Pourrut Xavier auteur aut IRD Delicat A. auteur aut IRD Rollin P. E. auteur aut IRD Ksiazek T. G. auteur aut IRD Gonzalez J.P. auteur aut IRD Leroy Eric auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access To characterize the distribution of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) infection within the 3 bat species (Epomops franqueti, Hypsignathus monstrosus, and Myonycteris torquata) that are possible reservoirs, we collected 1390 bats during 2003-2006 in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. Detection of ZEBOV immunoglobulin G (IgG) in 40 specimens supports the role of these bat species as the ZEBOV reservoirs. ZEBOV IgG prevalence rates (5%) were homogeneous across epidemic and nonepidemic regions during outbreaks, indicating that infected bats may well be present in nonepidemic regions of central Africa. ZEBOV IgG prevalence decreased, significantly, to 1% after the outbreaks, suggesting that the percentage of IgG-positive bats is associated with virus transmission to other animal species and outbreak appearance. The large number of ZEBOV IgG-positive adult bats and pregnant H. monstrosus females suggests virus transmission within bat populations through fighting and sexual contact. Our study, thus, helps to describe Ebola virus circulation in bats and offers some insight into the appearance of outbreaks. specialized GABON CONGO 052 050 196 Suppl. 2 S176-S183 2007 0022-1899 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/PAR00002079 10.1086/520541 0022-1899 [F B010093144] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/PAR00002079 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2025-02/010093144.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2008-02-22 2025-02-28 PAR00002079 fre