Shedding of Marburg Virus in Naturally Infected Egyptian Rousette Bats, South Africa, 2017

Janusz T Pawęska; Nadia Storm; Wanda Markotter; Nicholas Di Paola; Michael R Wiley; Gustavo Palacios; Petrus Jansen van Vuren

doi:10.3201/eid2612.202108

Shedding of Marburg Virus in Naturally Infected Egyptian Rousette Bats, South Africa, 2017

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;26(12):3051-3055. doi: 10.3201/eid2612.202108.

Authors

Janusz T Pawęska, Nadia Storm, Wanda Markotter, Nicholas Di Paola, Michael R Wiley, Gustavo Palacios, Petrus Jansen van Vuren

Abstract

We detected Marburg virus RNA in rectal swab samples from Egyptian rousette bats in South Africa in 2017. This finding signifies that fecal contamination of natural bat habitats is a potential source of infection for humans. Identified genetic sequences are closely related to Ravn virus, implying wider distribution of Marburg virus in Africa.

Keywords: Egyptian rousette bats; Marburg virus; Rousettus aegyptiacus; South Africa; filoviruses; fruit bats; shedding; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Chiroptera*
Humans
Marburg Virus Disease* / epidemiology
Marburgvirus* / genetics
South Africa / epidemiology