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Randhawa N, Bird BH, VanWormer E, Sijali Z, Kilonzo C, Msigwa A, Ekiri AB, Samson A, Epstein JH, Wolking DJ, Smith WA, Martínez-López B, Kazwala R, Mazet JAK. Fruit bats in flight: a look into the movements of the ecologically important Eidolon helvum in Tanzania. ONE HEALTH OUTLOOK 2020; 2:16. [PMID: 32835170 PMCID: PMC7402849 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-020-00020-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many ecologically important plants are pollinated or have their seeds dispersed by fruit bats, including the widely distributed African straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum). Their ability to fly long distances makes them essential for connecting plant populations across fragmented landscapes. While bats have been implicated as a reservoir of infectious diseases, their role in disease transmission to humans is not well understood. In this pilot study, we tracked E. helvum to shed light on their movement patterns in Tanzania and possible contact with other species. METHODS Tracking devices were deployed on 25 bats captured in the Morogoro Municipal and Kilombero District area near the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Nightly flight patterns, areas corresponding to foraging bouts and feeding roosts, and new day roosts were determined from bat movement data and characterized according to their proximity to urban built-up and protected areas. Sites for additional environmental surveillance using camera traps were identified via tracking data to determine species coming in contact with fruits discarded by bats. RESULTS Tracking data revealed variability between individual bat movements and a fidelity to foraging areas. Bats were tracked from one to six nights, with a mean cumulative nightly flight distance of 26.14 km (min: 0.33, max: 97.57) based on data from high-resolution GPS tags. While the majority of their foraging locations were in or near urban areas, bats also foraged in protected areas, of which the Udzungwa Mountains National Park was the most frequented. Camera traps in fruit orchards frequented by tracked bats showed the presence of multiple species of wildlife, with vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) observed as directly handling and eating fruit discarded by bats. CONCLUSIONS Because we observed multiple interactions of animals with fruits discarded by bats, specifically with vervet monkeys, the possibility of disease spillover risk exists via this indirect pathway. With flight distances of up to 97 km, however, the role of E. helvum in the seed dispersal of plants across both protected and urban built-up areas in Tanzania may be even more important, especially by helping connect increasingly fragmented landscapes during this Anthropocene epoch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nistara Randhawa
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Drive, Davis, CA USA
| | - Brian H. Bird
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Drive, Davis, CA USA
| | - Elizabeth VanWormer
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE USA
| | - Zikankuba Sijali
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Christopher Kilonzo
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Drive, Davis, CA USA
| | - Alphonce Msigwa
- Tanzania National Park, Burigi-Chato National Park, Karagwe-Kagera, Tanzania
| | - Abel B. Ekiri
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Aziza Samson
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | | | - David J. Wolking
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Drive, Davis, CA USA
| | - Woutrina A. Smith
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Drive, Davis, CA USA
| | - Beatriz Martínez-López
- Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Rudovick Kazwala
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Jonna A. K. Mazet
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Drive, Davis, CA USA
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Brook CE, Ranaivoson HC, Andriafidison D, Ralisata M, Razafimanahaka J, Héraud JM, Dobson AP, Metcalf CJ. Population trends for two Malagasy fruit bats. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2019; 234:165-171. [PMID: 31937976 PMCID: PMC6959543 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Madagascar is home to three endemic species of Old World Fruit Bat, which are important pollinators and seed dispersers. We aimed to quantitatively assess population trajectories for the two largest of these species, the IUCN-listed 'Vulnerable' Eidolon dupreanum and Pteropus rufus. To this end, we conducted a longitudinal field study, in which we live-captured E. dupreanum and P. rufus, estimated species-specific fecundity rates, and generated age-frequency data via histological analysis of cementum annuli layering in tooth samples extracted from a subset of individuals. We fit exponential models to resulting data to estimate annual survival probabilities for adult bats (s A = .794 for E. dupreanum; s A = .511 for P. rufus), then applied Lefkovitch modeling techniques to infer the minimum required juvenile survival rate needed to permit longterm population persistence. Given estimated adult survival, population persistence was only possible for E. dupreanum when field-based fecundity estimates were replaced by higher values reported in the literature for related species. For P. rufus, tooth-derived estimates of adult survival were so low that even assumptions of perfect (100%) juvenile annual survival would not permit stable population trajectories. Age-based survival analyses were further supported by longitudinal exit counts carried out from 2013-2018 at three local P. rufus roost sites, which demonstrated a statistically significant, faintly negative time trend, indicative of subtle regional population declines. These results suggest that Malagasy fruit bat species face significant threats to population viability, with P. rufus particularly imperiled. Immediate conservation interventions, including habitat restoration and cessation of legally sanctioned bat hunting, are needed to protect Madagascar's fruit bats into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara E. Brook
