Serological evidence of virus infection in Eidolon helvum fruit bats: implications for bushmeat consumption in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The Eidolon helvum fruit bat is one of the most widely distributed fruit bats in Africa and known to be a reservoir for several pathogenic viruses that can cause disease in animals and humans. To assess the risk of zoonotic spillover, we conducted a serological survey of 304 serum samples from E. helvum bats that were captured for human consumption in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Methods

Using pseudotyped viruses, we screened 304 serum samples for neutralizing antibodies against viruses from the Coronaviridae, Filoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae and Paramyxoviridae families.

Results

We report the presence of neutralizing antibodies against henipavirus lineage GH-M74a virus (odds ratio 6.23; p < 0.001), Nipah virus (odds ratio 4.04; p<

SUBMITTER: Cantoni D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10723585 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature