Neotropical primary bat cell lines show restricted dengue virus replication.

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Zoonosis Research
• Bat Immunology

Background:

• Dengue virus is a major arboviral disease impacting human health globally.
• Bats are known reservoirs for emerging viral zoonoses, with some studies detecting dengue virus components in bats.
• Previous experimental evidence regarding bats as dengue reservoirs has been conflicting, hindering definitive conclusions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cellular permissivity of Neotropical bats to dengue virus infection.
• To determine if primary bat cells from different species and organs can support dengue virus replication.
• To clarify the potential role of bats in sustaining dengue virus transmission cycles.

Main Methods:

• Primary embryonic cell cultures were established from diverse organs and tissues of three Neotropical bat species: Artibeus jamaicensis, Molossus sinaloae, and Desmodus rotundus.
• These bat cell lines were experimentally inoculated with dengue virus to assess susceptibility and replication.
• Limited dengue virus replication was observed in specific cell types and serotypes.

Main Results:

• Dengue virus susceptibility was found to be specific to the bat species, organ, and dengue serotype.
• Only a subset of primary cells derived from Molossus sinaloae showed limited initial replication of Dengue serotype-1, which was subsequently absent.
• Overall, dengue virus did not replicate efficiently in the established cell lines from the studied Neotropical bat species.

Conclusions:

• Primary cell lines derived from Neotropical bats exhibit limited permissivity to dengue virus infection.
• The findings suggest that bats are unlikely to be significant reservoirs for sustaining dengue virus replication.
• Further ecological or in vivo studies are warranted to fully elucidate the potential role of Molossus bats in dengue virus dynamics.