TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koch, Lisa Katharina
A1  - Cunze, Sarah
A1  - Kochmann, Judith
A1  - Klimpel, Sven
T1  - Bats as putative Zaire ebolavirus reservoir hosts and their habitat suitability in Africa
T2  - Scientific reports
N2  - The genus Ebolavirus comprises some of the deadliest viruses for primates and humans and associated disease outbreaks are increasing in Africa. Different evidence suggests that bats are putative reservoir hosts and play a major role in the transmission cycle of these filoviruses. Thus, detailed knowledge about their distribution might improve risk estimations of where future disease outbreaks might occur. A MaxEnt niche modelling approach based on climatic variables and land cover was used to investigate the potential distribution of 9 bat species associated to the Zaire ebolavirus. This viral species has led to major Ebola outbreaks in Africa and is known for causing high mortalities. Modelling results suggest suitable areas mainly in the areas near the coasts of West Africa with extensions into Central Africa, where almost all of the 9 species studied find suitable habitat conditions. Previous spillover events and outbreak sites of the virus are covered by the modelled distribution of 3 bat species that have been tested positive for the virus not only using serology tests but also PCR methods. Modelling the habitat suitability of the bats is an important step that can benefit public information campaigns and may ultimately help control future outbreaks of the disease.
KW  - Diseases
KW  - Ecological modelling
KW  - Ecology
KW  - Infectious diseases
KW  - Viral infection
Y1  - 2020
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/81338
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-813387
SN  - 2045-2322
N1  - Open Access funding provided by Projekt DEAL.
VL  - 10
IS  - art. 14268
SP  - 1
EP  - 9
PB  - Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature
CY  - [London]
ER  -