTS, Suu-Ire R, Breed AC, Gembu GC, Lembo T, Fernández-Loras A, Sargan DR, Fooks AR, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN. Bat trait, genetic and pathogen data from large-scale investigations of African fruit bats, Eidolon helvum. Sci Data 2016; 3:160049. [PMID: 27479120 PMCID: PMC4968192 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats, including African straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), have been highlighted as reservoirs of many recently emerged zoonotic viruses. This common, widespread and ecologically important species was the focus of longitudinal and continent-wide studies of the epidemiological and ecology of Lagos bat virus, henipaviruses and Achimota viruses. Here we present a spatial, morphological, demographic, genetic and serological dataset encompassing 2827 bats from nine countries over an 8-year period. Genetic data comprises cytochrome b mitochondrial sequences (n=608) and microsatellite genotypes from 18 loci (n=544). Tooth-cementum analyses (n=316) allowed derivation of rare age-specific serologic data for a lyssavirus, a henipavirus and two rubulaviruses. This dataset contributes a substantial volume of data on the ecology of E. helvum and its viruses and will be valuable for a wide range of studies, including viral transmission dynamic modelling in age-structured populations, investigation of seasonal reproductive asynchrony in wide-ranging species, ecological niche modelling, inference of island colonisation history, exploration of relationships between island and body size, and various spatial analyses of demographic, morphometric or serological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Peel
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland 4111 Australia
| | - Kate S Baker
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK.,Institute for Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - David T S Hayman
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Private Bag, 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Richard Suu-Ire
- Wildlife Division, Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana.,University of Ghana, Faculty of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, Box LG 571, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Andrew C Breed
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Guy-Crispin Gembu
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, 4, Avenue Kithima, commune Makiso, BP 2012, Kisangani, République Démocratique du Congo
| | - Tiziana Lembo
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
| | - Andrés Fernández-Loras
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - David R Sargan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Andrew A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - James L N Wood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
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8
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Fahr J, Abedi-Lartey M, Esch T, Machwitz M, Suu-Ire R, Wikelski M, Dechmann DKN. Pronounced Seasonal Changes in the Movement Ecology of a Highly Gregarious Central-Place Forager, the African Straw-Coloured Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138985. [PMID: 26465139 PMCID: PMC4605647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) migrate over vast distances across the African continent, probably following seasonal bursts of resource availability. This causes enormous fluctuations in population size, which in turn may influence the bats' impact on local ecosystems. We studied the movement ecology of this central-place forager with state-of-the-art GPS/acceleration loggers and concurrently monitored the seasonal fluctuation of the colony in Accra, Ghana. Habitat use on the landscape scale was assessed with remote sensing data as well as ground-truthing of foraging areas. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS During the wet season population low (~ 4000 individuals), bats foraged locally (3.5-36.7 km) in urban areas with low tree cover. Major food sources during this period were fruits of introduced trees. Foraging distances almost tripled (24.1-87.9 km) during the dry season population peak (~ 150,000 individuals), but this was not compensated for by reduced resting periods. Dry season foraging areas were random with regard to urban footprint and tree cover, and food consisted almost exclusively of nectar and pollen of native trees. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE Our study suggests that straw-coloured fruit bats disperse seeds in the range of hundreds of meters up to dozens of kilometres, and pollinate trees for up to 88 km. Straw-coloured fruit bats forage over much larger distances compared to most other Old World fruit bats, thus providing vital ecosystem services across extensive landscapes. We recommend increased efforts aimed at maintaining E. helvum populations throughout Africa since their keystone role in various ecosystems is likely to increase due to the escalating loss of other seed dispersers as well as continued urbanization and habitat fragmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Fahr
- Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (MPIO), Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Zoological Institute, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Abedi-Lartey
- Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (MPIO), Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Thomas Esch
- German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
| | - Miriam Machwitz
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Richard Suu-Ire
- Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (MPIO), Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Dina K. N. Dechmann
- Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (MPIO), Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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9
