Novel, potentially zoonotic paramyxoviruses from the African straw-Colored fruit bat eidolon helvum

Baker, K.S. et al. (2013) Novel, potentially zoonotic paramyxoviruses from the African straw-Colored fruit bat eidolon helvum. Journal of Virology, 87(3), pp. 1348-1358. (doi: 10.1128/JVI.01202-12)

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Abstract

Bats carry a variety of paramyxoviruses that impact human and domestic animal health when spillover occurs. Recent studies have shown a great diversity of paramyxoviruses in an urban-roosting population of straw-colored fruit bats in Ghana. Here, we investigate this further through virus isolation and describe two novel rubulaviruses: Achimota virus 1 (AchPV1) and Achimota virus 2 (AchPV2). The viruses form a phylogenetic cluster with each other and other bat-derived rubulaviruses, such as Tuhoko viruses, Menangle virus, and Tioman virus. We developed AchPV1- and AchPV2-specific serological assays and found evidence of infection with both viruses in Eidolon helvum across sub-Saharan Africa and on islands in the Gulf of Guinea. Longitudinal sampling of E. helvum indicates virus persistence within fruit bat populations and suggests spread of AchPVs via horizontal transmission. We also detected possible serological evidence of human infection with AchPV2 in Ghana and Tanzania. It is likely that clinically significant zoonotic spillover of chiropteran paramyxoviruses could be missed throughout much of Africa where health surveillance and diagnostics are poor and comorbidities, such as infection with HIV or Plasmodium sp., are common.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Murcia, Professor Pablo
Authors: Baker, K.S., Todd, S., Marsh, G.A., Crameri, G., Barr, J., Kamins, A.O., Peel, A.J., Yu, M., Hayman, D.T.S., Nadjm, B., Mtove, G., Amos, B., Reyburn, H., Nyarko, E., Suu-Ire, R., Murcia, P.R., Cunningham, A.A., Wood, J.L.N., and Wang, L.-F.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
Journal Name:Journal of Virology
Publisher:American Society for Microbiology
ISSN:0022-538X
Published Online:14 November 2012

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