Virus survey in populations of two subspecies of bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae bassanii and oceanensis) in south-eastern Australia reveals a high prevalence of diverse herpesviruses

PLoS One. 2018 May 24;13(5):e0197625. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197625. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

While bats are often viewed as carriers of infectious disease agents, little research has been conducted on the effects these potential pathogens may have on the bat populations themselves. The southern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) is a critically endangered subspecies endemic to south-eastern Australia. Population numbers of this bat have been declining for the past 50 years, but the reasons for this are unclear. As part of a larger study to determine if disease could be a contributing factor to this decline, 351 southern bent-winged bats from four locations were captured, and oral swabs were collected and tested for the presence of potentially pathogenic viruses. Results were compared with those obtained from 116 eastern bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis) from three different locations. The eastern bent-winged bat is a related but more common and widespread subspecies whose geographical range overlaps partly with southern bent-winged bats. Herpesviruses were detected in bent-winged bats from all seven locations. At least six novel herpesviruses (five betaherpesviruses and one gammaherpesvirus) were identified. The prevalence of herpesvirus infection was higher in eastern bent-winged bats (44%, 51/116), compared to southern bent-winged bats (27%, 95/351), although this varied across the locations and sampling periods. Adenoviruses and a range of different RNA viruses (lyssaviruses, filoviruses, coronaviruses and henipaviruses) were also tested for but not detected. The detected herpesviruses did not appear to be associated with obvious ill health, and may thus not be playing a role in the population decline of the southern bent-winged bat. The detection of multiple novel herpesviruses at a high prevalence of infection is consistent with our understanding of bats as hosts to a rich diversity of viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Animal Diseases / virology*
  • Animals
  • Biodiversity
  • Chiroptera / virology*
  • Geography
  • Herpesviridae / genetics
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Phylogeny
  • Phylogeography
  • Prevalence
  • South Australia / epidemiology
  • Virus Diseases / veterinary*
  • Viruses / classification*
  • Viruses / genetics

Grants and funding

Funded by Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, HOLSW2016-R1-F109, https://www.ecolsoc.org.au/awards-and-prizes/holsworth-wildlife-research-endowment (PH). Wildlife Disease Association Australasia, http://www.wildlifedisease.org/wda/SECTIONS/Australasian.aspx (PH). Australian Government’s Threatened Species Discretionary Grants Program, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Victoria, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/threatened-species-recovery-fund (LL). Karst Conservation Fund, http://www.caves.org.au/conservation/karst-conservation-fund (PH). David Middleton (PH) Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship, https://studenteforms.app.unimelb.edu.au/apex/f?p=153:2:0:::2:P2_ID:50 (PH). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.