Open Access
Research (Published online: 16-03-2020)
15. Molecular and cellular evidence of natural Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection in frugivorous bats in Colombia
Camilo Guzmán, Alfonso Calderón, Teresa Oviedo, Salim Mattar, José Castañeda, Virginia Rodriguez and Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo
Veterinary World, 13(3): 495-501

Camilo Guzmán: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Biological Research of the Tropics, University of Córdoba, Colombia.
Alfonso Calderón: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal, Institute for Biological Research in the Tropics, University of Córdoba, Colombia.
Teresa Oviedo: University of Córdoba, Colombia.
Salim Mattar: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal, Institute of Biological Research of the Tropics, University of Córdoba, Colombia.
José Castañeda: ICA Diagnostic Center - Córdoba, Colombia.
Virginia Rodriguez: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Córdoba, Colombia.
Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo: Center for Virological Research, University of Sao Paulo, Riberao Preto, Brazil.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.495-501

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Article history: Received: 22-05-2019, Accepted: 22-01-2020, Published online: 16-03-2020

Corresponding author: Salim Mattar

E-mail: mattarsalim@hotmail.com

Citation: Guzmán C, Calderón A, Oviedo T, Mattar S, Castañeda J, Rodriguez V, Figueiredo LTM (2020) Molecular and cellular evidence of natural Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection in frugivorous bats in Colombia, Veterinary World, 13(3): 495-501.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an alphavirus that causes encephalitis with a high impact on public health in Latin America. However, only in Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mexico have found antibodies in VEEV in bats, using immunohistochemistry, the sensitivity and specificity are improved; thus, it is better for demonstrating natural infection in bats as potential hosts. This study aimed to determine the presence of VEEV in tissues of frugivorous bats.

Materials and Methods: A prospective descriptive cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic sampling was carried out in 12 localities of Córdoba and Sucre area of the Colombian Caribbean. Two hundred and eighty-six bats were captured using fog nets, and the specimens according to taxonomic keys were classified. According to the Ethics Committee of the University of Córdoba, the bats were treated with analgesics and anesthetics. Blood samples were taken and then euthanized to obtain tissues and organs which were preserved in liquid N2 at –196°C. A portion of each organ was fixed in 10% buffered formalin for the detection of antigens by immunohistochemistry. Several pathological anatomy analyses were performed to determine the histological characteristics of tissue lesions of frugivorous bats naturally infected with the VEEV.

Results: Of the 286 bats captured, 23 species were identified. In samples of the brain, spleen, and lung of two frugivorous bats (2/286=0.70%) Artibeus planirostris and Sturnira lilium, the presence of VEEV was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

Conclusion: A fragment of the nsP4 non-structural protein gene corresponding to the alphavirus was amplified. Two samples were positive (2/286=0.70%) in frugivorous bats; A. planirostris (code GenBank: MG820274) and S. lilium (code GenBank: MG820275). The present study showed the first molecular evidence and cellular evidence (histopathology and immunohistochemistry) of natural VEEV infection in frugivorous bats in Colombia; these bats could be a host of this zoonosis.

Keywords: Alphavirus infections, Chiroptera, pathology.