Henipavirus RNA in African bats.
BACKGROUND
Henipaviruses (Hendra and Nipah virus) are highly pathogenic members of the family Paramyxoviridae. Fruit-eating bats of the Pteropus genus have been suggested as their natural reservoir. Human Henipavirus infections have been reported in a region extending from Australia via Malaysia into Bangladesh, compatible with the geographic range of Pteropus. These bats do not occur in continental Africa, but a whole range of other fruit bats is encountered. One of the most abundant is Eidolon helvum, the African Straw-coloured fruit bat.


RESULTS
Feces from E. helvum roosting in an urban setting in Kumasi/Ghana were tested for Henipavirus RNA. Sequences of three novel viruses in phylogenetic relationship to known Henipaviruses were detected. Virus RNA concentrations in feces were low.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of novel putative Henipaviruses outside Australia and Asia contributes a significant extension of the region of potential endemicity of one of the most pathogenic virus genera known in humans.
Drexler
Jan Felix
JF
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Corman
Victor Max
VM
Gloza-Rausch
Florian
F
Seebens
Antje
A
Annan
Augustina
A
Ipsen
Anne
A
Kruppa
Thomas
T
Müller
Marcel A
MA
Kalko
Elisabeth K V
EK
Adu-Sarkodie
Yaw
Y
Oppong
Samuel
S
Drosten
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D045403:Henipavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*
D012367:RNA, Viral