Giotis, Efstathios (2023) Serological evidence of virus infection in Eidolon helvum fruit bats: Implications for Bushmeat Consumption in Nigeria. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. 1283113-. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1283113
Giotis, Efstathios (2023) Serological evidence of virus infection in Eidolon helvum fruit bats: Implications for Bushmeat Consumption in Nigeria. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. 1283113-. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1283113
Giotis, Efstathios (2023) Serological evidence of virus infection in Eidolon helvum fruit bats: Implications for Bushmeat Consumption in Nigeria. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. 1283113-. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1283113
Abstract
Introduction: The Eidolon helvum fruit bat is one of the most widely distributed fruit bats in Africa and known to be a reservoir for several pathogenic viruses that can cause disease in animals and humans. To assess the risk of zoonotic spillover, we conducted a serological survey of 304 serum samples from E. helvum bats that were captured for human consumption in Makurdi, Nigeria. Methods: Using pseudotyped viruses, we screened 304 serum samples for neutralizing antibodies against viruses from the Coronaviridae, Filoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae and Paramyxoviridae families. Results: We report the presence of neutralizing antibodies against henipavirus lineage GH-M74a virus (odds ratio 6.23; p < 0.001), Nipah virus (odds ratio 4.04; p = 0.00031), bat influenza H17N10 virus (odds ratio 7.25; p < 0.001) and no significant association with Ebola virus (odds ratio 0.56; p = 0.375) in this bat cohort. Conclusion: The data suggest a potential risk of zoonotic spillover including the possible circulation of highly pathogenic viruses in E. helvum populations. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining sero-surveillance of E. helvum, and the necessity for further, more comprehensive investigations to monitor changes in virus prevalence, distribution over time, and across different geographic locations.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Eidolon helvum , pseudotypes, Ebola virus, Nipah virus, Marburg virus, henipavirus, H17N10, Ghana bat henipavirus |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Life Sciences, School of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 27 Nov 2023 15:41 |
Last Modified: | 16 May 2024 22:07 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/36773 |
Available files
Filename: fpubh-11-1283113.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0