Lyssavirus distribution in naturally infected bats from Germany.
In Germany, to date three different lyssavirus species are responsible for bat rabies in indigenous bats: the European Bat Lyssaviruses type 1 and 2 (EBLV-1, EBLV-2) and the Bokeloh Bat Lyssavirus (BBLV) for which Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis daubentonii and Myotis nattereri, respectively, are primary hosts. Lyssavirus maintenance, evolution, and epidemiology are still insufficiently explored. Moreover, the small number of bats infected, the nocturnal habits of bats and the limited experimental data still hamper attempts to understand the distribution, prevalence, and in particular transmission of the virus. In an experimental study in E. serotinus a heterogeneous dissemination of EBLV-1 in tissues was detected. However, it is not clear whether the EBLV-1 distribution is similar in naturally infected animals. In an attempt to further analyze virus dissemination and viral loads within naturally infected hosts we investigated tissues of 57 EBLV-1 positive individuals of E. serotinus from Germany by RT-qPCR and compared the results with those obtained experimentally. Additionally, tissue samples were investigated with immunohistochemistry to detect lyssavirus antigen in defined structures. While in individual animals virus RNA was present only in the brain, in the majority of E. serotinus viral RNA was found in various tissues with highest relative viral loads detected in the brain. Interestingly, viral antigen was confirmed in various tissues in the tongue including deep intralingual glands, nerves, muscle cells and lingual papillae. So, the tongue appears to be a prominent site for virus replication and possibly shedding.
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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Schatz
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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Teifke
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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Mettenleiter
Landeslabor-Berlin-Brandenburg, Fachbereich Infektionsdiagnostik, 10557 Berlin, Germany.
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Aue
Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz, 30453 Hannover, Germany.
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Stiefel
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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Müller
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany. Electronic address: Conrad.Freuling@fli.bund.de.
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Freuling
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology*; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018114:Lyssavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D050296:Microbial Viability; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011818:Rabies / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014059:Tongue / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral
Bat rabies; Immunohistochemistry; Infection; Lyssavirus; RT-PCR