Henipavirus Infection in West African Fruit Bats
Author Information
Author(s): Hayman David T. S., Suu-Ire Richard, Breed Andrew C., McEachern Jennifer A., Wang Linfa, Wood James L. N., Cunningham Andrew A.
Primary Institution: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London
Hypothesis
Are henipaviruses present in fruit bats in West Africa?
Conclusion
The study found serological evidence of henipavirus infection in fruit bats in Ghana.
Supporting Evidence
- 39% of Eidolon helvum bats tested positive for Nipah virus antibodies.
- 22% of Eidolon helvum bats tested positive for Hendra virus antibodies.
- The study provides the first evidence of henipavirus infection in Africa.
Takeaway
Scientists found that some fruit bats in Ghana have been infected with a virus that can make people very sick.
Methodology
Bats were captured and tested for antibodies to henipaviruses using a Luminex multiplexed binding assay.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the sampling method and the limited number of species tested.
Limitations
The Luminex assay has not been stringently validated with bat sera.
Participant Demographics
Bats were sampled from various habitats in Ghana, including urban and forest areas.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.5
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 27–51%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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