Exposure of Egyptian Rousette Bats (<i>Rousettus aegyptiacus</i>) and a Little Free-Tailed Bat (<i>Chaerephon pumilus</i>) to Alphaviruses in Uganda
Rebekah C. Kading,
Erin M. Borland,
Eric C. Mossel,
Teddy Nakayiki,
Betty Nalikka,
Jeremy P. Ledermann,
Mary B. Crabtree,
Nicholas A. Panella,
Luke Nyakarahuka,
Amy T. Gilbert,
Julian C. Kerbis-Peterhans,
Jonathan S. Towner,
Brian R. Amman,
Tara K. Sealy,
Barry R. Miller,
Julius J. Lutwama,
Robert M. Kityo,
Ann M. Powers
Affiliations
Rebekah C. Kading
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Erin M. Borland
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Eric C. Mossel
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Teddy Nakayiki
Department of Arbovirology, Emerging, and Re-Emerging Infections, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
Betty Nalikka
Department of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Jeremy P. Ledermann
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Mary B. Crabtree
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Nicholas A. Panella
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Luke Nyakarahuka
Department of Arbovirology, Emerging, and Re-Emerging Infections, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
Amy T. Gilbert
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Julian C. Kerbis-Peterhans
Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, College of Arts & Sciences, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
Jonathan S. Towner
Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Brian R. Amman
Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Tara K. Sealy
Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Barry R. Miller
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Julius J. Lutwama
Department of Arbovirology, Emerging, and Re-Emerging Infections, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
Robert M. Kityo
Department of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Ann M. Powers
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
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 blood-feeding 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.
