Lack of serological and molecular evidence of arbovirus infections in bats from Brazil

Author(s)

Bittar, Cintia ^[1] ; Machado, Rafael R. G. ^[1] ; Comelis, Manuela T. ^[2] ; Bueno, Larissa M. ^[2] ; Morielle-Versute, Eliana ^[2] ; Beguelini, Matheus R. ^{[2, 3]} ; de Souza, Renato P. ^[4] ; Nogueira, Mauricio L. ^[5] ; Rahal, Paula ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas, Lab Estudos Genom, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Lab Chiroptera, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] UFOB, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, Barreiras, BA - Brazil

^[4] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Nucleo Doencas Transmissao Vetorial, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] FAMERP Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Lab Pesquisa Virol, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 13, n. 11 NOV 7 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Viruses are important agents of emerging zoonoses and are a substantial public health issue. Among emerging viruses, an important group are arboviruses, which are characterized by being maintained in nature in cycles involving hematophagous arthropod vectors and a wide range of vertebrate hosts. Recently, bats have received increasing attention as an important source for the emergence of zoonoses and as possible viral reservoirs. Among the arboviruses, there are many representatives of the genera Fla vi virus and Alpha virus, which are responsible for important epidemics such as Dengue virus, Zika virus and Chikungunya virus. Due to the importance of analyzing potential viral reservoirs for zoonosis control and expanding our knowledge of bat viruses, this study aimed to investigate the presence of viruses of the Alpha virus and Fla vi virus genera in bats. We analyzed serum, liver, lungs and intestine from 103 bats sampled in northeast and southern Brazil via Nested-PCR and the hemagglutination inhibition test. All samples tested in this study were negative for arboviruses, suggesting that no active or past infection was present in the captured bats. These data indicate that the bats examined herein probably do not constitute a reservoir for these viruses in the studied areas. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of bats as reservoirs and sources of infection of these viral zoonoses. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/09704-6 - Investigation of arbovirus in Chiroptera
• Grantee: Rafael Rahal Guaragna Machado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation