Detection of Nipah virus RNA in fruit bat (Pteropus giganteus) from India.
The study deals with the survey of different bat populations (Pteropus giganteus, Cynopterus sphinx, and Megaderma lyra) in India for highly pathogenic Nipah virus (NiV), Reston Ebola virus, and Marburg virus. Bats (n = 140) from two states in India (Maharashtra and West Bengal) were tested for IgG (serum samples) against these viruses and for virus RNAs. Only NiV RNA was detected in a liver homogenate of P. giganteus captured in Myanaguri, West Bengal. Partial sequence analysis of nucleocapsid, glycoprotein, fusion, and phosphoprotein genes showed similarity with the NiV sequences from earlier outbreaks in India. A serum sample of this bat was also positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for NiV-specific IgG. This is the first report on confirmation of Nipah viral RNA in Pteropus bat from India and suggests the possible role of this species in transmission of NiV in India.
Microbial Containment Complex, National Institute of Virology, Pune, India.
Pragya D
PD
Yadav
Chandrashekhar G
CG
Raut
Anita M
AM
Shete
Akhilesh C
AC
Mishra
Jonathan S
JS
Towner
Stuart T
ST
Nichol
Devendra T
DT
Mourya
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D045464:Henipavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D045405:Nipah Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
D012367:RNA, Viral