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Literature detail

Evidence for henipavirus spillover into human populations in Africa.

Olivier Pernet1 Bradley S Schneider2 Shannon M Beaty3 Matthew LeBreton2 Tatyana E Yun4 Arnold Park3 Trevor T Zachariah5 Thomas A Bowden6 Peta Hitchens7 Christina M Ramirez8 Peter Daszak9 Jonna Mazet7 Alexander N Freiberg4 Nathan D Wolfe2 Benhur Lee3
Affiliations 9 institutions
  1. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
  2. Global Viral/Metabiota Laboratory Sciences, San Francisco, California 90104, USA.
  3. 1] Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA [2] Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA.
  4. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
  5. Brevard Zoo Veterinary Services, Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, 32940 Florida, USA.
  6. Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN UK.
  7. Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
  8. Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
  9. EcoHealth Alliance, New York, New York 10001, USA.
PMID 25405640 2014 Nat Commun eng epublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

Zoonotic transmission of lethal henipaviruses (HNVs) from their natural fruit bat reservoirs to humans has only been reported in Australia and South/Southeast Asia. However, a recent study discovered numerous HNV clades in African bat samples. To determine the potential for HNV spillover events among humans in Africa, here we examine well-curated sets of bat (Eidolon helvum, n = 44) and human (n = 497) serum samples from Cameroon for Nipah virus (NiV) cross-neutralizing antibodies (NiV-X-Nabs). Using a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay, we detect NiV-X-Nabs in 48% and 3-4% of the bat and human samples, respectively. Seropositive human samples are found almost exclusively in individuals who reported butchering bats for bushmeat. Seropositive human sera also neutralize Hendra virus and Gh-M74a (an African HNV) pseudoparticles, as well as live NiV. Butchering bat meat and living in areas undergoing deforestation are the most significant risk factors associated with seropositivity. Evidence for HNV spillover events warrants increased surveillance efforts.

Africa Animals Antibodies, Neutralizing Antibodies, Viral Chiroptera Henipavirus Infections Humans Neutralization Tests Nipah Virus Zoonoses

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

5 total
Serological Evidence 2 records
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Nipah virus cross-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 48% of Eidolon helvum fruit bats in Cameroon, providing serological evidence of henipavirus exposure in bats.

Virus
NiV
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

We examine well-curated sets of bat (Eidolon helvum, n = 44) and human (n = 497) serum samples from Cameroon for Nipah virus (NiV) cross-neutralizing antibodies (NiV-X-Nabs). Using a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay, we detect NiV-X-Nabs in 48% of the bat samples.

Method
vesicular stomatitis virus-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay
Sample type
serum
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Nipah virus cross-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 3–4% of human sera from Cameroon, especially among individuals who butchered bats, indicating henipavirus spillover to humans.

Virus
NiV
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

We detect NiV-X-Nabs in 3-4% of the human samples. Seropositive human samples are found almost exclusively in individuals who reported butchering bats for bushmeat. Seropositive human sera also neutralize Hendra virus and Gh-M74a (an African HNV) pseudoparticles, as well as live NiV.

Method
vesicular stomatitis virus-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay
Sample type
serum
Zoonotic Surveillance 2 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.80
Key finding

Serological surveillance in Cameroon detected Nipah virus cross-neutralizing antibodies in fruit bats and a subset of local humans, indicating zoonotic henipavirus exposure.

Virus
NiV
Location
Cameroon Cameroon
Supporting text

We examine well-curated sets of bat (Eidolon helvum, n = 44) and human (n = 497) serum samples from Cameroon for Nipah virus (NiV) cross-neutralizing antibodies (NiV-X-Nabs). Using a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay, we detect NiV-X-Nabs in 48% and 3-4% of the bat and human samples, respectively.

Method
vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay; serology
Sample type
serum
Geographic raw
Cameroon
Country inferred
Cameroon
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.80
Key finding

Serological surveillance of humans in Cameroon found Nipah virus cross-neutralizing antibodies, primarily among individuals who butchered bats for bushmeat, indicating exposure through bat contact.

Virus
NiV
Location
Cameroon Cameroon
Supporting text

We examine well-curated sets of bat (Eidolon helvum, n = 44) and human (n = 497) serum samples from Cameroon for Nipah virus (NiV) cross-neutralizing antibodies (NiV-X-Nabs). ... Seropositive human samples are found almost exclusively in individuals who reported butchering bats for bushmeat.

Method
vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay; serology
Sample type
serum
Geographic raw
Cameroon
Country inferred
Cameroon
Spillover Event 1 records
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Detection of henipavirus cross-neutralizing antibodies in humans who butcher bats in Cameroon provides direct evidence of spillover of henipaviruses from bats to humans.

Virus
Henipavirus
Location
Cameroon Cameroon
Supporting text

Seropositive human samples are found almost exclusively in individuals who reported butchering bats for bushmeat. Evidence for HNV spillover events warrants increased surveillance efforts.

Method
vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay; neutralization test
Study design
serological survey
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Geographic raw
Cameroon
Country inferred
Cameroon