Experimental Nipah virus infection in pteropid bats (Pteropus poliocephalus).
Seventeen grey-headed fruit bats (Pteropus poliocephalus) were inoculated subcutaneously with an isolate of Nipah virus derived from a fatally infected human. A control group of eight guinea-pigs was inoculated intraperitoneally with the same isolate in order to confirm virulence. Three of eight infected guinea-pigs developed clinical signs 7-9 days post-inoculation. Infected fruit bats developed a subclinical infection characterized by the transient presence of virus within selected viscera, episodic viral excretion and seroconversion. A range of histopathological changes was observed within the tissues of infected bats. Nipah virus was excreted in bat urine while neutralizing antibody was present in serum. This intermittent, low-level excretion of Nipah virus in the urine of bats may be sufficient to sustain the net reproductive value of the virus in a species where there is regular urine contamination of the fur, mutual grooming, and where urine droplets are a feature of the environment.
Middleton
D J
DJ
Australian Animal Health Laboratory, CSIRO Livestock Industries PB 24, Geelong 3220, Victoria, Australia. Deborah.middleton@csiro.au <Deborah.middleton@csiro.au>
Morrissy
C J
CJ
van der Heide
B M
BM
Russell
G M
GM
Braun
M A
MA
Westbury
H A
HA
Halpin
K
K
Daniels
P W
PW
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D045464:Henipavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D045405:Nipah Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology*