TitleFilovirus-reactive antibodies in humans and bats in Northeast India imply zoonotic spillover.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsDovih P, Laing ED, Chen Y, Low DHW, Ansil BR, Yang X, Shi Z, Broder CC, Smith GJD, Linster M, Ramakrishnan U, Mendenhall IH
JournalPLoS Negl Trop Dis
Volume13
Issue10
Paginatione0007733
Date Published2019 Oct
ISSN1935-2735
Abstract

Bats are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens, including filoviruses. Recent work highlights the diversity of bat borne filoviruses in Asia. High risk activities at the bat-human interface pose the threat of zoonotic virus transmission. We present evidence for prior exposure of bat harvesters and two resident fruit bat species to filovirus surface glycoproteins by screening sera in a multiplexed serological assay. Antibodies reactive to two antigenically distinct filoviruses were detected in human sera and to three individual filoviruses in bats in remote Northeast India. Sera obtained from Eonycteris spelaea bats showed similar patterns of cross-reactivity as human samples, suggesting them as the species responsible for the spillover. In contrast, sera from Rousettus leschenaultii bats reacted to two different virus glycoproteins. Our results indicate circulation of several filoviruses in bats and the possibility for filovirus transmission from bats to humans.

DOI10.1371/journal.pntd.0007733
Alternate JournalPLoS Negl Trop Dis
PubMed ID31671094
PubMed Central IDPMC6822707