Abstract:
Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) were inoculated subcutaneously (n = 22) with Marburg virus
(MARV). No deaths, overt signs of morbidity, or gross lesions was identified, but microscopic pathological
changes were seen in the liver of infected bats. The virus was detected in 15 different tissues and plasma but
only sporadically in mucosal swab samples, urine, and fecal samples. Neither seroconversion nor viremia
could be demonstrated in any of the in-contact susceptible bats (n = 14) up to 42 days after exposure to infected
bats. In bats rechallenged (n = 4) on day 48 after infection, there was no viremia, and the virus could not be
isolated from any of the tissues tested. This study confirmed that infection profiles are consistent with
MARV replication in a reservoir host but failed to demonstrate MARV transmission through direct physical
contact or indirectly via air. Bats develop strong protective immunity after infection with MARV.
