Neutralizing antibodies against flaviviruses, Babanki virus, and Rift Valley fever virus in Ugandan bats

Rebekah C Kading; Robert M Kityo; Eric C Mossel; Erin M Borland; Teddie Nakayiki; Betty Nalikka; Luke Nyakarahuka; Jeremy P Ledermann; Nicholas A Panella; Amy T Gilbert; Mary B Crabtree; Julian Kerbis Peterhans; Jonathan S Towner; Brian R Amman; Tara K Sealy; Stuart T Nichol; Ann M Powers; Julius J Lutwama; Barry R Miller

doi:10.1080/20008686.2018.1439215

Neutralizing antibodies against flaviviruses, Babanki virus, and Rift Valley fever virus in Ugandan bats

Infect Ecol Epidemiol. 2018 Feb 21;8(1):1439215. doi: 10.1080/20008686.2018.1439215. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Rebekah C Kading^{1

2}, Robert M Kityo³, Eric C Mossel¹, Erin M Borland¹, Teddie Nakayiki⁴, Betty Nalikka³, Luke Nyakarahuka⁴, Jeremy P Ledermann¹, Nicholas A Panella¹, Amy T Gilbert^{5

6}, Mary B Crabtree¹, Julian Kerbis Peterhans⁷, Jonathan S Towner⁸, Brian R Amman⁸, Tara K Sealy⁸, Stuart T Nichol⁸, Ann M Powers¹, Julius J Lutwama⁴, Barry R Miller¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Vector-borne Diseases, Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
² Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
³ Department of Biological Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
⁴ Department of Arbovirology, Emerging, and Re-emerging Viral Infections, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
⁵ Division of High Consequence Pathogens, Rabies and Poxvirus Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁶ USA Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
⁷ College of Professional Studies, Roosevelt University & Collections & Research, The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁸ Division of High Consequence Pathogens, Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: A number of arboviruses have previously been isolated from naturally-infected East African bats, however the role of bats in arbovirus maintenance is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure history of Ugandan bats to a panel of arboviruses. Materials and methods: Insectivorous and fruit bats were captured from multiple locations throughout Uganda during 2009 and 2011-2013. All serum samples were tested for neutralizing antibodies against West Nile virus (WNV), yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue 2 virus (DENV-2), Zika virus (ZIKV), Babanki virus (BBKV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Sera from up to 626 bats were screened for antibodies against each virus. Results and Discussion: Key findings include the presence of neutralizing antibodies against RVFV in 5/52 (9.6%) of little epauletted fruit bats (Epomophorus labiatus) captured from Kawuku and 3/54 (5.6%) Egyptian rousette bats from Kasokero cave. Antibodies reactive to flaviviruses were widespread across bat taxa and sampling locations. Conclusion: The data presented demonstrate the widespread exposure of bats in Uganda to arboviruses, and highlight particular virus-bat associations that warrant further investigation.

Keywords: Arbovirus; Rift Valley fever virus; bat; biosurveillance; reservoir; serosurvey.

Grants and funding

This research was funded through an Interagency Agreement between the USA Agency for International Development Emerging Pandemic Threats Program and the USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.