Dr
Arthur Wickenhagen
(1 Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA 2 Laboratory for Host-Virus Systems and Transmission, Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Greifswald, Germany)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H5N1) continues to circulate globally in wild birds and is increasingly detected in mammals, highlighting the risk of cross-species transmission. Serological evidence of exposure in South American vampire bats and reports of H5N1-positive flying foxes in Bangladesh suggest that bats are susceptible to infection. However, their role in H5N1 ecology remains unclear. We investigated H5N1 susceptibility in bats using in vitro and in vivo models. Bat-derived cell lines from diverse species supported H5N1 replication, demonstrating permissiveness to infection. We then developed an experimental infection model in Jamaican fruit bats (Artibeus spp.) and inoculated animals via intranasal and oral routes. Infected bats showed productive infection, with viral RNA and infectious virus detected in respiratory and intestinal samples. Virus shedding was transient and declined within five days. Despite infection, bats exhibited no clinical signs, morbidity or mortality, suggesting effective control of viral replication and limited disease progression. These findings demonstrate that Jamaican fruit bats are susceptible to H5N1 infection and can transiently shed virus without developing severe disease. The results identify bats as potential incidental hosts and raise important questions about their role in H5N1 maintenance and transmission at the wildlife–livestock–human interface.
This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program, NIAID,NIH.
Keywords
H5N1, Influenza, Bats, Cross-species transmission
| Registration ID |
OHS26-110
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| Professional Status of the Speaker |
Postdoc
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| Junior Scientist Status |
No, I am not a Junior Scientist.
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Dr
Arthur Wickenhagen
(1 Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA 2 Laboratory for Host-Virus Systems and Transmission, Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Greifswald, Germany)
Anthony McBain
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Claude Kwe Yinda
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Franziska Kaiser
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Jonathan E Schulz
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Julianne Bullock
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Reshma Mukesh
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Sarah van Tol
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Shane Gallogly
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
Vincent Munster
(Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA)
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