title: Evidence of henipavirus infection in West African fruit bats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David T S
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suu-Ire
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Breed
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McEachern
authors.forename: Linfa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: James L N
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins