title: Experimental Inoculation of Egyptian Rousette Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) with Viruses of the Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus Genera.
abstract: The Egyptian rousette bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is a natural reservoir for marburgviruses and a consistent source of virus spillover to humans. Cumulative evidence suggests various bat species may also transmit ebolaviruses. We investigated the susceptibility of Egyptian rousettes to each of the five known ebolaviruses (Sudan, Ebola, Bundibugyo, Taï Forest, and Reston), and compared findings with Marburg virus. In a pilot study, groups of four juvenile bats were inoculated with one of the ebolaviruses or Marburg virus. In ebolavirus groups, viral RNA tissue distribution was limited, and no bat became viremic. Sudan viral RNA was slightly more widespread, spurring a second, 15-day Sudan virus serial euthanasia study. Low levels of Sudan viral RNA disseminated to multiple tissues at early time points, but there was no viremia or shedding. In contrast, Marburg virus RNA was widely disseminated, with viremia, oral and rectal shedding, and antigen in spleen and liver. This is the first experimental infection study comparing tissue tropism, viral shedding, and clinical and pathologic effects of six different filoviruses in the Egyptian rousette, a known marburgvirus reservoir. Our results suggest Egyptian rousettes are unlikely sources for ebolaviruses in nature, and support a possible single filovirus-single reservoir host relationship.
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. mjones@sandiegozoo.org.|Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D.W. Brooks, Athens, GA 30602, USA. mjones@sandiegozoo.org.
authors.forename: Megan E B
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. wuc2@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. cxx1@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Amman
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. tss3@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Tara K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sealy
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. sxz1@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Sherif R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. stn1@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Stuart T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nichol
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. jit8@cdc.gov.|Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D.W. Brooks, Athens, GA 30602, USA. jit8@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Towner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008379:Marburg Virus Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D029024:Marburgvirus / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
keywords: Ebolavirus; Egyptian rousette bat; Marburgvirus; Rousettus aegyptiacus; experimental infection study; reservoir host