Abstract
BackgroundEbola and Marburg viruses cause highly lethal hemorrhagic fevers in humans. Recently, bats of multiple species have been identified as possible natural hosts of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) in Gabon and Republic of Congo, and also of marburgvirus (MARV) in Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo.MethodsWe tested 2147 bats belonging to at least nine species sampled between 2003 and 2008 in three regions of Gabon and in the Ebola epidemic region of north Congo for IgG antibodies specific for ZEBOV and MARV.ResultsOverall, IgG antibodies to ZEBOV and MARV were found in 4% and 1% of bats, respectively. ZEBOV-specific antibodies were found in six bat species (Epomops franqueti, Hypsignathus monstrosus, Myonycteris torquata, Micropteropus pusillus, Mops condylurus and Rousettus aegyptiacus), while MARV-specific antibodies were only found in Rousettus aegyptiacus and Hypsignathus monstrosus. The prevalence of MARV-specific IgG was significantly higher in R. aegyptiacus members captured inside caves than elsewhere. No significant difference in prevalence was found according to age or gender. A higher prevalence of ZEBOV-specific IgG was found in pregnant females than in non pregnant females.ConclusionThese findings confirm that ZEBOV and MARV co-circulate in Gabon, the only country where bats infected by each virus have been found. IgG antibodies to both viruses were detected only in Rousettus aegyptiacus, suggesting that this bat species may be involved in the natural cycle of both Marburg and Ebola viruses. The presence of MARV in Gabon indicates a potential risk for a first human outbreak. Disease surveillance should be enhanced in areas near caves.
Highlights
Ebola and Marburg viruses cause highly lethal hemorrhagic fevers in humans
Of the 1024 small mammals sampled, including 679 bats, Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV)-specific antibodies were detected in the serum of 16 (8%) of 192 fruit bats belonging to three species, namely Hypsignathus monstrosus, Epomops franqueti, and Myonycteris torquata; ZEBOV RNA was detected in pooled liver and spleen samples from 13 (5%) of 279 such bats [11]
Of 438 bats collected in Gabon and Republic of Congo (RC), MARV-specific IgG was detected in the serum of 29 of 242 specimens of Rousettus aegyptiacus, and MARV nucleotide sequences were detected in four members of 283 bats of the same species, suggesting that R. aegyptiacus bats may be a MARV reservoir [13]
Summary
Ebola and Marburg viruses cause highly lethal hemorrhagic fevers in humans. Recently, bats of multiple species have been identified as possible natural hosts of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) in Gabon and Republic of Congo, and of marburgvirus (MARV) in Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo. Three outbreaks and four isolated cases of human MARV infection have been reported, in Germany and the former Yugoslavia (1967), Zimbabwe (1975), Kenya (1980, 1987), DRC (1998-1999), Angola (2005) and Uganda (2007) [5] Consistent with this epidemiological pattern, ecologic niche modeling of outbreaks and isolated cases has suggested that Ebola hemorrhagic fever occurs in the rain forests of central and western Africa, and Marburg in more open areas of central and western Africa [6,7]. The prevalence of ZEBOV-specific IgG was about 5% in bats from all four regions, and fell to about 1% at all four sites a year after the most recent Ebola outbreak, which occurred in 2005 in RC [12] These results indicate that ZEBOV-specific antibodies are widely distributed in these bats in Gabon and RC, supporting their potential reservoir status. Of 438 bats collected in Gabon and RC, MARV-specific IgG was detected in the serum of 29 of 242 specimens of Rousettus aegyptiacus, and MARV nucleotide sequences were detected in four members of 283 bats of the same species, suggesting that R. aegyptiacus bats may be a MARV reservoir [13]
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