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Peel AJ, Sargan DR, Baker KS, Hayman DTS, Barr JA, Crameri G, Suu-Ire R, Broder CC, Lembo T, Wang LF, Fooks AR, Rossiter SJ, Wood JLN, Cunningham AA. Continent-wide panmixia of an African fruit bat facilitates transmission of potentially zoonotic viruses. Nat Commun 2014; 4:2770. [PMID: 24253424 PMCID: PMC3836177 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The straw-coloured fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, is Africa’s most widely distributed and commonly hunted fruit bat, often living in close proximity to human populations. This species has been identified as a reservoir of potentially zoonotic viruses, but uncertainties remain regarding viral transmission dynamics and mechanisms of persistence. Here we combine genetic and serological analyses of populations across Africa, to determine the extent of epidemiological connectivity among E. helvum populations. Multiple markers reveal panmixia across the continental range, at a greater geographical scale than previously recorded for any other mammal, whereas populations on remote islands were genetically distinct. Multiple serological assays reveal antibodies to henipaviruses and Lagos bat virus in all locations, including small isolated island populations, indicating that factors other than population size and connectivity may be responsible for viral persistence. Our findings have potentially important public health implications, and highlight a need to avoid disturbances which may precipitate viral spillover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Peel
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - David R Sargan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Kate S Baker
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, A1301, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB101SA, UK
| | - David T S Hayman
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.,Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK.,Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, CO 80523, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jennifer A Barr
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Gary Crameri
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Richard Suu-Ire
- Wildlife Division, Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana.,University of Ghana, Faculty of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, Box LG 571, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Christopher C Broder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814-4799, USA
| | - Tiziana Lembo
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, U.K
| | - Lin-Fa Wang
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, CO 80523, USA.,University of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Liverpool, L3 5TQ, UK
| | - Stephen J Rossiter
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - James L N Wood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Andrew A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
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10
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Baker KS, Suu-Ire R, Barr J, Hayman DTS, Broder CC, Horton DL, Durrant C, Murcia PR, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN. Viral antibody dynamics in a chiropteran host. J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:415-28. [PMID: 24111634 PMCID: PMC4413793 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bats host many viruses that are significant for human and domestic animal health, but the dynamics of these infections in their natural reservoir hosts remain poorly elucidated. In these, and other, systems, there is evidence that seasonal life-cycle events drive infection dynamics, directly impacting the risk of exposure to spillover hosts. Understanding these dynamics improves our ability to predict zoonotic spillover from the reservoir hosts. To this end, we followed henipavirus antibody levels of >100 individual E. helvum in a closed, captive, breeding population over a 30-month period, using a powerful novel antibody quantitation method. We demonstrate the presence of maternal antibodies in this system and accurately determine their longevity. We also present evidence of population-level persistence of viral infection and demonstrate periods of increased horizontal virus transmission associated with the pregnancy/lactation period. The novel findings of infection persistence and the effect of pregnancy on viral transmission, as well as an accurate quantitation of chiropteran maternal antiviral antibody half-life, provide fundamental baseline data for the continued study of viral infections in these important reservoir hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate S Baker
- Disease Dynamics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, CB3 0ES
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK, NW1 4RY
| | - Richard Suu-Ire
- Wildlife Division, Forestries Commission, Accra, Ghana, PO Box 239
| | - Jennifer Barr
- Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Geelong, Vic, Australia, 3219
| | - David T S Hayman
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 80523
| | - Christopher C Broder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20814-4799
| | - Daniel L Horton
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Surrey, UK, KT15 3NB
| | | | - Pablo R Murcia
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, G12 8QQ
| | | | - James L N Wood
- Disease Dynamics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, CB3 0ES
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11
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Baker KS, Leggett RM, Bexfield NH, Alston M, Daly G, Todd S, Tachedjian M, Holmes CEG, Crameri S, Wang LF, Heeney JL, Suu-Ire R, Kellam P, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN, Caccamo M, Murcia PR. Metagenomic study of the viruses of African straw-coloured fruit bats: detection of a chiropteran poxvirus and isolation of a novel adenovirus. Virology 2013; 441:95-106. [PMID: 23562481 PMCID: PMC3667569 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2013.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Viral emergence as a result of zoonotic transmission constitutes a continuous public health threat. Emerging viruses such as SARS coronavirus, hantaviruses and henipaviruses have wildlife reservoirs. Characterising the viruses of candidate reservoir species in geographical hot spots for viral emergence is a sensible approach to develop tools to predict, prevent, or contain emergence events. Here, we explore the viruses of Eidolon helvum, an Old World fruit bat species widely distributed in Africa that lives in close proximity to humans. We identified a great abundance and diversity of novel herpes and papillomaviruses, described the isolation of a novel adenovirus, and detected, for the first time, sequences of a chiropteran poxvirus closely related with Molluscum contagiosum. In sum, E. helvum display a wide variety of mammalian viruses, some of them genetically similar to known human pathogens, highlighting the possibility of zoonotic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate S Baker
- University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Rd, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom.