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Hafaliana C. Ranaivoson
- Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur of Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Department of Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew P. Dobson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - C. Jessica Metcalf
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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Hayman DTS, Luis AD, Restif O, Baker KS, Fooks AR, Leach C, Horton DL, Suu-Ire R, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN, Webb CT. Maternal antibody and the maintenance of a lyssavirus in populations of seasonally breeding African bats. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198563. [PMID: 29894488 PMCID: PMC5997331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens causing acute disease and death or lasting immunity require specific spatial or temporal processes to persist in populations. Host traits, such as maternally-derived antibody (MDA) and seasonal birthing affect infection maintenance within populations. Our study objective is to understand how viral and host traits lead to population level infection persistence when the infection can be fatal. We collected data on African fruit bats and a rabies-related virus, Lagos bat virus (LBV), including through captive studies. We incorporate these data into a mechanistic model of LBV transmission to determine how host traits, including MDA and seasonal birthing, and viral traits, such as incubation periods, interact to allow fatal viruses to persist within bat populations. Captive bat studies supported MDA presence estimated from field data. Captive bat infection-derived antibody decayed more slowly than MDA, and while faster than estimates from the field, supports field data that suggest antibody persistence may be lifelong. Unobserved parameters were estimated by particle filtering and suggest only a small proportion of bats die of disease. Pathogen persistence in the population is sensitive to this proportion, along with MDA duration and incubation period. Our analyses suggest MDA produced bats and prolonged virus incubation periods allow viral maintenance in adverse conditions, such as a lethal pathogen or strongly seasonal resource availability for the pathogen in the form of seasonally pulsed birthing.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T. S. Hayman
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory (EpiLab), Infectious Disease Research Centre, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Angela D. Luis
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, Montana, United States of America
| | - Olivier Restif
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kate S. Baker
- Institute for Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Clint Leach
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Daniel L. Horton
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - James L. N. Wood
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Colleen T. Webb
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
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Peel AJ, Baker KS, Hayman DTS, Broder CC, Cunningham AA, Fooks AR, Garnier R, Wood JLN, Restif O. Support for viral persistence in bats from age-specific serology and models of maternal immunity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3859. [PMID: 29497106 PMCID: PMC5832774 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22236-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatiotemporally-localised prediction of virus emergence from wildlife requires focused studies on the ecology and immunology of reservoir hosts in their native habitat. Reliable predictions from mathematical models remain difficult in most systems due to a dearth of appropriate empirical data. Our goal was to study the circulation and immune dynamics of zoonotic viruses in bat populations and investigate the effects of maternally-derived and acquired immunity on viral persistence. Using rare age-specific serological data from wild-caught Eidolon helvum fruit bats as a case study, we estimated viral transmission parameters for a stochastic infection model. We estimated mean durations of around 6 months for maternally-derived immunity to Lagos bat virus and African henipavirus, whereas acquired immunity was long-lasting (Lagos bat virus: mean 12 years, henipavirus: mean 4 years). In the presence of a seasonal birth pulse, the effect of maternally-derived immunity on virus persistence within modelled bat populations was highly dependent on transmission characteristics. To explain previous reports of viral persistence within small natural and captive E. helvum populations, we hypothesise that some bats must experience prolonged infectious periods or within-host latency. By further elucidating plausible mechanisms of virus persistence in bat populations, we contribute to guidance of future field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Peel
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK.
