Investigating the zoonotic origin of the West African Ebola epidemic

TLDR

The West African Ebola epidemic originated from a single zoonotic transmission to a 2‑year‑old boy in Meliandou, Guinea, and bats of the Mops condylurus species have been implicated as potential reservoirs based on prior experimental evidence. The study aimed to investigate the zoonotic origins of the epidemic. The authors conducted wildlife surveys, interviews, and molecular analyses of bat and environmental samples to trace the virus source. They found no concurrent outbreak in larger wildlife, identified the index case as likely infected by playing in a hollow tree housing insectivorous free‑tailed bats, and expanded the potential Ebola virus sources to include these bats, highlighting the need for broader sampling.

Abstract

Abstract The severe Ebola virus disease epidemic occurring in West Africa stems from a single zoonotic transmission event to a 2‐year‐old boy in Meliandou, Guinea. We investigated the zoonotic origins of the epidemic using wildlife surveys, interviews, and molecular analyses of bat and environmental samples. We found no evidence for a concurrent outbreak in larger wildlife. Exposure to fruit bats is common in the region, but the index case may have been infected by playing in a hollow tree housing a colony of insectivorous free‐tailed bats ( Mops condylurus ). Bats in this family have previously been discussed as potential sources for Ebola virus outbreaks, and experimental data have shown that this species can survive experimental infection. These analyses expand the range of possible Ebola virus sources to include insectivorous bats and reiterate the importance of broader sampling efforts for understanding Ebola virus ecology.