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12
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Wood JLN, Leach M, Waldman L, Macgregor H, Fooks AR, Jones KE, Restif O, Dechmann D, Hayman DTS, Baker KS, Peel AJ, Kamins AO, Fahr J, Ntiamoa-Baidu Y, Suu-Ire R, Breiman RF, Epstein JH, Field HE, Cunningham AA. A framework for the study of zoonotic disease emergence and its drivers: spillover of bat pathogens as a case study. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 367:2881-92. [PMID: 22966143 PMCID: PMC3427567 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many serious emerging zoonotic infections have recently arisen from bats, including Ebola, Marburg, SARS-coronavirus, Hendra, Nipah, and a number of rabies and rabies-related viruses, consistent with the overall observation that wildlife are an important source of emerging zoonoses for the human population. Mechanisms underlying the recognized association between ecosystem health and human health remain poorly understood and responding appropriately to the ecological, social and economic conditions that facilitate disease emergence and transmission represents a substantial societal challenge. In the context of disease emergence from wildlife, wildlife and habitat should be conserved, which in turn will preserve vital ecosystem structure and function, which has broader implications for human wellbeing and environmental sustainability, while simultaneously minimizing the spillover of pathogens from wild animals into human beings. In this review, we propose a novel framework for the holistic and interdisciplinary investigation of zoonotic disease emergence and its drivers, using the spillover of bat pathogens as a case study. This study has been developed to gain a detailed interdisciplinary understanding, and it combines cutting-edge perspectives from both natural and social sciences, linked to policy impacts on public health, land use and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L N Wood
- Disease Dynamics Unit, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OES, UK.
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13
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Odoom JK, Bel-Nono S, Rodgers D, Agbenohevi PG, Dafeamekpor CK, Sowa RML, Danso F, Tettey R, Suu-Ire R, Bonney JHK, Asante IA, Aboagye J, Abana CZY, Frimpong JA, Kronmann KC, Oyofo BA, Ampofo WK. Troop education and avian influenza surveillance in military barracks in Ghana, 2011. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:957. [PMID: 23137234 PMCID: PMC3534292 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza A viruses that cause highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) also infect humans. In many developing countries such as Ghana, poultry and humans live in close proximity in both the general and military populations, increasing risk for the spread of HPAI from birds to humans. Respiratory infections such as influenza are especially prone to rapid spread among military populations living in close quarters such as barracks making this a key population for targeted avian influenza surveillance and public health education. METHOD Twelve military barracks situated in the coastal, tropical rain forest and northern savannah belts of the country were visited and the troops and their families educated on pandemic avian influenza. Attendants at each site was obtained from the attendance sheet provided for registration. The seminars focused on zoonotic diseases, influenza surveillance, pathogenesis of avian influenza, prevention of emerging infections and biosecurity. To help direct public health policies, a questionnaire was used to collect information on animal populations and handling practices from 102 households in the military barracks. Cloacal and tracheal samples were taken from 680 domestic and domesticated wild birds and analysed for influenza A using molecular methods for virus detection. RESULTS Of the 1028 participants that took part in the seminars, 668 (65%) showed good knowledge of pandemic avian influenza and the risks associated with its infection. Even though no evidence of the presence of avian influenza (AI) infection was found in the 680 domestic and wild birds sampled, biosecurity in the households surveyed was very poor. CONCLUSION Active surveillance revealed that there was no AI circulation in the military barracks in April 2011. Though participants demonstrated good knowledge of pandemic avian influenza, biosecurity practices were minimal. Sustained educational programs are needed to further strengthen avian influenza surveillance and prevention in military barracks.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kofi Odoom
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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14
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15
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Abstract
Eidolon helvum is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa where it forms large, dense colonies. The species is migratory and satellite telemetry studies have demonstrated that individuals can migrate over 2,500 km. It is a common source of bush meat in West Africa and evidence of infection with potentially zoonotic viruses has been found in West African colonies. The species, therefore, is of interest to both ecologists and those interested in public health. Despite this, demographic parameters of the species are unknown. We focused our study primarily on a colony of up to 1,000,000 bats that roost in trees in Accra, Ghana to obtain estimates of birth rate and survival probability. Aging of bats by examination of tooth cementum annuli allowed use of life tables to indicate an annual survival probability for juveniles of 0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16-0.77) and for adults of 0.83 (95% CI 0.73-0.93). Additionally, an annual adult survival probability of 0.63 (95% CI 0.27-0.88) was estimated by following 98 radiocollared bats over a year; capture-recapture data were analyzed using multistate models to address the confounding factor of emigration. True survival probabilities may be in between the 2 estimates, because permanent emigration may lead to underestimation in the capture-recapture study, and population decline may lead to overestimation in the life table analysis. Birth rates (0.96 young per female per year, 95% CI 0.92-0.98) and colony size changes were also estimated. Estimation of these key parameters will allow future analyses of both infection dynamics within, and harvest sustainability of, E. helvum populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel McCrea
