Research Articles (Medical Virology)http://hdl.handle.net/2263/17192024-03-19T13:02:05Z2024-03-19T13:02:05ZRobust evidence for bats as reservoir hosts is lacking in most African virus studies : a review and call to optimize sampling and conserve batsWeber, NatalieNagy, MartinaMarkotter, WandaSchaer, JulianePuechmaille, Sebastien J.Sutton, JackDavalos, Liliana M.Dusabe, Marie-ClaireEjotre, ImranFenton, M. BrockKnornschild, MirjamLopez-Baucells, AdriaMedellin, Rodrigo A.Mubareka, SamiraNsengimana, OlivierO’Mara, M. TeagueRacey, Paul A.Tuttle, MerlinTwizeyimana, InnocentVicente-Santos, AmandaTschapka, MarcoVoigt, Christian C.Wikelski, MartinDechmann, Dina K.N.Reeder, DeeAnn M.http://hdl.handle.net/2263/952112024-03-14T22:47:55Z2023-11-01T00:00:00ZRobust evidence for bats as reservoir hosts is lacking in most African virus studies : a review and call to optimize sampling and conserve bats
Weber, Natalie; Nagy, Martina; Markotter, Wanda; Schaer, Juliane; Puechmaille, Sebastien J.; Sutton, Jack; Davalos, Liliana M.; Dusabe, Marie-Claire; Ejotre, Imran; Fenton, M. Brock; Knornschild, Mirjam; Lopez-Baucells, Adria; Medellin, Rodrigo A.; Mubareka, Samira; Nsengimana, Olivier; O’Mara, M. Teague; Racey, Paul A.; Tuttle, Merlin; Twizeyimana, Innocent; Vicente-Santos, Amanda; Tschapka, Marco; Voigt, Christian C.; Wikelski, Martin; Dechmann, Dina K.N.; Reeder, DeeAnn M.
Africa experiences frequent emerging disease outbreaks
among humans, with bats often proposed as zoonotic
pathogen hosts. We comprehensively reviewed virus–bat
findings from papers published between 1978 and 2020
to evaluate the evidence that African bats are reservoir
and/or bridging hosts for viruses that cause human disease.
We present data from 162 papers (of 1322) with
original findings on (1) numbers and species of bats
sampled across bat families and the continent, (2) how
bats were selected for study inclusion, (3) if bats were
terminally sampled, (4) what types of ecological data,
if any, were recorded and (5) which viruses were
detected and with what methodology. We propose a
scheme for evaluating presumed virus–host relationships
by evidence type and quality, using the contrasting
available evidence for Orthoebolavirus versus Orthomarburgvirus
as an example. We review the wording
in abstracts and discussions of all 162 papers, identifying
key framing terms, how these refer to findings, and
how they might contribute to people’s beliefs about bats.
We discuss the impact of scientific research communication
on public perception and emphasize the need
for strategies that minimize human–bat conflict and
support bat conservation. Finally, we make recommendations
for best practices that will improve virological
study metadata.
DATA ACCESSIBILITY : Data used in this study are available from the Dryad
Digital Repository: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c866t1gcx [222].
Supplementary material is available online [223].
2023-11-01T00:00:00ZViral maintenance and excretion dynamics of coronaviruses within an Egyptian rousette fruit bat maternal colony : considerations for spilloverGeldenhuys, MarikeRoss, NoamDietrich, MurielDe Vries, J. LowMortlock, MarindaEpstein, Jonathan H.Weyer, JacquelinePaweska, Janusz TadeuszMarkotter, Wandahttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/949222024-02-23T22:49:58Z2023-09-01T00:00:00ZViral maintenance and excretion dynamics of coronaviruses within an Egyptian rousette fruit bat maternal colony : considerations for spillover
Geldenhuys, Marike; Ross, Noam; Dietrich, Muriel; De Vries, J. Low; Mortlock, Marinda; Epstein, Jonathan H.; Weyer, Jacqueline; Paweska, Janusz Tadeusz; Markotter, Wanda
Novel coronavirus species of public health and veterinary importance have emerged in the first
two decades of the twenty-first century, with bats identified as natural hosts for progenitors of
many coronaviruses. Targeted wildlife surveillance is needed to identify the factors involved in viral
perpetuation within natural host populations, and drivers of interspecies transmission. We monitored
a natural colony of Egyptian rousette bats at monthly intervals across two years to identify circulating
coronaviruses, and to investigate shedding dynamics and viral maintenance within the colony.
Three distinct lineages were detected, with different seasonal temporal excretion dynamics. For
two lineages, the highest periods of coronavirus shedding were at the start of the year, when large
numbers of bats were found in the colony. Highest peaks for a third lineage were observed towards
the middle of the year. Among individual bat-level factors (age, sex, reproductive status, and forearm
mass index), only reproductive status showed significant effects on excretion probability, with
reproductive adults having lower rates of detection, though factors were highly interdependent.
