OmniVira

Co-Circulation and Excretion Dynamics of Diverse Rubula- and Related Viruses in Egyptian Rousette Bats from South Africa.

Marinda Mortlock1,2 Muriel Dietrich3 Jacqueline Weyer4,5 Janusz T Paweska6,7 Wanda Markotter8
Affiliations 8 institutions
  1. Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. [email protected].
  2. Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. [email protected].
  3. UMR Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, 97490 Sainte-Clotilde, Reunion Island, France. [email protected].
  4. Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. [email protected].
  5. Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, Johannesburg 2131, South Africa. [email protected].
  6. Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. [email protected].
  7. Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, Johannesburg 2131, South Africa. [email protected].
  8. Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. [email protected].
PMID30626055 DOI10.3390/v11010037 Year2019 Journal Viruses Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

The Egyptian rousette bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) has previously been implicated as the natural host of a zoonotic rubulavirus; however, its association with rubulaviruses has been studied to a limited extent. Urine, spleen, and other organs collected from the R. aegyptiacus population within South Africa were tested with a hemi-nested RT-PCR assay targeting a partial polymerase gene region of viruses from the Avula- and Rubulavirus genera. Urine was collected over a 14-month period to study the temporal dynamics of viral excretion. Diverse rubulaviruses, including viruses related to human mumps and parainfluenza virus 2, were detected. Active excretion was identified during two peak periods coinciding with the host reproductive cycle. Analysis of additional organs indicated co-infection of individual bats with a number of different putative rubulaviruses, highlighting the limitations of using a single sample type when determining viral presence and diversity. Our findings suggest that R. aegyptiacus can harbor a range of Rubula- and related viruses, some of which are related to known human pathogens. The observed peaks in viral excretion represents potential periods of a higher risk of virus transmission and zoonotic disease spill-over.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
co-circulation 2 Egyptian rousette bat 4 excretion dynamics 1 human mumps virus-related 1 human parainfluenza virus-related 1 paramyxovirus 18 rubulavirus 2 tissue distribution 1 viral shedding 2 Animals 1948 Avulavirus 1 Avulavirus Infections 1 Chiroptera 371 Disease Reservoirs 149 Egypt 22 Longitudinal Studies 17 Phylogeny 805 Polymerase Chain Reaction 38 RNA, Viral 193 Rubulavirus 2 Rubulavirus Infections 3 South Africa 13 Spleen 7 Urine 9

Evidence records

3 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
3 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
2 records
OVE3192 Viral Detection
Key finding

Diverse rubulaviruses, including viruses related to human mumps and parainfluenza virus 2, were detected in Egyptian rousette bats from South Africa using a hemi-nested RT-PCR assay.

Virus
Paramyxoviridae Bat Mumps Virus human parainfluenza virus 2
Host
Egyptian rousette Rousettus aegyptiacus Natural host
Location
South Africa
Supporting text

Urine, spleen, and other organs collected from the R. aegyptiacus population within South Africa were tested with a hemi-nested RT-PCR assay targeting a partial polymerase gene region of viruses from the Avula- and Rubulavirus genera. Diverse rubulaviruses, including viruses related to human mumps and parainfluenza virus 2, were detected.

Method
hemi-nested RT-PCR assay
Sample type
urine | spleen | organs
Geographic raw
South Africa
Country inferred
ZAF
OVE3194 Viral Detection
Key finding

Peaks in viral excretion in Egyptian rousette bats were identified as potential periods of higher risk for virus transmission and zoonotic spill-over of Rubula and related viruses.

Virus
Paramyxoviridae related viruses
Host
Egyptian rousette Rousettus aegyptiacus Natural host human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
South Africa
Supporting text

Our findings suggest that R. aegyptiacus can harbor a range of Rubula- and related viruses, some of which are related to known human pathogens. The observed peaks in viral excretion represents potential periods of a higher risk of virus transmission and zoonotic disease spill-over.

Method
hemi-nested RT-PCR
Geographic raw
South Africa
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE3193 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

Egyptian rousette bats in South Africa maintain and excrete diverse Rubula- and related viruses with excretion peaking twice per year in association with the bats' reproductive cycle.

Virus
Paramyxoviridae related viruses
Host
Egyptian rousette Rousettus aegyptiacus Natural host
Location
South Africa
Supporting text

Urine, spleen, and other organs collected from the R. aegyptiacus population within South Africa were tested with a hemi-nested RT-PCR assay targeting a partial polymerase gene region of viruses from the Avula- and Rubulavirus genera. Active excretion was identified during two peak periods coinciding with the host reproductive cycle.

Method
hemi-nested RT-PCR assay | temporal sampling over 14 months
Sample type
urine | spleen | organs
Geographic raw
South Africa
Country inferred
ZAF