@article{fdi:010048306,
  title = {{L}arge serological survey showing cocirculation of {E}bola and {M}arburg viruses in {G}abonese bat populations, and a high seroprevalence of both viruses in {R}ousettus aegyptiacus},
  author = {{P}ourrut, {X}avier and {S}ouris, {M}arc and {T}owner, {J}. {S}. and {R}ollin, {P}. {E}. and {N}ichol, {S}. {T}. and {G}onzalez, {J}ean-{P}aul and {L}eroy, {E}ric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {E}bola and {M}arburg viruses cause highly lethal hemorrhagic fevers in humans. {R}ecently, bats of multiple species have been identified as possible natural hosts of {Z}aire ebolavirus ({ZEBOV}) in {G}abon and {R}epublic of {C}ongo, and also of marburgvirus ({MARV}) in {G}abon and {D}emocratic {R}epublic of {C}ongo. {M}ethods: {W}e tested 2147 bats belonging to at least nine species sampled between 2003 and 2008 in three regions of {G}abon and in the {E}bola epidemic region of north {C}ongo for {I}g{G} antibodies specific for {ZEBOV} and {MARV}. {R}esults: {O}verall, {I}g{G} antibodies to {ZEBOV} and {MARV} were found in 4% and 1% of bats, respectively. {ZEBOV}-specific antibodies were found in six bat species ({E}pomops franqueti, {H}ypsignathus monstrosus, {M}yonycteris torquata, {M}icropteropus pusillus, {M}ops condylurus and {R}ousettus aegyptiacus), while {MARV}-specific antibodies were only found in {R}ousettus aegyptiacus and {H}ypsignathus monstrosus. {T}he prevalence of {MARV}-specific {I}g{G} was significantly higher in {R}. aegyptiacus members captured inside caves than elsewhere. {N}o significant difference in prevalence was found according to age or gender. {A} higher prevalence of {ZEBOV}-specific {I}g{G} was found in pregnant females than in non pregnant females. {C}onclusion: {T}hese findings confirm that {ZEBOV} and {MARV} co-circulate in {G}abon, the only country where bats infected by each virus have been found. {I}g{G} antibodies to both viruses were detected only in {R}ousettus aegyptiacus, suggesting that this bat species may be involved in the natural cycle of both {M}arburg and {E}bola viruses. {T}he presence of {MARV} in {G}abon indicates a potential risk for a first human outbreak. {D}isease surveillance should be enhanced in areas near caves.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}mc {I}nfectious {D}iseases},
  volume = {9},
  numero = {},
  pages = {159},
  ISSN = {1471-2334},
  year = {2009},
  DOI = {10.1186/1471-2334-9-159},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010048306},
}