Analysis of recaptured bats suggests that viral clearance may occur within one month. These
findings may be implemented in the development of risk reduction strategies for potential zoonotic
coronavirus transmission.
DATA AVAILABILITY : All data generated during this study are included in this published article (and its Supplementary Information
files). All model code as well as diagnostic reports are available in the GitHub project code repository (https://github.com/ecohealthalliance/sabrenet-rousettus-dynamics/, with a version on Zenodo https://zenodo. org/record/7709716).
2023-09-01T00:00:00ZStem cell transplant in immune-deficiency-associated vaccine-derived poliovirusRanchod, HeenaHoward, WayneRoux, AdeleVan Zyl, Walda B.Ekermans, PieterVan den Berg, SylviaSeakamela, LeratoMakua, KoketsoYousif, MukhlidSibiya, RosinahDu Plessis, HeleenPhalane, EmmanuelMcCarthy, KerriganMoonsamy, ShelinaReynders, DavidHincks, JeffreySuchard, Melinda S.Du Plessis, Nicolette M.http://hdl.handle.net/2263/947692024-02-21T22:46:49Z2024-01-01T00:00:00ZStem cell transplant in immune-deficiency-associated vaccine-derived poliovirus
Ranchod, Heena; Howard, Wayne; Roux, Adele; Van Zyl, Walda B.; Ekermans, Pieter; Van den Berg, Sylvia; Seakamela, Lerato; Makua, Koketso; Yousif, Mukhlid; Sibiya, Rosinah; Du Plessis, Heleen; Phalane, Emmanuel; McCarthy, Kerrigan; Moonsamy, Shelina; Reynders, David; Hincks, Jeffrey; Suchard, Melinda S.; Du Plessis, Nicolette M.
Patients with severe primary immunodeficiency are at risk for complications from live-attenuated vaccines. Here, we report a case of a vaccine-associated paralytic polio and Bacille Calmette-Guérin disease in a 6-month-old girl with severe combined immunodeficiency resulting from homozygous recombinant activating gene 1 deficiency. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and oral pocapavir for poliovirus, and antimycobacterial therapy for regional Bacille Calmette-Guérin disease, allowing stem cell transplant. Following transplantation, poliovirus type 3 with 13 mutations was detected from cerebrospinal fluid but not from stool, indicating ongoing viral evolution in the central nervous system despite pocapavir treatment. Clinical improvement and immune reconstitution allowed the patient to be successfully discharged with no further detection of poliovirus.
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZVector-borne protozoan and bacterial pathogen occurrence and diversity in ectoparasites of the Egyptian Rousette batSzentivanyi, TamaraHeintz, Anne-CarolineMarkotter, WandaWassef, JeromeChriste, PhilippeGlaizot, Olivierhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/947492024-02-20T22:50:53Z2023-06-01T00:00:00ZVector-borne protozoan and bacterial pathogen occurrence and diversity in ectoparasites of the Egyptian Rousette bat
Szentivanyi, Tamara; Heintz, Anne-Caroline; Markotter, Wanda; Wassef, Jerome; Christe, Philippe; Glaizot, Olivier
Bats are known reservoir hosts for a wide variety of parasites and pathogens, including bacteria and protozoans. Some of these pathogens are vector-borne, and although their role is poorly studied, ectoparasites may contribute significantly to their transmission. The aim of this study was to molecularly detect the presence of vector-borne microorganisms in bat-associated ectoparasites to explore their diversity and distribution in these insects. We tested the presence of Bartonella spp., Polychromophilus spp., and Trypanosoma spp. in bat flies and bat fleas collected from 56 Egyptian Rousette bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), using conventional PCR. We found a high prevalence of 43.9% (47/107) of Bartonella spp. in bat flies, but a low prevalence of 6.6% (4/61) in bat fleas. Polychromophilus and Trypanosoma DNA were absent in both bat flies and bat fleas. Furthermore, we found novel gltA Bartonella sequences, as well as genotypes that are highly similar to recently described and potentially zoonotic ones. Our results show high diversity of Bartonella in bat flies, however, their role in pathogen transmission is still unknown and should be further explored.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data that supports the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.; DATA S1. Supporting Information,; TABLE S1. Vector-borne pathogens (excluding viruses) tested (based on culture and/or nucleic acid based testing) and recorded in Rousettus aegyptiacus and its ectoparasites. TABLE S2. Reference sequences of gltA region used for phylogenetic analysis, obtained from GenBank and literature.; TABLE S3. Supporting Information
2023-06-01T00:00:00Z