Evidence of henipavirus infection in West African fruit bats.
Henipaviruses are emerging RNA viruses of fruit bat origin that can cause fatal encephalitis in man. Ghanaian fruit bats (megachiroptera) were tested for antibodies to henipaviruses. Using a Luminex multiplexed microsphere assay, antibodies were detected in sera of Eidolon helvum to both Nipah (39%, 95% confidence interval: 27-51%) and Hendra (22%, 95% CI: 11-33%) viruses. Virus neutralization tests further confirmed seropositivity for 30% (7/23) of Luminex positive serum samples. Our results indicate that henipavirus is present within West Africa.
Hayman
David T S
DT
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom.
Suu-Ire
Richard
R
Breed
Andrew C
AC
McEachern
Jennifer A
JA
Wang
Linfa
L
Wood
James L N
JL
Cunningham
Andrew A
AA
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D045403:Henipavirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D045464:Henipavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008863:Microspheres; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D013045:Species Specificity
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins