Exposure of Egyptian Rousette Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and a Little Free-Tailed Bat (Chaerephon pumilus) to Alphaviruses in Uganda

Authors

Rebekah C. Kading, Colorado State University, Fort CollinsFollow
Erin M. Borland, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, COFollow
Eric C. Mossel, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, COFollow
Teddy Nakayiki, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe
Betty Nalikka, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Jeremy P. Ledermann, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
Mary B. Crabtree, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, COFollow
Nicholas A. Panella, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, COFollow
Luke Nyakarahuka, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe
Amy T. Gilbert, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Julian C. Kerbis-Peterhans, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
Jonathan S. Towner, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Brian R. Amman, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tara K. Sealy, CDCFollow
Barry R. Miller, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
Julius J. Lutwama, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe
Robert M. Kityo, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Ann M. powers, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO

Date of this Version

12-5-2022

Citation

Kading, R.C.; Borland, E.M.; Mossel, E.C.; Nakayiki, T.; Nalikka, B.; Ledermann, J.P.; Crabtree, M.B.; Panella, N.A.; Nyakarahuka, L.; Gilbert, A.T.; et al. Exposure of Egyptian Rousette Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and a Little Free-Tailed Bat (Chaerephon pumilus) to Alphaviruses in Uganda. Diseases 2022, 10, 121. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/diseases10040121

Comments

U.S. government work; CC-BY

Abstract

The reservoir for zoonotic o’nyong-nyong virus (ONNV) has remained unknown since this virus was first recognized in Uganda in 1959. Building on existing evidence for mosquito bloodfeeding on various frugivorous bat species in Uganda, and seroprevalence for arboviruses among bats in Uganda, we sought to assess if serum samples collected from bats in Uganda demonstrated evidence of exposure to ONNV or the closely related zoonotic chikungunya virus (CHIKV). In total, 652 serum samples collected from six bat species were tested by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for neutralizing antibodies against ONNV and CHIKV. Forty out of 303 (13.2%) Egyptian rousettes from Maramagambo Forest and 1/13 (8%) little free-tailed bats from Banga Nakiwogo, Entebbe contained neutralizing antibodies against ONNV. In addition, 2/303 (0.7%) of these Egyptian rousettes contained neutralizing antibodies to CHIKV, and 8/303 (2.6%) contained neutralizing antibodies that were nonspecifically reactive to alphaviruses. These data support the interepidemic circulation of ONNV and CHIKV in Uganda, although Egyptian rousette bats are unlikely to serve as reservoirs for these viruses given the inconsistent occurrence of antibody-positive bats.