Serological Positivity against Selected Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses in Free-Ranging Bats and Birds from Costa Rica Evidence Exposure to Arboviruses Seldom Reported Locally in Humans

Viruses. 2022 Jan 6;14(1):93. doi: 10.3390/v14010093.

Abstract

Arboviruses have two ecological transmission cycles: sylvatic and urban. For some, the sylvatic cycle has not been thoroughly described in America. To study the role of wildlife in a putative sylvatic cycle, we sampled free-ranging bats and birds in two arbovirus endemic locations and analyzed them using molecular, serological, and histological methods. No current infection was detected, and no significant arbovirus-associated histological changes were observed. Neutralizing antibodies were detected against selected arboviruses. In bats, positivity in 34.95% for DENV-1, 16.26% for DENV-2, 5.69% for DENV-3, 4.87% for DENV-4, 2.43% for WNV, 4.87% for SLEV, 0.81% for YFV, 7.31% for EEEV, and 0.81% for VEEV was found. Antibodies against ZIKV were not detected. In birds, PRNT results were positive against WNV in 0.80%, SLEV in 5.64%, EEEV in 8.4%, and VEEV in 5.63%. An additional retrospective PRNT analysis was performed using bat samples from three additional DENV endemic sites resulting in a 3.27% prevalence for WNV and 1.63% for SLEV. Interestingly, one sample resulted unequivocally WNV positive confirmed by serum titration. These results suggest that free-ranging bats and birds are exposed to not currently reported hyperendemic-human infecting Flavivirus and Alphavirus; however, their role as reservoirs or hosts is still undetermined.

Keywords: Costa Rica; arbovirus; bats; birds; wildlife.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alphavirus / immunology*
  • Alphavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Alphavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
  • Birds / immunology*
  • Chiroptera / immunology*
  • Costa Rica / epidemiology
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • Female
  • Flavivirus / immunology*
  • Flavivirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Flavivirus Infections / veterinary
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral