International Development, Emerging Diseases, and Ecohealth

Standley, Claire J.; Bogich, Tiffany L.

doi:10.1007/s10393-013-0820-z

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Serosurveys have many benefits and a clear role in identifying reservoirs, however they present limitations for the inference of viral dynamics 1 , 56 . Availability of age-specific data was key to this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support for viral persistence in bats from age-specific serology and models of maternal immunity

Peel

Baker

Hayman

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Spatiotemporally-localised prediction of virus emergence from wildlife requires focused studies on the ecology and immunology of reservoir hosts in their native habitat. Reliable predictions from mathematical models remain difficult in most systems due to a dearth of appropriate empirical data. Our goal was to study the circulation and immune dynamics of zoonotic viruses in bat populations and investigate the effects of maternally-derived and acquired immunity on viral persistence. Using rare age-specific serological data from wild-caught Eidolon helvum fruit bats as a case study, we estimated viral transmission parameters for a stochastic infection model. We estimated mean durations of around 6 months for maternally-derived immunity to Lagos bat virus and African henipavirus, whereas acquired immunity was long-lasting (Lagos bat virus: mean 12 years, henipavirus: mean 4 years). In the presence of a seasonal birth pulse, the effect of maternally-derived immunity on virus persistence within modelled bat populations was highly dependent on transmission characteristics. To explain previous reports of viral persistence within small natural and captive E. helvum populations, we hypothesise that some bats must experience prolonged infectious periods or within-host latency. By further elucidating plausible mechanisms of virus persistence in bat populations, we contribute to guidance of future field studies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support for viral persistence in bats from age-specific serology and models of maternal immunity

Peel

Baker

Hayman

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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“…The lineage groups phylogenetically within the globally dispersed clade called Bd -GPL-2 (Global Panzootic Lineage)[ 86 ], and this cluster contains the most geographically diverse and genetically similar group of known Bd strains. Bd -GPL-2 is found in Africa, Australia, Asia, and North and Central America [ 79 , 86 , 87 ]. Molecular clock analysis places an estimate of the emergence of the Global Panzootic Lineage strains at 10,000–40,000 years ago [ 79 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Threat of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus in the Albertine Rift: Past, Present and Future

et al. 2015

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Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the cause of chytridiomycosis, is a pathogenic fungus that is found worldwide and is a major contributor to amphibian declines and extinctions. We report results of a comprehensive effort to assess the distribution and threat of Bd in one of the Earth’s most important biodiversity hotspots, the Albertine Rift in central Africa. In herpetological surveys conducted between 2010 and 2014, 1018 skin swabs from 17 amphibian genera in 39 sites across the Albertine Rift were tested for Bd by PCR. Overall, 19.5% of amphibians tested positive from all sites combined. Skin tissue samples from 163 amphibians were examined histologically; of these two had superficial epidermal intracorneal fungal colonization and lesions consistent with the disease chytridiomycosis. One amphibian was found dead during the surveys, and all others encountered appeared healthy. We found no evidence for Bd-induced mortality events, a finding consistent with other studies. To gain a historical perspective about Bd in the Albertine Rift, skin swabs from 232 museum-archived amphibians collected as voucher specimens from 1925–1994 were tested for Bd. Of these, one sample was positive; an Itombwe River frog (Phrynobatrachus asper) collected in 1950 in the Itombwe highlands. This finding represents the earliest record of Bd in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We modeled the distribution of Bd in the Albertine Rift using MaxEnt software, and trained our model for improved predictability. Our model predicts that Bd is currently widespread across the Albertine Rift, with moderate habitat suitability extending into the lowlands. Under climatic modeling scenarios our model predicts that optimal habitat suitability of Bd will decrease causing a major range contraction of the fungus by 2080. Our baseline data and modeling predictions are important for comparative studies, especially if significant changes in amphibian health status or climactic conditions are encountered in the future.

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“…Quantification of seroprevalence often has been the first line of investigation for newly discovered bat zoonoses [e.g., 8 , 9 , 11 ]. Serological assays have some limitations [ 62 ], but antibodies are generally easier to detect than antigen; sera can be nonlethally sampled, and, because antibodies generally persist after virus is cleared, the probability of detecting seropositive animals is higher than that of detecting infected animals. However, seroprevalence is a poor metric for quantifying epidemic dynamics.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission or Within-Host Dynamics Driving Pulses of Zoonotic Viruses in Reservoir–Host Populations

et al. 2016

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Progress in combatting zoonoses that emerge from wildlife is often constrained by limited knowledge of the biology of pathogens within reservoir hosts. We focus on the host–pathogen dynamics of four emerging viruses associated with bats: Hendra, Nipah, Ebola, and Marburg viruses. Spillover of bat infections to humans and domestic animals often coincides with pulses of viral excretion within bat populations, but the mechanisms driving such pulses are unclear. Three hypotheses dominate current research on these emerging bat infections. First, pulses of viral excretion could reflect seasonal epidemic cycles driven by natural variations in population densities and contact rates among hosts. If lifelong immunity follows recovery, viruses may disappear locally but persist globally through migration; in either case, new outbreaks occur once births replenish the susceptible pool. Second, epidemic cycles could be the result of waning immunity within bats, allowing local circulation of viruses through oscillating herd immunity. Third, pulses could be generated by episodic shedding from persistently infected bats through a combination of physiological and ecological factors. The three scenarios can yield similar patterns in epidemiological surveys, but strategies to predict or manage spillover risk resulting from each scenario will be different. We outline an agenda for research on viruses emerging from bats that would allow for differentiation among the scenarios and inform development of evidence-based interventions to limit threats to human and animal health. These concepts and methods are applicable to a wide range of pathogens that affect humans, domestic animals, and wildlife.

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International Development, Emerging Diseases, and Ecohealth

Cited by 9 publications

References 8 publications

Support for viral persistence in bats from age-specific serology and models of maternal immunity

Support for viral persistence in bats from age-specific serology and models of maternal immunity

Assessing the Threat of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus in the Albertine Rift: Past, Present and Future

Transmission or Within-Host Dynamics Driving Pulses of Zoonotic Viruses in Reservoir–Host Populations

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