Markotter, Wanda2025-02-042025-02-042025-042025-02*A2025http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100516Dissertation (MSc (Medical Virology))--University of Pretoria, 2025.Bats have been implicated as hosts to a diverse range of viruses, some of which are known human pathogens. Several viruses of the family Paramyxoviridae have been described from both frugivorous and insectivorous bat species. Members of the family are large, enveloped, and linear negative-sense RNA viruses that infect vertebrates, causing a wide range of diseases. The emergence of the Hendra and Nipah viruses (genus Henipavirus, subfamily Orthoparamyxovirinae) in Australia and Southeast Asia respectively intensified the biosurveillance in bats for viruses of the family Paramyxoviridae. The more recent emergence of a zoonotic paramyxovirus, Sosuga virus (SOSV) (Pararubulavirus genus), from Egyptian rousette bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) in Uganda on the African continent responsible for a single human case of acute febrile illness, attracted attention to the Rubulavirinae subfamily. The Egyptian rousette bat (ERB) has a broad yet fragmented distribution spanning mainly across sub-Saharan Africa (including parts of South Africa) as well as some regions in Southwest Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Previous research has reported several viruses in the Rubulavirinae subfamily from a South African ERB population using a broadly reactive subfamily assay but was unable to detect SOSV RNA. The aim of the study was to detect SOSV and other rubulavirus RNA from ERBs of Limpopo, South Africa by targeting a different sample type than previously used. A synthetic DNA construct was designed to generate RNA transcripts to be used as positive controls in the SOSV-specific quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Retrospective spleen (n=66), intestine (n=223) and population-level faecal samples (n=1211) were tested for the presence of SOSV RNA using the qRT-PCR assay, all of which were negative. Population-level faecal samples (n=1211) were additionally tested for rubulavirus RNA using a broadly reactive hemi-nested PCR targeting the Avula- and Rubulavirinae subfamilies. Diverse rubulaviruses were detected which include human parainfluenza 2 and mumps-related viruses, among additional diverse viral sequences related to the Pararubulavirus genus. The diversity detected in faecal samples is comparable with that described from other sample types; however, two unique virus sequences were detected. Analysis of rubulavirus excretion dynamics detected significant peaks in the excretion of pararubulaviruses and mumps-related virus sequences in dry winter months in addition to an autumn peak in the excretion of human parainfluenza-related virus sequences. These periods are characterised by low food availability and the presumed waning of maternal antibodies. The study contributes to the diversity of rubulaviruses described from ERBs and provides preliminary data on the excretion dynamics of specific viruses related to known human pathogens. This data can be used to identify periods of higher risk of exposure of humans and other wildlife in the region to these viruses.en© 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)RubulavirusHuman parainfluenza 2Egyptian rousette batsViral dynamicsDissertationu15214801https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28342520