Selective replication and vertical transmission of Ebola virus in experimentally infected Angolan free-tailed bats.

ABSTRACT: The natural reservoir of Ebola virus (EBOV), agent of a zoonosis burdening several African countries, remains unidentified, albeit evidence points towards bats. In contrast, the ecology of the related Marburg virus is much better understood; with experimental infections of bats being instrumental for understanding reservoir-pathogen interactions. Experiments have focused on elucidating reservoir competence, infection kinetics and specifically horizontal transmission, although, vertical transmission plays a key role in many viral enzootic cycles. Herein, we investigate the permissiveness of Angolan free-tailed bats (AFBs), known to harbour Bombali virus, to other filoviruses: Ebola, Marburg, Taï Forest and Reston viruses. We demonstrate that only the bats inoculated with EBOV show high and

SUBMITTER: Riesle-Sbarbaro SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10830451 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature