Lyssavirus Antibody Detection in Cave-Dwelling Bats on Cat Ba Island, Vietnam: Implications for Zoonotic Surveillance
Southeast Asia is a biodiversity hotspot for bats that can carry lyssaviruses, causing zoonotic diseases. This study detects and quantifies IgG antibodies against <i>Lyssavirus</i> glycoproteins in cave-dwelling bat populations on Cat Ba Island, northern Vietnam, to determine their past...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/7/654 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Southeast Asia is a biodiversity hotspot for bats that can carry lyssaviruses, causing zoonotic diseases. This study detects and quantifies IgG antibodies against <i>Lyssavirus</i> glycoproteins in cave-dwelling bat populations on Cat Ba Island, northern Vietnam, to determine their past exposure history and the prevalence of immune responses. Samples were collected from five caves, encompassing three families and five key species (<i>Hipposideros armiger</i>, <i>H. alongensis</i>, <i>H. poutensis</i>, <i>Taphozous melanopogon</i>, and <i>Myotis pilosus</i>). Using ELISA with the Platelia™ Rabies II kit,(Bio-Rad Laboratories, Marnes-la-Coquette, France) 29.0% (18/62) of the bats tested positive, indicating prior exposure. The detection rate was slightly higher in females (35.7%) than in males (30.4%). <i>Lyssavirus</i>-specific antibodies were detected in four species, with the highest levels found in <i>M. pilosus</i>, followed by <i>H. alongensis</i>, <i>H. armiger</i>, and <i>H. poutensis;</i> no positives were found in <i>T. melanopogon</i> samples. One bat exhibited high seroconversion value (>4 EU/mL). The findings provide serological evidence of widespread lyssaviruses exposure in asymptomatic bats on Cat Ba Island, confirming their role as reservoirs that elicit an immune response without exhibiting rabies symptoms. This highlights the role of caves in facilitating close contact among bats, which may increase viral transmission, highlighting the need for continued surveillance in these unique roosting environments. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2306-7381 |