title: Modelling filovirus maintenance in nature by experimental transmission of Marburg virus between Egyptian rousette bats.
abstract: The Egyptian rousette bat (ERB) is a natural reservoir host for Marburg virus (MARV); however, the mechanisms by which MARV is transmitted bat-to-bat and to other animals are unclear. Here we co-house MARV-inoculated donor ERBs with naive contact ERBs. MARV shedding is detected in oral, rectal and urine specimens from inoculated bats from 5-19 days post infection. Simultaneously, MARV is detected in oral specimens from contact bats, indicating oral exposure to the virus. In the late study phase, we provide evidence that MARV can be horizontally transmitted from inoculated to contact ERBs by finding MARV RNA in blood and oral specimens from contact bats, followed by MARV IgG antibodies in these same bats. This study demonstrates that MARV can be horizontally transmitted from inoculated to contact ERBs, thereby providing a model for filovirus maintenance in its natural reservoir host and a potential mechanism for virus spillover to other animals.
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Amman
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.|Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Megan E B
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Tara K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sealy
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Luke S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Uebelhoer
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Spengler
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Brock E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Jo Ann D
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Coleman-McCray
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nichol
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.|Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Towner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D016563:Filoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008379:Marburg Virus Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D029024:Marburgvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012367:RNA, Viral