Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico

We performed serologic surveillance for selected arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) in bats and opossums in the Lacandona Rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico, in 2023–2024. Sera were collected from 94 bats of at least 15 species and 43 opossums of three species. The sera were assayed by the plaque reduct...

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Main Authors: J. Manuel Aranda-Coello, Carlos Machain-Williams, Manuel Weber, Alma R. Dzul Rosado, Tyler R. Simpkins, Bradley J. Blitvich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/590
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author J. Manuel Aranda-Coello
Carlos Machain-Williams
Manuel Weber
Alma R. Dzul Rosado
Tyler R. Simpkins
Bradley J. Blitvich
author_facet J. Manuel Aranda-Coello
Carlos Machain-Williams
Manuel Weber
Alma R. Dzul Rosado
Tyler R. Simpkins
Bradley J. Blitvich
author_sort J. Manuel Aranda-Coello
collection DOAJ
description We performed serologic surveillance for selected arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) in bats and opossums in the Lacandona Rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico, in 2023–2024. Sera were collected from 94 bats of at least 15 species and 43 opossums of three species. The sera were assayed by the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for antibodies to eight orthoflaviviruses (dengue viruses 1–4, St. Louis encephalitis virus, T’Ho virus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus) and one alphavirus (chikungunya virus; CHIKV). Twelve (12.8%) bats and 15 (34.9%) opossums contained orthoflavivirus-specific antibodies. One bat (a Jamaican fruit bat) was seropositive for Zika virus, and 11 bats contained antibodies to an undetermined orthoflavivirus, as did the 15 opossums. All bats and most opossums seropositive for an undetermined orthoflavivirus had low PRNT titers, possibly because they had been infected with another (perhaps unrecognized) orthoflavivirus not included in the PRNTs. Antibodies that neutralized CHIKV were detected in three (7.0%) opossums and none of the bats. The three opossums had low CHIKV PRNT titers, and therefore, another alphavirus may have been responsible for the infections. In summary, we report serologic evidence of arbovirus infections in bats and opossums in Chiapas, Mexico.
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spelling doaj-art-cf127c4dcdb544f8b0c0e9b9c9d9d43f2025-08-20T03:12:07ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-04-0117559010.3390/v17050590Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, MexicoJ. Manuel Aranda-Coello0Carlos Machain-Williams1Manuel Weber2Alma R. Dzul Rosado3Tyler R. Simpkins4Bradley J. Blitvich5Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Lerma 24500, Campeche, MexicoEstudios en Una Salud, Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Palenque, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Palenque 29960, Chiapas, MexicoDepartamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Lerma 24500, Campeche, MexicoEstudios en Una Salud, Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Palenque, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Palenque 29960, Chiapas, MexicoDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USAWe performed serologic surveillance for selected arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) in bats and opossums in the Lacandona Rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico, in 2023–2024. Sera were collected from 94 bats of at least 15 species and 43 opossums of three species. The sera were assayed by the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for antibodies to eight orthoflaviviruses (dengue viruses 1–4, St. Louis encephalitis virus, T’Ho virus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus) and one alphavirus (chikungunya virus; CHIKV). Twelve (12.8%) bats and 15 (34.9%) opossums contained orthoflavivirus-specific antibodies. One bat (a Jamaican fruit bat) was seropositive for Zika virus, and 11 bats contained antibodies to an undetermined orthoflavivirus, as did the 15 opossums. All bats and most opossums seropositive for an undetermined orthoflavivirus had low PRNT titers, possibly because they had been infected with another (perhaps unrecognized) orthoflavivirus not included in the PRNTs. Antibodies that neutralized CHIKV were detected in three (7.0%) opossums and none of the bats. The three opossums had low CHIKV PRNT titers, and therefore, another alphavirus may have been responsible for the infections. In summary, we report serologic evidence of arbovirus infections in bats and opossums in Chiapas, Mexico.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/590alphavirusbatschikungunya virusflavivirusopossumsZika virus
spellingShingle J. Manuel Aranda-Coello
Carlos Machain-Williams
Manuel Weber
Alma R. Dzul Rosado
Tyler R. Simpkins
Bradley J. Blitvich
Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico
Viruses
alphavirus
bats
chikungunya virus
flavivirus
opossums
Zika virus
title Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico
title_full Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico
title_fullStr Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico
title_short Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico
title_sort serologic surveillance for orthoflaviviruses and chikungunya virus in bats and opossums in chiapas mexico
topic alphavirus
bats
chikungunya virus
flavivirus
opossums
Zika virus
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/590
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