Serosurvey of Chikungunya Virus in Old World Fruit Bats, Senegal, 2020-2022

Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Jul;30(7):1490-1492. doi: 10.3201/eid3007.240055.

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional serosurvey for chikungunya virus (CHIKV) exposure in fruit bats in Senegal during 2020-2023. We found that 13.3% (89/671) of bats had CHIKV IgG; highest prevalence was in Eidolon helvum (18.3%, 15/82) and Epomophorus gambianus (13.7%, 63/461) bats. Our results suggest these bats are naturally exposed to CHIKV.

Keywords: Chikungunya virus; Old World fruit bats; Senegal; vector-borne infections; viruses; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral* / blood
  • Chikungunya Fever* / blood
  • Chikungunya Fever* / epidemiology
  • Chikungunya Fever* / history
  • Chikungunya Fever* / virology
  • Chikungunya virus* / immunology
  • Chiroptera* / virology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Senegal / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral