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Literature detail

Continent-wide panmixia of an African fruit bat facilitates transmission of potentially zoonotic viruses.

Alison J Peel1,2 David R Sargan1 Kate S Baker1,2,3 David T S Hayman1,2,4,5,6 Jennifer A Barr7 Gary Crameri7 Richard Suu-Ire8,9 Christopher C Broder10 Tiziana Lembo11 Lin-Fa Wang7,12 Anthony R Fooks5,13 Stephen J Rossiter14 James L N Wood1 Andrew A Cunningham2
Affiliations 14 institutions
  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK.
  2. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.
  3. Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, A1301, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB101SA, UK.
  4. 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.
  5. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, CO 80523, USA.
  6. Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
  7. CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.
  8. Wildlife Division, Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana.
  9. University of Ghana, Faculty of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, Box LG 571, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
  10. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814-4799, USA.
  11. 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.
  12. Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857.
  13. University of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Liverpool, L3 5TQ, UK.
  14. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK.
PMID 24253424 2013 Nat Commun eng ppublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

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 that may precipitate viral spillover.

Zoonoses Africa Animal Migration Animals Chiroptera Demography Disease Reservoirs DNA, Mitochondrial Microsatellite Repeats Virus Diseases

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

6 total
Reservoir Ecology 2 records
Reservoir Ecology Extraction confidence 0.85
Key finding

Eidolon helvum fruit bats across Africa show continent-wide genetic mixing and persistent antibodies to henipaviruses and Lagos bat virus, suggesting ecological factors maintain viral circulation independent of population size or connectivity.

Virus
Henipavirus
Location
Africa
Supporting text

Multiple markers reveal panmixia across the continental range of Eidolon helvum, 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.

Method
genetic analysis; serological assays
Sample type
serum; urine
Geographic raw
Africa
Reservoir Ecology Extraction confidence 0.85
Key finding

Lagos bat virus antibodies were detected throughout Eidolon helvum populations, implying widespread reservoir ecology independent of geographic isolation.

Location
Africa
Supporting text

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.

Method
serological assays; genetic analysis
Sample type
serum; urine
Geographic raw
Africa
Serological Evidence 2 records
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Antibodies to henipaviruses were detected in serum samples from straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) across Africa, supporting widespread exposure to henipavirus-related agents.

Virus
Henipavirus
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Multiple serological assays reveal antibodies to henipaviruses and Lagos bat virus in all locations, including small isolated island populations.

Method
serological assay
Sample type
serum
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Antibodies to Lagos bat virus were detected in serum samples from straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) across Africa, indicating exposure across continent-wide populations.

Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Multiple serological assays reveal antibodies to henipaviruses and Lagos bat virus in all locations, including small isolated island populations.

Method
serological assay
Sample type
serum
Zoonotic Surveillance 2 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Serological analyses across Africa detected antibodies to henipaviruses and Lagos bat virus in straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), indicating widespread circulation of zoonotic viruses in this species.

Virus
Henipavirus
Location
Africa
Supporting text

Multiple serological assays reveal antibodies to henipaviruses and Lagos bat virus in all locations, including small isolated island populations.

Method
serological assays
Geographic raw
Africa
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Serological surveillance found antibodies to Lagos bat virus in straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) throughout continental and island populations in Africa.

Location
Africa
Supporting text

Multiple serological assays reveal antibodies to henipaviruses and Lagos bat virus in all locations, including small isolated island populations.

Method
serological assays
Geographic raw
Africa