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Dengue virus in Mexican bats
A Aguilar-Setién1, M L Romero-Almaraz, C Sánchez-Hernández
1Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Hospital de Pediatría, México, D.F. varoaguila@prodigy.net.mx
Epidemiology and Infection
|March 8, 2008
Summary
Dengue virus (DV) was detected in Mexican bats, marking the first evidence of its presence in these animals. This discovery highlights bats as potential reservoirs for dengue virus in endemic regions.
Area of Science:
- * Virology
- * Ecology
- * Public Health
Background:
- * Dengue virus (DV) poses a significant public health threat in endemic areas.
- * The potential role of bats as reservoirs for arboviruses, including DV, is an emerging area of research.
- * Limited data exists on DV presence in bat populations in Mexico.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the presence of dengue virus in bats from dengue-endemic regions of Mexico.
- * To determine the seroprevalence and detect DV RNA and NS1 protein in examined bat species.
Main Methods:
- * ELISA for antibody detection.
- * RT-PCR for dengue virus RNA detection.
- * Testing for dengue virus NS1 protein.
- * Bats were sampled from Gulf and Pacific coastal areas of Mexico.
Main Results:
- * Nine bats from four species tested seropositive for DV antibodies.
- * DV serotype 2 RNA was detected in four bats from three species on the Gulf coast.
- * One bat (Myotis nigricans) tested positive for DV RNA and NS1 protein, and antibodies.
- * DV RNA-positive bats were antibody-negative, suggesting active infection.
Conclusions:
- * This study provides the first evidence of dengue virus presence in bats in Mexico.
- * Bats, particularly Myotis nigricans, may serve as potential reservoirs or hosts for dengue virus.
- * Further research is warranted to understand the ecological and epidemiological implications of DV in bats.
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