Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly virulent zoonotic virus classified as a priority pathogen and biohazard. In 2014, an outbreak of NiV-like disease in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, Philippines resulted in a 53% case fatality rate. Here, we identified wildlife bat hosts of NiV by conducting monthly serological surveillance of flying foxes and other native frugivorous bat species across Luzon. We estimated 13.92% NiV seroprevalence in native flying foxes. We also detected NiV neutralizing activity in some flying fox sera and identified factors such as age and seasonality as drivers of high anti-NiV antibody levels. In contrast, less than 10% NiV seroprevalence was detected in <i>R. amplexicaudatus</i>, <i>C. luzoniensis</i>, and <i>P. jagori</i> bats, and these bats have no detectable neutralizing antibodies. This is the first serological description of NiV in native flying foxes in the Philippines, highlighting a major wildlife host in an understudied region.

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Publication Details

Journal
Emerging Microbes & Infections
Published
2025-09-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720
Primary Topic
Virology and Viral Diseases
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines

Fedelino F. Malbas, Eric D. Laing, David T. S. Hayman, Catalino S. Demetria et al.
Emerging Microbes & Infections
Virology and Viral Diseases
article

Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines

Fedelino F. Malbas, Eric D. Laing, David T. S. Hayman, Catalino S. Demetria, Gavin J. D. Smith, Kirk J. Taray, Sophie A. Borthwick, Dolyce H. W. Low, Mary-Glazel Noroña, Mary Grace Dacuma, Lianying Yan, Phillip Alviola, Neil Mittal, Marana S. Rekedal, Jezryl Jaeger L. Garcia, Diego Manzano, Jairue Azel P. Café, Samantha L. Magsanoc, Hazel R. Cruz
article en

Abstract

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly virulent zoonotic virus classified as a priority pathogen and biohazard. In 2014, an outbreak of NiV-like disease in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, Philippines resulted in a 53% case fatality rate. Here, we identified wildlife bat hosts of NiV by conducting monthly serological surveillance of flying foxes and other native frugivorous bat species across Luzon. We estimated 13.92% NiV seroprevalence in native flying foxes. We also detected NiV neutralizing activity in some flying fox sera and identified factors such as age and seasonality as drivers of high anti-NiV antibody levels. In contrast, less than 10% NiV seroprevalence was detected in <i>R. amplexicaudatus</i>, <i>C. luzoniensis</i>, and <i>P. jagori</i> bats, and these bats have no detectable neutralizing antibodies. This is the first serological description of NiV in native flying foxes in the Philippines, highlighting a major wildlife host in an understudied region.

Emerging Microbes & InfectionsVol. 14(1)
University of the Philippines Los Baños (PH), Henry M. Jackson Foundation (US), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US), University of Health Science (KH), Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (PH), Duke-NUS Medical School (SG), University of Health Sciences (SO), Massey University (NZ)
Openalex Percentile: Top 63%
Virology and Viral Diseases
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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