Dengue virus in bats from southeastern Mexico

Area of Science:

• * Virology
• * Ecology
• * Wildlife Health

Background:

• * Dengue virus (DENV) poses a significant public health threat globally.
• * Bats are potential reservoirs for various viruses, including flaviviruses.
• * Understanding DENV transmission dynamics in wildlife is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the presence of DENV in bats from distinct landscape types in southern Mexico.
• * To determine the relationship between landscape use (anthropogenically altered vs. unaltered) and DENV occurrence in bats.
• * To identify DENV serotypes and bat species harboring the virus.

Main Methods:

• * Collection of spleen samples from 146 bats across 16 species in Calakmul and Montes Azules Biosphere Reserves.
• * Detection of four DENV serotypes using standard reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) protocols.
• * Analysis of DENV occurrence in relation to anthropogenic disturbance levels in the sampled landscapes.

Main Results:

• * Dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) was detected in 4.1% (6/146) of bats tested.
• * DENV-2 positive bats included Glossophaga soricina and Artibeus species (A. jamaicensis, A. lituratus).
• * No significant association was found between anthropogenic disturbance and DENV occurrence, though positive species are habitat generalists.

Conclusions:

• * This study reports the first identification of DENV-2 in bats in southeastern Mexico using RT-PCR.
• * Common and adaptable bat species harbor DENV-2, highlighting their potential role in viral ecology.
• * The precise ecological role of bats in DENV transmission cycles remains to be elucidated.