Abstract
Dengue, a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease, is the most common vector-borne disease in tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, we aim to demonstrate biological evidence of dengue virus infection in bats. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the departments of Cordoba and Sucre, Colombia. A total of 286 bats were captured following the ethical protocols of animal experimentation. The specimens were identified and euthanized using a pharmacological treatment with atropine, acepromazine and sodium pentobarbital. Duplicate samples of brain, heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney were collected with one set stored in Trizol and the other stored in 10% buffered formalin for histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis using polyclonal antibodies. Brain samples from lactating mice with an intracranial inoculation of DENV-2 were used as a positive control. As a negative control, lactating mouse brains without inoculation and bats brains negative for RT-PCR were included. Tissue sections from each specimen of bat without conjugate were used as staining control. In a specimen of Carollia perspicillata captured in Ayapel (Cordoba) and Phylostomus discolor captured in San Carlos (Cordoba), dengue virus was detected, and sequences were matched to DENV serotype 2. In bats RT-PCR positive for dengue, lesions compatible with viral infections, and the presence of antigens in tissues were observed. Molecular findings, pathological lesions, and detection of antigens in tissues could demonstrate viral DENV-2 replication and may correspond to natural infection in bats. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the exact role of these species in dengue epidemics.
Highlights
Signs and symptoms of Dengue virus (DENV) infections in humans vary from a nonspecific febrile syndrome to fatal encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever
Another fraction was stored in 10% formalin to perform histopathology and immunohistochemistry techniques
During 12 nights of sampling, 23 species belonging to six families were caught
Summary
Dengue is a zoonotic disease transmitted by arbovirus, endemic in the tropics, where all the environmental conditions for its circulation are found [1]. In February 2020, the incidence rate of dengue was 81.51 cases per 100,000 population, and this forced the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to release an epidemiological distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons. Dengue virus (DENV) is an enveloped, icosahedral flavivirus. Signs and symptoms of DENV infections in humans vary from a nonspecific febrile syndrome to fatal encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever. DENV is highly prevalent in tropical countries. Along with malaria, it is the most significant disease transmitted by vectors [7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
