Multi-species foraging on a Marburg virus bat reservoir

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Virology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Zoonotic spillover events are poorly understood due to limited data on host-pathogen interfaces.
• Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) are known reservoirs for filoviruses like Marburg virus.
• Observing wildlife behavior at these interfaces is crucial for predicting and preventing disease transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate multi-species interactions at a known filovirus reservoir.
• To document the behavioral ecology of wildlife and human visitors at Python Cave, Uganda.
• To assess the potential for pathogen exposure and zoonotic spillover.

Main Methods:

• Deployment of camera traps at Python Cave, a bat roost in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.
• Long-term monitoring over 368 trap nights to capture species interactions.
• Analysis of >14 vertebrate species behaviors, including predation, scavenging, and guano foraging, alongside human activity.

Main Results:

• Recorded 321 interaction events involving over 14 vertebrate species and 214 human visitors.
• Observed a shallow cave structure that minimizes spatial separation between bats, predators, and humans.
• Documented a multi-trophic network of exposure at the filovirus reservoir.

Conclusions:

• The study provides visual evidence of a complex exposure network at a Marburg virus reservoir.
• The findings underscore the ecological conditions that may facilitate zoonotic spillover.
• Understanding these interfaces is critical for One Health approaches to disease prevention.