Two EBLV‐2 infected Daubenton's bats detected in the north of England

Johnson, Nicholas; Goddard, Trudy; Goharriz, Hooman; Wise, Emma L.; Jennings, Daisy; Selden, David; Marston, Denise A.; Banyard, Ashley C.; McElhinney, L. M.

doi:10.1136/vr.i5121

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…It has been described for at least 26 bat species from seven genera in Europe and North America 30 in and around sites often also used as hibernacula and is frequently observed in all common British cave hibernating Myotis and Plecotus spp. Late summer to early autumn is also the peak time period when diseased and moribund bats infected with EBLV-2 are reported in the UK 21 . Swarming sites are thought to be 'hotspots' for gene flow between otherwise isolated bat populations 52 and may operate from regional to international scales, potentially allowing transmission and maintenance of infectious disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fifteen cases of European bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2) have been detected in Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) in the UK, the first in 1996 and the most recent in 2017. Sero-surveillance has demonstrated a seroprevalence in the UK of up to 4% 14,[20][21][22] . Daubenton's bats are widespread temperate insectivorous bats with a range from Europe to Japan 23 .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Between roost contact is essential for maintenance of European bat lyssavirus type-2 in Myotis daubentonii bat reservoir: ‘The Swarming Hypothesis’

Horton

Breed

Arnold

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Many high-consequence human and animal pathogens persist in wildlife reservoirs. An understanding of the dynamics of these pathogens in their reservoir hosts is crucial to inform the risk of spill-over events, yet our understanding of these dynamics is frequently insufficient. Viral persistence in a wild bat population was investigated by combining empirical data and in-silico analyses to test hypotheses on mechanisms for viral persistence. A fatal zoonotic virus, European Bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2), in Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) was used as a model system. A total of 1839 M. daubentonii were sampled for evidence of virus exposure and excretion during a prospective nine year serial cross-sectional survey. Multivariable statistical models demonstrated age-related differences in seroprevalence, with significant variation in seropositivity over time and among roosts. An Approximate Bayesian Computation approach was used to model the infection dynamics incorporating the known host ecology. The results demonstrate that EBLV-2 is endemic in the study population, and suggest that mixing between roosts during seasonal swarming events is necessary to maintain EBLV-2 in the population. These findings contribute to understanding how bat viruses can persist despite low prevalence of infection, and why infection is constrained to certain bat species in multispecies roosts and ecosystems. Bats have been implicated as reservoirs for multiple viral, bacterial and protozoal pathogens of human and animal health importance, including Ebola virus, Bartonella spp., and rabies virus 1,2. Aspects of the ecology and demography of bats such as forming high-density aggregations, and flight permitting long-distance movement, may play a role in this ability to maintain a variety of pathogens 2. Mechanisms of pathogen persistence at the population level are often poorly understood, particularly when infection elicits a long lasting protective immune response 3. Rabies virus is one of a growing number of recognised lyssavirus species that are all capable of causing fatal encephalitis 4. The majority of these lyssaviruses are associated with bats 5. Although the full public and animal

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Between roost contact is essential for maintenance of European bat lyssavirus type-2 in Myotis daubentonii bat reservoir: ‘The Swarming Hypothesis’

Horton

Breed

Arnold

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…In addition, it highlights the indirect but significant effect that the media can have on passive surveillance involving public reporting; continuing to report and publicize individual cases therefore will be important to the on-going success of the scheme. This is exemplified by the recent publication that described the submission and testing of two EBLV-2-positive Daubenton's bats from two separate locations in the UK in 2016 [27]. Importantly, detection of lyssaviruses in bats serves to educate on the risks associated with bat contact.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All bats tested were reported as negative for lyssavirus infection with the exception of seven Daubenton's bats all of which tested positive for EBLV-2 ( Table 2). Two further EBLV-2 positive Daubenton's bats were identified in 2016 [27] (data from 2016 passive surveillance is not formally included in this report as the data were not complete at the time of analysis), totalling 9 EBLV-2 cases diagnosed through passive surveillance in the UK Daubenton's bat population since 2005 and 13 cases since passive surveillance began. A saliva swab collected through active surveillance in Scotland in 2008 was PCR positive and confirmed by sequencing to be EBLV-2, although no virus has been isolated.…”

Section: Passive Surveillance In Uk Bats Between 2005 and 2015mentioning

confidence: 99%

Passive surveillance of United Kingdom bats for lyssaviruses (2005–2015)

et al. 2017

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Passive surveillance for lyssaviruses in UK bats has been ongoing since 1987 and has identified 13 cases of EBLV-2 from a single species; Myotis daubentonii. No other lyssavirus species has been detected. Between 2005 and 2015, 10 656 bats were submitted, representing 18 species, creating a spatially and temporally uneven sample of British bat fauna. Uniquely, three UK cases originate from a roost at Stokesay Castle in Shropshire, England, where daily checks for grounded and dead bats are undertaken and bat carcasses have been submitted for testing since 2007. Twenty per cent of Daubenton's bats submitted from Stokesay Castle since surveillance began, have tested positive for EBLV-2. Phylogenetic analysis reveals geographical clustering of UK viruses. Isolates from Stokesay Castle are more closely related to one another than to viruses from other regions. Daubenton's bats from Stokesay Castle represent a unique opportunity to study a natural population that appears to maintain EBLV-2 infection and may represent endemic infection at this site. Although the risk to public health from EBLV-2 is low, consequences of infection are severe and effective communication on the need for prompt post-exposure prophylaxis for anyone that has been bitten by a bat is essential.

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“…Live bats vocalise, show signs of distress and can bite aggressively although this may in part be a result of distress caused by captivity. Infected bats often appear emaciated and dehydrated despite attempts at rehabilitation [26].…”

Section: The Daubenton's Batmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii, Kuhl, 1817) and Its Role as a Reservoir for Europe Bat Lyssavirus Type-2

Johnson¹

2018

Bats

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The Daubenton's bat is found on a geographical cline from Western Europe, including the British Isles, across Central Europe and Asia, and as far east as Japan. The species is insectivorous and uses echolocation to detect and catch prey, with the distinct behaviour of hunting over water bodies such as lakes and rivers. The other distinctive feature of Daubenton's bats is that they appear to be the principal species of bat that harbours European bat lyssavirus type-2 (EBLV-2). The lyssaviruses, a group of viruses that includes the rabies lyssavirus, are generally associated with bats. Many are zoonotic with EBLV-2 being responsible for two human deaths. Reports of EBLV-2 in Daubenton's bats have been made from countries across Europe although the majority have been from England. This chapter will consider the biology of the Daubenton's bat, the association of EBLV-2 with this particular species and discuss the interaction between bat and virus.

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Two EBLV‐2 infected Daubenton's bats detected in the north of England

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Between roost contact is essential for maintenance of European bat lyssavirus type-2 in Myotis daubentonii bat reservoir: ‘The Swarming Hypothesis’

Between roost contact is essential for maintenance of European bat lyssavirus type-2 in Myotis daubentonii bat reservoir: ‘The Swarming Hypothesis’

Passive surveillance of United Kingdom bats for lyssaviruses (2005–2015)

The Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii, Kuhl, 1817) and Its Role as a Reservoir for Europe Bat Lyssavirus Type-2

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