Isolation of Genetically Diverse Marburg Viruses from Egyptian Fruit Bats

TLDR

In July and September 2007, miners in Kitaka Cave, Uganda, were diagnosed with Marburg hemorrhagic fever. The bat colony was estimated at over 100,000 individuals by mark‑and‑recapture, implying more than 5,000 virus‑infected bats. Egyptian fruit bats were identified as the likely source of infection, with 5.1 % of 611 bats testing positive for viral RNA, antibodies, and genetically diverse virus isolates collected nine months apart that matched miner strains, indicating long‑term circulation and a major reservoir capable of spillover.

Abstract

In July and September 2007, miners working in Kitaka Cave, Uganda, were diagnosed with Marburg hemorrhagic fever. The likely source of infection in the cave was Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) based on detection of Marburg virus RNA in 31/611 (5.1%) bats, virus-specific antibody in bat sera, and isolation of genetically diverse virus from bat tissues. The virus isolates were collected nine months apart, demonstrating long-term virus circulation. The bat colony was estimated to be over 100,000 animals using mark and re-capture methods, predicting the presence of over 5,000 virus-infected bats. The genetically diverse virus genome sequences from bats and miners closely matched. These data indicate common Egyptian fruit bats can represent a major natural reservoir and source of Marburg virus with potential for spillover into humans.