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Discovery of an ebolavirus-like filovirus in europe

Ana Negredo1, Gustavo Palacios, Sonia Vázquez-Morón

  • 1National Center of Microbiology, (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.

Plos Pathogens
|November 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A novel filovirus, Lloviu virus, was discovered in Spanish bats. This finding expands the known geographic range of filoviruses beyond Africa and the Philippines.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Zoonotic Diseases
  • Bat Ecology

Background:

  • Filoviruses, including ebolaviruses and marburgviruses, are highly lethal primate pathogens.
  • Natural filovirus infections have historically been confined to sub-Saharan Africa and the Philippines.
  • Bat infections with known ebolaviruses and marburgviruses typically do not cause disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the identification of a novel filovirus in insectivorous bats.
  • To characterize the genetic distinctiveness of this new virus.
  • To determine the geographic distribution of filoviruses.

Main Methods:

  • Necropsy of dead insectivorous bats found at Cueva del Lloviu, Spain.
  • Genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to identify and classify the novel virus.
  • Comparison of viral genetic material with known filoviruses.

Main Results:

  • Identification of a genetically distinct filovirus in dead insectivorous bats.
  • Provisionally named Lloviu virus, after the discovery site in Spain.
  • This represents the first detection of a filovirus in Europe.

Conclusions:

  • Lloviu virus is a novel filovirus distinct from previously known species.
  • The discovery of Lloviu virus in Spain expands the known geographic range of filoviruses.
  • Further research is needed to understand the pathogenicity and ecological role of Lloviu virus in bats.

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