Pteropid bats are confirmed as the reservoir hosts of henipaviruses: a comprehensive experimental study of virus transmission.
Kim Halpin1
Alex D Hyatt
Rhys Fogarty
Deborah Middleton
John Bingham
Jonathan H Epstein
Sohayati Abdul Rahman
Tom Hughes
Craig Smith
Hume E Field
Peter Daszak
Henipavirus Ecology Research Group
Affiliations1 institutions
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Australia. [email protected]
Bats of the genus Pteropus have been identified as the reservoir hosts for the henipaviruses Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV). The aim of these studies was to assess likely mechanisms for henipaviruses transmission from bats. In a series of experiments, Pteropus bats from Malaysia and Australia were inoculated with NiV and HeV, respectively, by natural routes of infection. Despite an intensive sampling strategy, no NiV was recovered from the Malaysian bats and HeV was reisolated from only one Australian bat; no disease was seen. These experiments suggest that opportunities for henipavirus transmission may be limited; therefore, the probability of a spillover event is low. For spillover to occur, a range of conditions and events must coincide. An alternate assessment framework is required if we are to fully understand how this reservoir host maintains and transmits not only these but all viruses with which it has been associated.
In vivo infection experiments showed that Pteropus bats can be experimentally infected with Nipah virus and Hendra virus, but viral recovery was limited and clinical disease was absent.
Pteropus bats from Malaysia and Australia were inoculated with NiV and HeV, respectively, by natural routes of infection. Despite an intensive sampling strategy, no NiV was recovered from the Malaysian bats and HeV was reisolated from only one Australian bat; no disease was seen.
Method
experimental infection; virus isolation
Experimental system
in vivo animal experiment
Host Range ExperimentExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
In vivo infection experiments demonstrated that Hendra virus can infect Australian Pteropus bats, with recovery of virus from one individual and no evident illness.
Pteropus bats from Malaysia and Australia were inoculated with NiV and HeV, respectively, by natural routes of infection. Despite an intensive sampling strategy, no NiV was recovered from the Malaysian bats and HeV was reisolated from only one Australian bat; no disease was seen.
Method
experimental infection; virus isolation
Experimental system
in vivo animal experiment
Reservoir Ecology2 records
Reservoir EcologyExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Pteropus bats serve as reservoir hosts for Hendra virus and Nipah virus, with experimental data indicating low likelihood of spillover in Malaysia and Australia.
Bats of the genus Pteropus have been identified as the reservoir hosts for the henipaviruses Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV)... Pteropus bats from Malaysia and Australia were inoculated with NiV and HeV, respectively... These experiments suggest that opportunities for henipavirus transmission may be limited; therefore, the probability of a spillover event is low.
Method
experimental infection; virus isolation
Geographic raw
Australia
Country inferred
Australia
Reservoir EcologyExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Pteropus bats are natural reservoirs for Nipah virus, but experimental infection of Malaysian bats did not recover NiV, suggesting low transmission opportunity.
Bats of the genus Pteropus have been identified as the reservoir hosts for the henipaviruses Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV)... Pteropus bats from Malaysia and Australia were inoculated with NiV and HeV, respectively... Despite an intensive sampling strategy, no NiV was recovered from the Malaysian bats.
Method
experimental infection; virus isolation
Geographic raw
Malaysia
Country inferred
Malaysia
Citation context
References
27 references
Reference network
Force-directed citation graph. OmniVira-indexed references are prioritized and recursively expanded up to three steps.
Transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus from the black flying fox, Pteropus alecto, to Culex annulirostris mosquitoes, despite the absence of detectable viremia
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Persistence thresholds for phocine distemper virus infection in harbour seal Phoca vitulina metapopulations
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1998
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