Ebola found in bats

[26 December 2005 - 00h00]
[mis à jour le 23 August 2007 à 09h19]

Researchers at the Development Research Institute (IRD) have identified bats as a potential natural reservoir for the Ebola virus. A major discovery, which is perhaps decisive in preventing human epidemics.

It was in fact known that the virus was transmitted to humans through direct contact with the carcasses of infected primates. But while these animals are the cause of human infection, they are not a reservoir for the virus. The reservoir remained unknown, as did the method of transmission of the virus to large monkeys.

According to the scientists at the IRD, who worked in Gabon with bats captured near the carcasses of monkeys, primates are directly contaminated through contact with these vertebrates. They state in the journal Nature that they have detected part of the specific antibodies of the Ebola virus in the serum of three species of tropical frugivorus bats. Moreover, fragments of the viral genome were found in their livers and spleen.

These findings throw new light on the episodic nature of epidemics in primates and humans. They could permit the development of prevention strategies aimed at large monkeys and also at population groups. Some bats –hypsignathus monstrosus– are frequently captured for food by people in regions which suffer from these epidemics.

Source : IRD

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