Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh

Hassan, Mohammad Mahmudul; Kalam, Abul; Alam, Mahabub; Shano, Shahanaj; Faruq, Abdullah Al; Hossain, Saddam; Islam, Nurul; Khan, Shahneaz Ali; Islam, Ariful

doi:10.3390/ani10101814

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Study of community perceptions and knowledge of NiV transmission from bats in Bangladesh, underscores the need for educational interventions for targeted groups in the community [ 49 ]. Public awareness and willingness to steer clear of risk behaviors are vital to sustainably protect people in high-risk areas from NiV outbreak, and an opportunity for policy makers to strengthen public health infrastructure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two decades of one health surveillance of Nipah virus in Thailand

et al. 2021

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Background Nipah virus (NiV) infection causes encephalitis and has > 75% mortality rate, making it a WHO priority pathogen due to its pandemic potential. There have been NiV outbreak(s) in Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, and southern Philippines. NiV naturally circulates among fruit bats of the genus Pteropus and has been detected widely across Southeast and South Asia. Both Malaysian and Bangladeshi NiV strains have been found in fruit bats in Thailand. This study summarizes 20 years of pre-emptive One Health surveillance of NiV in Thailand, including triangulated surveillance of bats, and humans and pigs in the vicinity of roosts inhabited by NiV-infected bats. Methods Samples were collected periodically and tested for NiV from bats, pigs and healthy human volunteers from Wat Luang village, Chonburi province, home to the biggest P. lylei roosts in Thailand, and other provinces since 2001. Archived cerebrospinal fluid specimens from encephalitis patients between 2001 and 2012 were also tested for NiV. NiV RNA was detected using nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). NiV antibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or multiplex microsphere immunoassay. Results NiV RNA (mainly Bangladesh strain) was detected every year in fruit bats by RT-PCR from 2002 to 2020. The whole genome sequence of NiV directly sequenced from bat urine in 2017 shared 99.17% identity to NiV from a Bangladeshi patient in 2004. No NiV-specific IgG antibodies or RNA have been found in healthy volunteers, encephalitis patients, or pigs to date. During the sample collection trips, 100 community members were trained on how to live safely with bats. Conclusions High identity shared between the NiV genome from Thai bats and the Bangladeshi patient highlights the outbreak potential of NiV in Thailand. Results from NiV cross-sectoral surveillance were conveyed to national authorities and villagers which led to preventive control measures, increased surveillance of pigs and humans in vicinity of known NiV-infected roosts, and increased vigilance and reduced risk behaviors at the community level. This proactive One Health approach to NiV surveillance is a success story; that increased collaboration between the human, animal, and wildlife sectors is imperative to staying ahead of a zoonotic disease outbreak.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two decades of one health surveillance of Nipah virus in Thailand

et al. 2021

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“…Study of community perceptions and knowledge of NiV transmission from bats in Bangladesh, underscores the need for educational interventions for targeted groups in the community [45]. Public awareness and willingness to steer clear of risk behaviors are vital to sustainably protect people in highrisk areas from NiV outbreak, and an opportunity for policy makers to strengthen public health infrastructure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two Decades of One Health Surveillance of Nipah Virus in Thailand

Wacharapluesadee¹,

Ghai

Duengkae

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Nipah virus (NiV) infection causes encephalitis and has > 75% mortality rate, making it a WHO priority pathogen due to its pandemic potential. There have been NiV outbreak(s) in Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, and southern Philippines. NiV naturally circulates among fruit bats of the genus Pteropus and has been detected widely across Southeast and South Asia. Both Malaysian and Bangladeshi NiV strains have been found in fruit bats in Thailand. This study summarizes 20 years of pre-emptive One Health surveillance of NiV in Thailand, including triangulated surveillance of bats, and humans and pigs in the vicinity of roosts inhabited by NiV-infected bats. Methods: Samples were collected periodically and tested for NiV from bats, pigs and healthy human volunteers from Wat Luang village, Chonburi province, home to the biggest P. lylei roosts in Thailand, and other provinces since 2001. Archived cerebrospinal fluid specimens from encephalitis patients between 2001–2012 were also tested for NiV. NiV RNA was detected using nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). NiV antibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or multiplex microsphere immunoassay. Results: NiV RNA (mainly Bangladesh strain) was detected every year in fruit bats by RT-PCR from 2002 to 2020. The whole genome sequence of NiV directly sequenced from bat urine in 2017 shared 99.17% identity to NiV from a Bangladeshi patient in 2004. No NiV-specific IgG antibodies or RNA have been found in healthy volunteers, encephalitis patients, or pigs to date. During the sample collection trips, 100 community members were trained on how to live safely with bats. Conclusions: High identity shared between the NiV genome from Thai bats and the Bangladeshi patient highlights the outbreak potential of NiV in Thailand. Results from NiV cross-sectoral surveillance were conveyed to national authorities and villagers which led to preventive control measures, increased surveillance of pigs and humans in vicinity of known NiV-infected roosts, and increased vigilance and reduced risk behaviors at the community level. This proactive One Health approach to NiV surveillance is a success story; that increased collaboration between the human, animal, and wildlife sectors is imperative to staying ahead of a zoonotic disease outbreak.

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“…Social marketing approaches have been used successfully to work with communities to identify and implement the human behaviour changes necessary to support conservation and human health goals, separately and combined (MacDonald et al, 2012). For example, in Bangladesh, Hassan et al (2020) used a standard knowledge and values survey to understand community perceptions and knowledge of bats as it relates to the transmission of Nipah virus. Their findings enabled them to recommend interventions to raise awareness of the zoonotic disease issues and improve local people's knowledge and acceptance of the role of bats.…”

Section: Practice 9: Educate and Change Human Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Land use-induced spillover: priority actions for protected and conserved area managers

Reaser¹,

Tabor²,

Becker³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Earth systems are under ever greater pressure from human population expansion and intensifying natural resource use. Consequently, novel micro-organisms that cause disease are emerging, dynamics of pathogens in wildlife are altered by land use change bringing wildlife and people in closer contact. We provide a brief overview of the processes governing ‘land use-induced spillover’, emphasising ecological conditions that foster ‘landscape immunity’ and reduce the likelihood of wildlife that host pathogens coming into contact with people. If ecosystems remain healthy, wildlife , and people are more likely to remain healthy too. We recommend practices to reduce the risk of future pandemics through protected and conserved area management. Our proposals reinforce existing conservation strategies while elevating biodiversity conservation as a priority health measure. Pandemic prevention requires that human health be regarded as an ecological service. We call on multi-lateral conservation frameworks to recognise that protected area managers are in the frontline of public health safety.

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Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh

Cited by 19 publications

References 50 publications

Two decades of one health surveillance of Nipah virus in Thailand

Two decades of one health surveillance of Nipah virus in Thailand

Two Decades of One Health Surveillance of Nipah Virus in Thailand

Land use-induced spillover: priority actions for protected and conserved area managers

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