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Published on: June 9, 2011
First report on the detection of Japanese encephalitis virus in fruit bats from India
Himani Dhanze1, M Karikalan2, Deepa Mehta1
1Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, India.
Abstract:
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito borne viral zoonotic disease and JE virus (JEV) is responsible for causing several children deaths every year in India. Since 1978, cases of JE have been reported from Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh state annually. The knowledge on the role played by wildlife reservoirs in the sylvatic transmission and maintenance of JE virus remains limited. Bats are reservoir hosts for several emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens but their role in zoonotic cycle of JEV has not been elucidated yet. In Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, 52 fruit bats were found dead on 26 May 2020. The post-mortem report of the bat samples conducted at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute stated that the bats died due to brain hemorrhage, caused by excessive heat. The brain tissue samples of the bats were subjected to investigation using molecular techniques to determine the presence of JEV. The present work reports for the first time the detection of JEV in brain samples of bats from India. The viral load ranging from 8 to 18 copies/reaction was detected in brain samples by TaqMan real Time RT-PCR. The low viral load might be the reason for the absence of apparent clinical signs in bats and suggests the probable role of fruit bats in maintaining the JEV in nature.
Insights
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was detected in fruit bats in India for the first time. This finding suggests bats may play a role in maintaining JEV in nature, impacting public health surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Wildlife Epidemiology
Background:
- Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a significant mosquito-borne viral zoonotic disease causing child mortality in India.
- JE virus (JEV) has been endemic in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, since 1978, with limited understanding of wildlife reservoir roles.
- Bats are known reservoirs for various viral pathogens, but their involvement in the JEV zoonotic cycle remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in a bat population in Gorakhpur, India.
- To elucidate the potential role of fruit bats as reservoirs in the JEV transmission cycle.
Main Methods:
- Post-mortem examination of 52 deceased fruit bats found in Gorakhpur.
- Molecular investigation of brain tissue samples using TaqMan real-time RT-PCR for JEV detection.
Main Results:
- Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was detected in the brain samples of fruit bats.
- Viral loads ranged from 8 to 18 copies/reaction, indicating a low viral presence.
- The low viral load likely explains the absence of apparent clinical signs in the bats.
Conclusions:
- This study reports the first detection of JEV in bats in India.
- Fruit bats may serve as a potential reservoir for maintaining JEV in the natural environment.
- Further research is needed to understand the ecological dynamics and public health implications of JEV in bat populations.
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