OmniVira

Literature detail

Co-circulation of diverse paramyxoviruses in an urban African fruit bat population.

K S Baker1,2 S Todd3 G Marsh3 A Fernandez-Loras2 R Suu-Ire4 J L N Wood1 L F Wang3 P R Murcia5 A A Cunningham2
Affiliations 5 institutions
  1. Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
  2. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
  3. CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Portarlington Road, East Geelong, VIC 3219, Australia.
  4. Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana.
  5. 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.
PMID 22205718 2012 J Gen Virol eng ppublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

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.

Animals Base Sequence Chiroptera Genetic Variation Ghana Humans Molecular Sequence Data Paramyxoviridae Infections Paramyxovirinae Phylogeny Polymerase Chain Reaction Urban Population

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

3 total
Genomic Evolution 1 records
Genomic Evolution Extraction confidence 0.80
Key finding

Genetic analysis indicated high diversity among novel paramyxoviruses detected in fruit bats.

Location
Not specified
Supporting text

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.

Analysis methods
consensus PCR; phylogenetic analysis
Reservoir Ecology 1 records
Reservoir Ecology Extraction confidence 0.75
Key finding

Diverse paramyxoviruses were detected in an urban fruit bat population in Ghana, demonstrating the bats’ role as a reservoir host sustaining multiple viral lineages.

Location
Ghana Ghana
Supporting text

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. Bats constitute a reservoir of zoonotic infections.

Method
consensus PCR assays; non-invasive sampling
Sample type
urine samples
Geographic raw
Ghana
Country inferred
Ghana
Zoonotic Surveillance 1 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

PCR-based surveillance detected a high incidence and genetic diversity of novel paramyxoviruses in an urban fruit bat population in Ghana.

Location
Ghana Ghana
Supporting text

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.

Method
PCR
Sample type
urine
Geographic raw
Ghana
Country inferred
Ghana