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia.
| | - Kate S Baker
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
- Institute for Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - David T S Hayman
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Christopher C Broder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, 20814-4799, USA
| | - Andrew A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Romain Garnier
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - James L N Wood
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Olivier Restif
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
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Peel AJ, Wood JLN, Baker KS, Breed AC, Carvalho AD, Fernández-Loras A, Gabrieli HS, Gembu GC, Kakengi VA, Kaliba PM, Kityo RM, Lembo T, Mba FE, Ramos D, Rodriguez-Prieto I, Suu-Ire R, Cunningham AA, Hayman DTS. How Does Africa's Most Hunted Bat Vary Across the Continent? Population Traits of the Straw-Coloured Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) and Its Interactions with Humans. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2017. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2017.19.1.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alison J. Peel
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - James L. N. Wood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - Kate S. Baker
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C. Breed
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Arlindo De Carvalho
- Direção Geral de Ambiente, Avenida Kwame Krhuma-Caixa Postal 1023, São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Andrés Fernández-Loras
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Harrison Sadiki Gabrieli
- Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA), Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries (MLDF), P.O. Box 1026, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Guy-Crispin Gembu
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, République Démocratique du Congo
| | | | | | - Robert M. Kityo
- College of Natural Sciences, School of BioSciences, Department of Biological Sciences. Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tiziana Lembo
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
| | - Fidel Esono Mba
- Instituto Nacional de Desarrollo Forestal y Manejo del Sistema de Áreas Protegidas (INDEFOR-AP), Calle Jesús Bakale S/N, Bata, Equatorial Guinea
| | - Daniel Ramos
- Parque Natural do Príncipe, Avenida Amilcar Cabral, Cidade de Santo António, Ilha do Príncipe, São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Iñaki Rodriguez-Prieto
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Andrew A. Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - David T. S. Hayman
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
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6
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Peel AJ, Baker KS, Hayman DTS, Suu-Ire R, Breed AC, Gembu GC, Lembo T, Fernández-Loras A, Sargan DR, Fooks AR, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN. Bat trait, genetic and pathogen data from large-scale investigations of African fruit bats, Eidolon helvum. Sci Data 2016; 3:160049. [PMID: 27479120 PMCID: PMC4968192 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats, including African straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), have been highlighted as reservoirs of many recently emerged zoonotic viruses. This common, widespread and ecologically important species was the focus of longitudinal and continent-wide studies of the epidemiological and ecology of Lagos bat virus, henipaviruses and Achimota viruses. Here we present a spatial, morphological, demographic, genetic and serological dataset encompassing 2827 bats from nine countries over an 8-year period. Genetic data comprises cytochrome b mitochondrial sequences (n=608) and microsatellite genotypes from 18 loci (n=544). Tooth-cementum analyses (n=316) allowed derivation of rare age-specific serologic data for a lyssavirus, a henipavirus and two rubulaviruses. This dataset contributes a substantial volume of data on the ecology of E. helvum and its viruses and will be valuable for a wide range of studies, including viral transmission dynamic modelling in age-structured populations, investigation of seasonal reproductive asynchrony in wide-ranging species, ecological niche modelling, inference of island colonisation history, exploration of relationships between island and body size, and various spatial analyses of demographic, morphometric or serological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Peel
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland 4111 Australia
| | - Kate S Baker
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK.,Institute for Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - David T S Hayman
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Private Bag, 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Richard Suu-Ire
- Wildlife Division, Ghana Forestry Commission, Accra, Ghana.,University of Ghana, Faculty of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, Box LG 571, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Andrew C Breed
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Guy-Crispin Gembu
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, 4, Avenue Kithima, commune Makiso, BP 2012, Kisangani, République Démocratique du Congo
| | - Tiziana Lembo
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
| | - Andrés Fernández-Loras
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.,Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - David R Sargan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Andrew A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - James L N Wood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
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