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Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)2019; 19(7); 455-465; doi: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2365

Henipaviruses at the Interface Between Bats, Livestock and Human Population in Africa.

Abstract: Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) are closely related members within the genus Henipavirus, family Paramyxoviridae, for which fruit bats serve as the reservoir. The initial emergence of NiV infections in pigs and humans in Malaysia, and HeV infections in horses and humans in Australia, posed severe impacts on human and animal health, and continues threatening lives of humans and livestock within Southeast Asia and Australia. Recently, henipavirus-specific antibodies have also been detected in fruit bats in a number of sub-Saharan African countries and in Brazil, thereby considerably increasing the known geographic distribution of henipaviruses. Africa is progressively being recognized as a new high prevalence zone for henipaviruses, as deduced from serological and molecular evidence of past infections in Madagascar, Ghana, Republic of Congo, Gulf of Guinea, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Nigeria lately. Serological data suggest henipavirus spillover from bats to livestock and human populations in Africa without reported clinical disease in any of these species. All virus isolation attempts have been abortive, highlighting the need for further investigations. The genome of the Ghanaian bat henipavirus designated Ghana virus (GhV), which was detected in a pteropid Eidolon helvum bat, is the only African henipavirus that has been completely sequenced limiting our current knowledge on the genetic diversity and pathogenesis of African henipaviruses. In this review, we summarize the available data on the circulation of henipaviruses in Africa, discuss potential sources for virus spillover, and highlight existing research gaps.
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Publication Date: 2019-04-13 PubMed ID: 30985268DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2365Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article outlines the prevalence and impact of henipaviruses, such as the Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV), which mainly occur in fruit bats and are increasingly observed in Africa. It dissects the potential transmission to livestock and humans and highlights the need for further investigations in this subject area.

Henipavirus and Its Emergence

  • The research focuses on NiV and HeV, members of the Henipavirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family. Fruit bats are primarily responsible for carrying and spreading these viruses.
  • The first NiV infections were discovered in pigs and humans in Malaysia, while HeV infections were first observed in horses and humans in Australia. Both caused significant effects on animal and human health in these areas.
  • Henipaviruses pose an ongoing threat to humans and livestock in Southeast Asia and Australia, notably impacting public health and the economy.

Hippavirus in Africa

  • More recently, henipavirus-specific antibodies have been identified in fruit bats in various sub-Saharan African countries and Brazil. This development expands our understanding of the geographic distribution of henipaviruses, presenting Africa as a new high prevalence zone.
  • Evidence of past infections in several African countries, including Madagascar, Ghana, Republic of Congo, Gulf of Guinea, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Nigeria, reinforce this conclusion.
  • While serological data suggests the spillover of the henipavirus from bats to livestock and human populations in Africa, no reported clinical diseases in these species have emerged yet.
  • Despite continuous attempts, the isolation of the virus has been unsuccessful, demonstrating a knowledge gap and emphasizing the need for further investigations.

The Ghana Virus and Henipavirus Genetic Diversity

  • The Ghana virus (GhV), found in a pteropid bat, is the only African henipavirus that has been fully sequenced. This fact limits our current understanding of the genetic diversity and pathogenesis of African henipaviruses.
  • The study ends by summarizing available data on the circulation of henipaviruses in Africa and discussing potential sources for virus spillover while pointing out existing research gaps.

The research article underlines the need for continued global surveillance to understand the henipavirus spillover from bats to humans and the potential risk for future outbreaks, particularly in Africa. It calls for more efforts in studying the genetic diversity of these viruses for better preparedness and response to future potential epidemic or pandemic scenarios.

Cite This Article

APA
Mbu'u CM, Mbacham WF, Gontao P, Sado Kamdem SL, Nlôga AMN, Groschup MH, Wade A, Fischer K, Balkema-Buschmann A. (2019). Henipaviruses at the Interface Between Bats, Livestock and Human Population in Africa. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 19(7), 455-465. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2018.2365

Publication

Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
ISSN: 1557-7759
NlmUniqueID: 100965525
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 19
Issue: 7
Pages: 455-465

Researcher Affiliations

Mbu'u, Cyrille Mbanwi
  • 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1 (UY1), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  • 2 Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies (LAPHER Biotech.), Biotechnology Centre-University of Yaoundé 1 (BTC-UY1), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Mbacham, Wilfred Fon
  • 2 Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies (LAPHER Biotech.), Biotechnology Centre-University of Yaoundé 1 (BTC-UY1), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  • 3 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1 (UY1), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Gontao, Pierre
  • 4 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaounderé, Ngaounderé, Cameroon.
Sado Kamdem, Sylvain Leroy
  • 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1 (UY1), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Nlôga, Alexandre Michel Njan
  • 4 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaounderé, Ngaounderé, Cameroon.
Groschup, Martin H
  • 5 Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases (INNT), Friedrich-Loeffler Institut (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Wade, Abel
  • 6 National Veterinary Laboratory (LANAVET), Garoua & Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Fischer, Kerstin
  • 5 Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases (INNT), Friedrich-Loeffler Institut (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Balkema-Buschmann, Anne
  • 5 Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases (INNT), Friedrich-Loeffler Institut (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Africa / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Chiroptera / virology
  • Henipavirus
  • Henipavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Henipavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Henipavirus Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Livestock / virology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Zoonoses / virology

Citations

This article has been cited 17 times.
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