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom (DTSH, OR, JLNW)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom (DTSH, AAC, JMR)
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge KT15 3NB, United Kingdom (DTSH, ARF)
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (DTSH)
- National Centre for Statistical Ecology, University of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NF, United Kingdom (RM)
- Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, P.O. Box M239, Ghana (RS-I)
- University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom (ARF)
| | - Olivier Restif
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom (DTSH, OR, JLNW)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom (DTSH, AAC, JMR)
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge KT15 3NB, United Kingdom (DTSH, ARF)
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (DTSH)
- National Centre for Statistical Ecology, University of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NF, United Kingdom (RM)
- Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, P.O. Box M239, Ghana (RS-I)
- University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom (ARF)
| | - Richard Suu-Ire
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom (DTSH, OR, JLNW)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom (DTSH, AAC, JMR)
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge KT15 3NB, United Kingdom (DTSH, ARF)
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (DTSH)
- National Centre for Statistical Ecology, University of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NF, United Kingdom (RM)
- Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, P.O. Box M239, Ghana (RS-I)
- University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom (ARF)
| | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom (DTSH, OR, JLNW)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom (DTSH, AAC, JMR)
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge KT15 3NB, United Kingdom (DTSH, ARF)
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (DTSH)
- National Centre for Statistical Ecology, University of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NF, United Kingdom (RM)
- Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, P.O. Box M239, Ghana (RS-I)
- University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom (ARF)
| | - James L. N. Wood
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom (DTSH, OR, JLNW)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom (DTSH, AAC, JMR)
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge KT15 3NB, United Kingdom (DTSH, ARF)
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (DTSH)
- National Centre for Statistical Ecology, University of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NF, United Kingdom (RM)
- Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, P.O. Box M239, Ghana (RS-I)
- University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom (ARF)
| | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom (DTSH, OR, JLNW)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom (DTSH, AAC, JMR)
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge KT15 3NB, United Kingdom (DTSH, ARF)
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (DTSH)
- National Centre for Statistical Ecology, University of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NF, United Kingdom (RM)
- Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, P.O. Box M239, Ghana (RS-I)
- University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom (ARF)
| | - J. Marcus Rowcliffe
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom (DTSH, OR, JLNW)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom (DTSH, AAC, JMR)
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge KT15 3NB, United Kingdom (DTSH, ARF)
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (DTSH)
- National Centre for Statistical Ecology, University of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NF, United Kingdom (RM)
- Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, P.O. Box M239, Ghana (RS-I)
- University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom (ARF)
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16
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Baker KS, Todd S, Marsh G, Fernandez-Loras A, Suu-Ire R, Wood JLN, Wang LF, Murcia PR, Cunningham AA. Co-circulation of diverse paramyxoviruses in an urban African fruit bat population. J Gen Virol 2011; 93:850-856. [PMID: 22205718 PMCID: PMC3542712 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.039339-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats constitute a reservoir of zoonotic infections and some bat paramyxoviruses are capable of cross-species transmission, often with fatal consequences. Determining the level of viral diversity in reservoir populations is fundamental to understanding and predicting viral emergence. This is particularly relevant for RNA viruses where the adaptive mutations required for cross-species transmission can be present in the reservoir host. We report the use of non-invasively collected, pooled, neat urine samples as a robust sample type for investigating paramyxoviruses in bat populations. Using consensus PCR assays we have detected a high incidence and genetic diversity of novel paramyxoviruses in an urban fruit bat population over a short period of time. This may suggest a similarly unique relationship between bats and the members of the family Paramyxoviridae as proposed for some other viral families. Additionally, the high rate of bat–human contact at the study site calls for the zoonotic potential of the detected viruses to be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Baker
