OmniVira

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.
PMID25405640 DOI10.1038/ncomms6342 Year2014 Journal Nature communications Nat Commun Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

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.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Africa 16 Animals 1948 Antibodies, Neutralizing 80 Antibodies, Viral 212 Chiroptera 371 Henipavirus Infections 65 Humans 1440 Neutralization Tests 31 Nipah Virus 45 Zoonoses 397

Evidence records

7 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
7 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Serological Evidence
6 records
OVE1869 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Nipah virus cross-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 48% of fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) serum samples from Cameroon.

Virus
Nipah virus
Host
straw-colored fruit bat Eidolon helvum Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

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.

Method
vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay
Sample type
serum
OVE1870 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Nipah virus cross-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 3–4% of human serum samples from Cameroon.

Virus
Nipah virus
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

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.

Method
vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay
Sample type
serum
OVE1873 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Seropositive human sera neutralized live Nipah virus.

Virus
Nipah virus
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Seropositive human sera also neutralize Hendra virus and Gh-M74a (an African HNV) pseudoparticles, as well as live NiV.

Method
live-virus neutralization assay
Sample type
sera
OVE1871 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Seropositive human sera neutralized Hendra virus pseudoparticles.

Virus
Hendra virus
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Seropositive human sera also neutralize Hendra virus and Gh-M74a (an African HNV) pseudoparticles, as well as live NiV.

Method
neutralization assay using pseudoparticles
Sample type
sera
OVE1872 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Seropositive human sera neutralized Gh-M74a pseudoparticles.

Virus
Ghana virus
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Seropositive human sera also neutralize Hendra virus and Gh-M74a (an African HNV) pseudoparticles, as well as live NiV.

Method
neutralization assay using pseudoparticles
Sample type
sera
OVE1874 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Human individuals in Cameroon who butcher bats for bushmeat show serological evidence of henipavirus exposure, indicating bat-to-human spillover.

Virus
Henipavirus Nipah virus Hendra virus Ghana virus
Host
bats Chiroptera Natural host human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Cameroon
Supporting text

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). Seropositive human samples are found almost exclusively in individuals who reported butchering bats for bushmeat.

Method
pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay | antibody neutralization test
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE1875 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

Fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) in Cameroon exhibited high henipavirus seroprevalence and were identified as natural reservoirs maintaining diverse HNV lineages.

Virus
Henipavirus horse nettle virus
Host
flying foxes Pteropodidae Natural host straw-colored fruit bat Eidolon helvum Natural host
Location
Africa Cameroon
Supporting text

Zoonotic transmission of lethal henipaviruses (HNVs) from their natural fruit bat reservoirs to humans has only been reported ... however, a recent study discovered numerous HNV clades in African bat samples.

Method
pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay | serological survey
Sample type
serum samples
Geographic raw
Africa | Cameroon
Country inferred
CMR