Bats as putative Zaire ebolavirus reservoir hosts and their habitat suitability in Africa

  • The genus Ebolavirus comprises some of the deadliest viruses for primates and humans and associated disease outbreaks are increasing in Africa. Different evidence suggests that bats are putative reservoir hosts and play a major role in the transmission cycle of these filoviruses. Thus, detailed knowledge about their distribution might improve risk estimations of where future disease outbreaks might occur. A MaxEnt niche modelling approach based on climatic variables and land cover was used to investigate the potential distribution of 9 bat species associated to the Zaire ebolavirus. This viral species has led to major Ebola outbreaks in Africa and is known for causing high mortalities. Modelling results suggest suitable areas mainly in the areas near the coasts of West Africa with extensions into Central Africa, where almost all of the 9 species studied find suitable habitat conditions. Previous spillover events and outbreak sites of the virus are covered by the modelled distribution of 3 bat species that have been tested positive for the virus not only using serology tests but also PCR methods. Modelling the habitat suitability of the bats is an important step that can benefit public information campaigns and may ultimately help control future outbreaks of the disease.

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Author:Lisa Katharina KochORCiDGND, Sarah CunzeORCiDGND, Judith KochmannORCiD, Sven KlimpelORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-813387
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71226-0
ISSN:2045-2322
Parent Title (English):Scientific reports
Publisher:Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature
Place of publication:[London]
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2020/08/31
Date of first Publication:2020/08/31
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2024/01/30
Tag:Diseases; Ecological modelling; Ecology; Infectious diseases; Viral infection
Volume:10
Issue:art. 14268
Article Number:14268
Page Number:9
First Page:1
Last Page:9
Note:
Open Access funding provided by Projekt DEAL.
Institutes:Biowissenschaften
Angeschlossene und kooperierende Institutionen / Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International