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - S Todd
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Portarlington Road, East Geelong, VIC 3219, Australia
| | - G Marsh
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Portarlington Road, East Geelong, VIC 3219, Australia
| | - A Fernandez-Loras
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - R Suu-Ire
- Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana
| | - J L N Wood
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - L F Wang
- CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Portarlington Road, East Geelong, VIC 3219, Australia
| | - P R Murcia
- University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - A A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
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17
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Kamins A, Restif O, Ntiamoa-Baidu Y, Suu-Ire R, Hayman D, Cunningham A, Wood J, Rowcliffe J. Uncovering the fruit bat bushmeat commodity chain and the true extent of fruit bat hunting in Ghana, West Africa. Biol Conserv 2011; 144:3000-3008. [PMID: 22514356 PMCID: PMC3323830 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Revised: 09/06/2011] [Accepted: 09/09/2011] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Harvesting, consumption and trade of bushmeat are important causes of both biodiversity loss and potential zoonotic disease emergence. In order to identify possible ways to mitigate these threats, it is essential to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which bushmeat gets from the site of capture to the consumer's table. In this paper we highlight the previously unrecognized scale of hunting of the African straw-colored fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, a species which is important in both ecological and public health contexts, and describe the commodity chain in southern Ghana for its trade. Based on interviews with 551 Ghanaians, including bat hunters, vendors and consumers, we estimate that a minimum of 128,000 E. helvum bats are sold each year through a commodity chain stretching up to 400 km and involving multiple vendors. Unlike the general bushmeat trade in Ghana, where animals are sold in both specialized bushmeat markets and in restaurants, E. helvum is sold primarily in marketplaces; many bats are also kept by hunters for personal consumption. The offtake estimated in this paper raises serious conservation concerns, while the commodity chain identified in this study may offer possible points for management intervention. The separation of the E. helvum commodity chain from that of other bushmeat highlights the need for species-specific research in this area, particularly for bats, whose status as bushmeat is largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- A.O. Kamins
- Cambridge Infectious Disease Consortium, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
- Corresponding author at: Cambridge Infectious Disease Consortium, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK. Tel.: +44 (0) 7771434980.
| | - O. Restif
- Cambridge Infectious Disease Consortium, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Y. Ntiamoa-Baidu
- Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 67, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - R. Suu-Ire
- Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana
| | - D.T.S. Hayman
- Cambridge Infectious Disease Consortium, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - A.A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - J.L.N. Wood
- Cambridge Infectious Disease Consortium, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - J.M. Rowcliffe
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
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Hayman DTS, Wang LF, Barr J, Baker KS, Suu-Ire R, Broder CC, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN. Antibodies to henipavirus or henipa-like viruses in domestic pigs in Ghana, West Africa. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25256. [PMID: 21966471 PMCID: PMC3178620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Henipaviruses, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), have Pteropid bats as their known natural reservoirs. Antibodies against henipaviruses have been found in Eidolon helvum, an old world fruit bat species, and henipavirus-like nucleic acid has been detected in faecal samples from E. helvum in Ghana. The initial outbreak of NiV in Malaysia led to over 265 human encephalitis cases, including 105 deaths, with infected pigs acting as amplifier hosts for NiV during the outbreak. We detected non-neutralizing antibodies against viruses of the genus Henipavirus in approximately 5% of pig sera (N = 97) tested in Ghana, but not in a small sample of other domestic species sampled under a E. helvum roost. Although we did not detect neutralizing antibody, our results suggest prior exposure of the Ghana pig population to henipavirus(es). Because a wide diversity of henipavirus-like nucleic acid sequences have been found in Ghanaian E. helvum, we hypothesise that these pigs might have been infected by henipavirus(es) sufficiently divergent enough from HeVor NiV to produce cross-reactive, but not cross-neutralizing antibodies to HeV or NiV.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T S Hayman
