title: Duration of Maternal Antibodies against Canine Distemper Virus and Hendra Virus in Pteropid Bats.
abstract: Old World frugivorous bats have been identified as natural hosts for emerging zoonotic viruses of significant public health concern, including henipaviruses (Nipah and Hendra virus), Ebola virus, and Marburg virus. Epidemiological studies of these viruses in bats often utilize serology to describe viral dynamics, with particular attention paid to juveniles, whose birth increases the overall susceptibility of the population to a viral outbreak once maternal immunity wanes. However, little is understood about bat immunology, including the duration of maternal antibodies in neonates. Understanding duration of maternally derived immunity is critical for characterizing viral dynamics in bat populations, which may help assess the risk of spillover to humans. We conducted two separate studies of pregnant Pteropus bat species and their offspring to measure the half-life and duration of antibodies to 1) canine distemper virus antigen in vaccinated captive Pteropus hypomelanus; and 2) Hendra virus in wild-caught, naturally infected Pteropus alecto. Both of these pteropid bat species are known reservoirs for henipaviruses. We found that in both species, antibodies were transferred from dam to pup. In P. hypomelanus pups, titers against CDV waned over a mean period of 228.6 days (95% CI: 185.4-271.8) and had a mean terminal phase half-life of 96.0 days (CI 95%: 30.7-299.7). In P. alecto pups, antibodies waned over 255.13 days (95% CI: 221.0-289.3) and had a mean terminal phase half-life of 52.24 days (CI 95%: 33.76-80.83). Each species showed a duration of transferred maternal immunity of between 7.5 and 8.5 months, which was longer than has been previously estimated. These data will allow for more accurate interpretation of age-related Henipavirus serological data collected from wild pteropid bats.
authors.affiliation: EcoHealth Alliance, New York, New York, United States of America ; Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, Kingston University, Kingston-Upon-Thames, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zambrana-Torrelio
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dubovi
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crameri
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Katey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pelican
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fielder
authors.forename: Angela J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Lin-Fa
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Daszak
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary*; D004216:Distemper / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D045404:Hendra Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D045464:Henipavirus Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral