<i>Henipavirus</i>Infection in Fruit Bats (<i>Pteropus giganteus</i>), India

Epstein, Jonathan H.; Prakash, Vibhu; Smith, Craig S.; Daszak, Peter; McLaughlin, Amanda; Meehan, Greer; Field, Hume; Cunningham, Andrew A.

doi:10.3201/eid1408.071492

Cited by 136 publications

(122 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus, are the apparent natural reservoir for the virus, and occasionally secrete Nipah virus in their saliva and excrete it in their urine (Young et al, 1996;Yob et al, 2001;Olson et al, 2002;Wacharapluesadee et al, 2005). Studies in Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia also identified neutralizing antibodies against Nipah virus in Pteropus bats (P. vampyrus and P. hypomelanus) (Yob et al, 2001;Epstein et al, 2008;Homaira et al, 2010). P. giganteus, one of the most common fruit bats in Bangladesh, have been found to carry antibodies against Eight Nipah virus outbreaks have been recognized in Bangladesh between 2001(ICDDR,B, 2008Luby et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Use of Infrared Camera to Understand Bats’ Access to Date Palm Sap: Implications for Preventing Nipah Virus Transmission

et al. 2010

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Pteropus bats are commonly infected with Nipah virus, but show no signs of illness. Human Nipah outbreaks in Bangladesh coincide with the date palm sap harvesting season. In epidemiologic studies, drinking raw date palm sap is a risk factor for human Nipah infection. We conducted a study to evaluate bats' access to date palm sap. We mounted infrared cameras that silently captured images upon detection of motion on date palm trees from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am. Additionally, we placed two locally used preventative techniques, bamboo skirts and lime (CaCO₃) smeared on date palm trees to assess their effectiveness in preventing bats access to sap. Out of 20 camera-nights of observations, 14 identified 132 visits of bats around the tree, 91 to the shaved surface of the tree where the sap flow originates, 4 at the stream of sap moving toward the collection pot, and no bats at the tap or on the collection pots; the remaining 6 camera-nights recorded no visits. Of the preventative techniques, the bamboo skirt placed for four camera-nights prevented bats access to sap. This study confirmed that bats commonly visited date palm trees and physically contacted the sap collected for human consumption. This is further evidence that date palm sap is an important link between Nipah virus in bats and Nipah virus in humans. Efforts that prevent bat access to the shaved surface and the sap stream of the tree could reduce Nipah spillovers to the human population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Use of Infrared Camera to Understand Bats’ Access to Date Palm Sap: Implications for Preventing Nipah Virus Transmission

et al. 2010

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“…Nevertheless, in addition to these countries, the virus has been detected in fruit bats or the bats were seropsitive to NiV antibodies from Cambodia [79], Thailand [90], Indonesia [81], India [23,99], Madagascar in Southern Africa [41] and Ghana in West Africa [22,37]. P. giganteus is the only Pteropus species present in Bangladesh [59].…”

Section: Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An outbreak of acute encephalitis occurred in Siliguri (West Bengal) town of India between January 31 and February 23,2001. A total of 66 probable human cases and 45 deaths were reported.…”

Section: Nipah Virus Infection 399mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nipah virus infection: current scenario

et al. 2013

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“…A basic physical examination was conducted, identifying any obvious lesions or abnormalities of the skin, bones, abdomen, thorax, mouth and nervous system. weight (g), and presence of secondary sexual characteristics (Epstein et al 2008).…”

Section: Animal Capture Sample and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Post-capture sampling was random. Sex and age-class (estimated by forearm length (mm), weight (g), and presence of secondary sexual characteristics) (Epstein et al 2008) were recorded for each bat.…”

Section: Animal Capture and Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological biomarkers of Hendra virus infection in Australian Flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.)

McMichael¹

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Since 1994 when the disease was first described, there have been over 50 Hendra virus incidents involving more than 90 confirmed or possible equine cases, and 7 associated human cases, with case fatality rates approaching 90% and 60%respectively. Epidemiological studies suggest that flying-foxes, in particular the Black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) and the closely related Spectacled flying-fox (P.conspicillatus) are the primary natural reservoir hosts. This research project investigates a hypothesised causal association between ecological and/or physiological stress and Hendra virus infection in Pteropus species.During a 12-month study of flying-foxes in Southeast Queensland (SEQ), samples were collected from 446 captured wild P. alecto for analysis of 18 hematologic, 22 biochemical and 8 urinary biomarkers, establishing normal reference ranges and temporal changes for this suite of biomarkers. The population demonstrated statistically significant temporal variation in some biomarkers consistent with life cycle events. In Hendra virus RNA-positive animals all biomarker mean values were within established normal ranges, but some were significantly different compared to Hendra virus RNA-negative animals, notably, increased lymphocyte percent, decreased neutrophil percent, decreased plasma triglyceride levels, increased plasma alkaline phosphatase levels and increased urinary protein levels. The study demonstrated that Hendra virus infection in P. alecto was sub-clinical, and that there was no apparent relationship with nutritional stress, reproductive stress or extreme metabolic demand, which would have caused substantial changes to biomarker values. The relationship between increased urinary protein levels, decreased triglyceride levels and Hendra virus infection is of interest, and may support the premise of urinary tract association and physiological demand with Hendra virus infection of P. alecto.In a second study, a method of collection and assay of urinary cortisol to measure physiological stress in roosting flying-foxes was validated. Differences between the four mainland flying-fox species (P. alecto, P. poliocephalus, P. scapulatus, P. conspicillatus) were established through collection of urine samples from a wide geographic range throughout Queensland and New South Wales from single species roosts. Then, over a three-year study, population urinary cortisol and Hendra virus 3 urinary excretion prevalence was measured from a total of 2208 pooled urine samples from mixed species roosts of flying-foxes from two geographically distinct regions, subtropical SEQ and tropical Far North Queensland (FNQ). An autumn elevation in urinary cortisol in the FNQ population was detected, but no significant seasonal fluctuations in Hendra virus excretion prevalence were found. Urinary cortisol was significantly elevated in both autumn and winter in the SEQ population, the latter temporally associated with a significant winter elevation in Hendra virus excretion prevalence. There was also a strong correlation betwe...

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HenipavirusInfection in Fruit Bats (Pteropus giganteus), India

Cited by 136 publications

References 15 publications

Use of Infrared Camera to Understand Bats’ Access to Date Palm Sap: Implications for Preventing Nipah Virus Transmission

Use of Infrared Camera to Understand Bats’ Access to Date Palm Sap: Implications for Preventing Nipah Virus Transmission

Nipah virus infection: current scenario

Physiological biomarkers of Hendra virus infection in Australian Flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.)

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