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. 2008 Jul 23;3(7):e2739.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002739.

Evidence of henipavirus infection in West African fruit bats

David T S Hayman  1 , Richard Suu-Ire, Andrew C Breed, Jennifer A McEachern, Linfa Wang, James L N Wood, Andrew A Cunningham
Affiliations

Evidence of henipavirus infection in West African fruit bats

David T S Hayman et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Henipaviruses are emerging RNA viruses of fruit bat origin that can cause fatal encephalitis in man. Ghanaian fruit bats (megachiroptera) were tested for antibodies to henipaviruses. Using a Luminex multiplexed microsphere assay, antibodies were detected in sera of Eidolon helvum to both Nipah (39%, 95% confidence interval: 27-51%) and Hendra (22%, 95% CI: 11-33%) viruses. Virus neutralization tests further confirmed seropositivity for 30% (7/23) of Luminex positive serum samples. Our results indicate that henipavirus is present within West Africa.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Serological cross-reactivity in E. helvum between HeV and NiV.
The Luminex assay MFI readings against each of the NiV and HeV G proteins were plotted along the X and Y axis, respectively. Note: the scale is different for the two axes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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