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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Bat distribution size or shape as determinant of viral richness in African bats
PLoS ONE, Volume 9, No. 6, Article e100172, Year 2014
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Description
The rising incidence of emerging infectious diseases (EID) is mostly linked to biodiversity loss, changes in habitat use and increasing habitat fragmentation. Bats are linked to a growing number of EID but few studies have explored the factors of viral richness in bats. These may have implications for role of bats as potential reservoirs. We investigated the determinants of viral richness in 15 species of African bats (8 Pteropodidae and 7 microchiroptera) in Central and West Africa for which we provide new information on virus infection and bat phylogeny. We performed the first comparative analysis testing the correlation of the fragmented geographical distribution (defined as the perimeter to area ratio) with viral richness in bats. Because of their potential effect, sampling effort, host body weight, ecological and behavioural traits such as roosting behaviour, migration and geographical range, were included into the analysis as variables. The results showed that the geographical distribution size, shape and host body weight have significant effects on viral richness in bats. Viral richness was higher in large-bodied bats which had larger and more fragmented distribution areas. Accumulation of viruses may be related to the historical expansion and contraction of bat species distribution range, with potentially strong effects of distribution edges on virus transmission. Two potential explanations may explain these results. A positive distribution edge effect on the abundance or distribution of some bat species could have facilitated host switches. Alternatively, parasitism could play a direct role in shaping the distribution range of hosts through host local extinction by virulent parasites. This study highlights the importance of considering the fragmentation of bat species geographical distribution in order to understand their role in the circulation of viruses in Africa. © 2014 Maganga et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Maganga, Gaël Darren
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Gabon, Franceville
Institut National Supérieur D'agronomie et de Biotechnologies Insab
Bourgarel, Mathieu
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
France, Paris
Cirad
Vallo, Peter
Czech Republic, Brno
Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Germany, Ulm
Universität Ulm
Dallo, Thierno D.
Germany, Bonn
Universität Bonn
Ngoagouni, Carine
Central African Republic, Bangui
Institut Pasteur de Bangui
Drexler, Jan Felix
Germany, Bonn
Universität Bonn
Drosten, C.
Germany, Bonn
Universität Bonn
Nakouné, Emmanuel Rivalyn
Central African Republic, Bangui
Institut Pasteur de Bangui
Leroy, Éric Maurice
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
France, Paris
Cnrs Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Morand, Serge
France, Paris
Cirad
France, Montpellier
Institut Des Sciences de L’evolution de Montpellier
Laos
Centre D'infectiologie Christophe Mérieux du Laos
Statistics
Citations: 56
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 10
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0100172
e-ISSN:
19326203
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Multi-countries