Experimental Inoculation of Egyptian Rousette Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) with
Viruses of the Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus Genera
#MMPMID26120867
Jones ME
; Schuh AJ
; Amman BR
; Sealy TK
; Zaki SR
; Nichol ST
; Towner JS
Viruses
2015[Jun]; 7
(7
): 3420-42
PMID26120867
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The Egyptian rousette bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is a natural reservoir for
marburgviruses and a consistent source of virus spillover to humans. Cumulative
evidence suggests various bat species may also transmit ebolaviruses. We
investigated the susceptibility of Egyptian rousettes to each of the five known
ebolaviruses (Sudan, Ebola, Bundibugyo, Taļ Forest, and Reston), and compared
findings with Marburg virus. In a pilot study, groups of four juvenile bats were
inoculated with one of the ebolaviruses or Marburg virus. In ebolavirus groups,
viral RNA tissue distribution was limited, and no bat became viremic. Sudan viral
RNA was slightly more widespread, spurring a second, 15-day Sudan virus serial
euthanasia study. Low levels of Sudan viral RNA disseminated to multiple tissues
at early time points, but there was no viremia or shedding. In contrast, Marburg
virus RNA was widely disseminated, with viremia, oral and rectal shedding, and
antigen in spleen and liver. This is the first experimental infection study
comparing tissue tropism, viral shedding, and clinical and pathologic effects of
six different filoviruses in the Egyptian rousette, a known marburgvirus
reservoir. Our results suggest Egyptian rousettes are unlikely sources for
ebolaviruses in nature, and support a possible single filovirus-single reservoir
host relationship.
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