Large serological survey showing cocirculation of Ebola and Marburg viruses in Gabonese bat populations, and a high seroprevalence of both viruses in Rousettus aegyptiacus

Abstract

BackgroundEbola and Marburg viruses cause highly lethal hemorrhagic fevers in humans. Recently, bats of multiple species have been identified as possible natural hosts of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) in Gabon and Republic of Congo, and also of marburgvirus (MARV) in Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo.MethodsWe tested 2147 bats belonging to at least nine species sampled between 2003 and 2008 in three regions of Gabon and in the Ebola epidemic region of north Congo for IgG antibodies specific for ZEBOV and MARV.ResultsOverall, IgG antibodies to ZEBOV and MARV were found in 4% and 1% of bats, respectively. ZEBOV-specific antibodies were found in six bat species (Epomops franqueti, Hypsignathus monstrosus, Myonycteris torquata, Micropteropus pusillus, Mops condylurus and Rousettus aegyptiacus), while MARV-specific antibodies were only found in Rousettus aegyptiacus and Hypsignathus monstrosus. The prevalence of MARV-specific IgG was significantly higher in R. aegyptiacus members captured inside caves than elsewhere. No significant difference in prevalence was found according to age or gender. A higher prevalence of ZEBOV-specific IgG was found in pregnant females than in non pregnant females.ConclusionThese findings confirm that ZEBOV and MARV co-circulate in Gabon, the only country where bats infected by each virus have been found. IgG antibodies to both viruses were detected only in Rousettus aegyptiacus, suggesting that this bat species may be involved in the natural cycle of both Marburg and Ebola viruses. The presence of MARV in Gabon indicates a potential risk for a first human outbreak. Disease surveillance should be enhanced in areas near caves.

Descriptive analyses and risk of death due to Ebola Virus Disease, West Africa, 2014

“…A total of 23 reported human outbreaks have occurred primarily in Central and Eastern Africa (six in the Democratic Republic of Congo, five in Uganda, four in Gabon, four in the Republic of Congo, three in South Sudan, and one each from Cote D'Ivoire and Guinea) [3]. In addition, 51 outbreaks and documented reports have been recorded in wild animals, with the last six reported from Ghana [4,5].…”

Molecular Evolution of Viruses of the Family Filoviridae Based on 97 Whole-Genome Sequences

“…Initial introduction into the human population is often thought to result from contact with infected carcasses of nonhuman primates or other mammals or direct contact with an infected reservoir host (17)(18)(19)(20)(21). Despite numerous attempts to identify the natural reservoir(s) of the filoviruses over the past Ն30 years, only recently have bats been implicated as possible reservoirs for the ebolaviruses and marburgviruses (20)(21)(22)(23)(24). Over the past 10 years, filovirus RNA and antibodies have been detected in several bat species, but it was not until 2007 that Marburg and Ravn virus isolates were recovered from Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) associated with a small outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in southwestern Uganda (21).…”

Chiropteran and Filoviruses in Africa: Unveiling an ancient history

“…identify the natural reservoirs species of filoviruses Gonzalez et al, 2007;Pourrut et al, 2009 Gonzalez et al, 2007;Pourrut et al, 2009). Their studies also detected viral nucleic acid sequences in the tissues of 13 bats (3 H. monstrosus, 5 E. franqueti and 5 M. torquata) and provided the first evidence of bats' role as probable potential reservoirs of Ebolavirus in nature (Table 1).…”

“…Serological evidence of EBOV antibodies has been also detected in a serum sample of the Little flying Cow, Nanonycteris veldkampii Matschie, 1899 (Megachiroptera, Pteropidae) (Hayman et al, 2012). ZEBOV-IgG were detected again in E. franqueti, H. monstrosus, R. aegyptiacus and M. torquata; while the Lesser Epaulet bat, Micropteropus pusillus Peters, 1867 (Megachiroptera, Pteropidae) and Mops condylurus Lesson (Microchiroptera, Molossidae) tested for the first time ZEBOV-IgG positive in nature (Pourrut et al, 2009). MARV-IgG were also found in R. aegyptiacus and H. monstrosus (Pourrut et al, 2009).…”

“…ZEBOV-IgG were detected again in E. franqueti, H. monstrosus, R. aegyptiacus and M. torquata; while the Lesser Epaulet bat, Micropteropus pusillus Peters, 1867 (Megachiroptera, Pteropidae) and Mops condylurus Lesson (Microchiroptera, Molossidae) tested for the first time ZEBOV-IgG positive in nature (Pourrut et al, 2009). MARV-IgG were also found in R. aegyptiacus and H. monstrosus (Pourrut et al, 2009). Amman et al (2012) investigated the Python Cave inhabited by the Egyptian Fruit Bat in Uganda and detected viral nucleic sequences of MARV; also seven of the bats yielded Marburg virus isolates (Table 1).…”