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Hayman DTS, Emmerich P, Yu M, Wang LF, Suu-Ire R, Fooks AR, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN. Long-term survival of an urban fruit bat seropositive for Ebola and Lagos bat viruses. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11978. [PMID: 20694141 PMCID: PMC2915915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Accepted: 07/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebolaviruses (EBOV) (family Filoviridae) cause viral hemorrhagic fevers in humans and non-human primates when they spill over from their wildlife reservoir hosts with case fatality rates of up to 90%. Fruit bats may act as reservoirs of the Filoviridae. The migratory fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, is common across sub-Saharan Africa and lives in large colonies, often situated in cities. We screened sera from 262 E. helvum using indirect fluorescent tests for antibodies against EBOV subtype Zaire. We detected a seropositive bat from Accra, Ghana, and confirmed this using western blot analysis. The bat was also seropositive for Lagos bat virus, a Lyssavirus, by virus neutralization test. The bat was fitted with a radio transmitter and was last detected in Accra 13 months after release post-sampling, demonstrating long-term survival. Antibodies to filoviruses have not been previously demonstrated in E. helvum. Radio-telemetry data demonstrates long-term survival of an individual bat following exposure to viruses of families that can be highly pathogenic to other mammal species. Because E. helvum typically lives in large urban colonies and is a source of bushmeat in some regions, further studies should determine if this species forms a reservoir for EBOV from which spillover infections into the human population may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T S Hayman
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Reynolds MG, Carroll DS, Olson VA, Hughes C, Galley J, Likos A, Montgomery JM, Suu-Ire R, Kwasi MO, Jeffrey Root J, Braden Z, Abel J, Clemmons C, Regnery R, Karem K, Damon IK. A silent enzootic of an orthopoxvirus in Ghana, West Africa: evidence for multi-species involvement in the absence of widespread human disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010; 82:746-54. [PMID: 20348530 PMCID: PMC2844556 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human monkeypox has never been reported in Ghana, but rodents captured in forested areas of southern Ghana were the source of the monkeypox virus introduced into the United States in 2003. Subsequent to the outbreak in the United States, 204 animals were collected from two commercial trapping sites in Ghana. Animal tissues were examined for the presence of orthopoxvirus (OPXV) DNA using a real-time polymerase chain reaction, and sera were assayed for antibodies against OPXV. Animals from five genera (Cricetomys, Graphiurus, Funiscirus, and Heliosciurus) had antibodies against OPXV, and three genera (Cricetomys, Graphiurus, and Xerus) had evidence of OPXV DNA in tissues. Additionally, 172 persons living near the trapping sites were interviewed regarding risk factors for OPXV exposure, and their sera were analyzed. Fifty-three percent had IgG against OPXV; none had IgM. Our findings suggest that several species of forest-dwelling rodents from Ghana are susceptible to naturally occurring OPXV infection, and that persons living near forests may have low-level or indirect exposure to OPXV-infected animals, possibly resulting in sub-clinical infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary G Reynolds
- Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop G-43 Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
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Hayman DTS, Fooks AR, Horton D, Suu-Ire R, Breed AC, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN. Antibodies against Lagos bat virus in megachiroptera from West Africa. Emerg Infect Dis 2008; 14:926-8. [PMID: 18507903 PMCID: PMC2600291 DOI: 10.3201/eid1406.071421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the presence of Lagos bat virus (LBV)-specific antibodies in megachiroptera from West Africa, we conducted fluorescent antibody virus neutralization tests. Neutralizing antibodies were detected in Eidolon helvum (37%), Epomophorus gambianus (3%), and Epomops buettikoferi (33%, 2/6) from Ghana. These findings confirm the presence of LBV in West Africa.
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Hayman DTS, Suu-Ire R, Breed AC, McEachern JA, Wang L, Wood JLN, Cunningham AA. Evidence of henipavirus infection in West African fruit bats. PLoS One 2008; 3:e2739. [PMID: 18648649 PMCID: PMC2453319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2008] [Accepted: 06/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Henipaviruses are emerging RNA viruses of fruit bat origin that can cause fatal encephalitis in man. Ghanaian fruit bats (megachiroptera) were tested for antibodies to henipaviruses. Using a Luminex multiplexed microsphere assay, antibodies were detected in sera of Eidolon helvum to both Nipah (39%, 95% confidence interval: 27–51%) and Hendra (22%, 95% CI: 11–33%) viruses. Virus neutralization tests further confirmed seropositivity for 30% (7/23) of Luminex positive serum samples. Our results indicate that henipavirus is present within West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T. S. Hayman
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew C. Breed
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer A. McEachern
- Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Linfa Wang
- Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - James L. N. Wood
- Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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