Bats are an interesting species. They are mammals that can fly and have been around since the dinosaurs. A lot of information is known about them, but not enough information is known on their role as reservoir hosts for viruses. Bats feed on insects, fish, blood, fruit, pollen, and even mammals. They are found everywhere, but Antarctica. They are critical to ecological communities as they control insect populations, pollinate plants, and their guano or poop is used as fertilizer. Bats are unique to mammals since they can fly. They fly for food and migrate over long distances, as many as 200 to 400 miles. This form of travel has been associated with the spread of disease such as the Rabies virus over their migratory path. Bats are beneficial to maintaining balance in the animal kingdom, but are they really hosts to deadly diseases that affect other species such as humans? An important feature of bats is their ability to hibernate to conserve energy during the night and winter months. Disease development and maintenance of viral infections has not been studied extensively. There have been studies done on antibodies that show that viruses can …show more content…
A study was done in 2005 to learn more about the hosts for the virus. Human outbreaks that occurred between 2001 and 2005 in Gabon and the Republic of Congo were linked to outbreaks that affected the local gorilla and chimpanzee populations. In order to identify the reservoir, the researchers did animal trappings in the areas affected. There were 1,030 animals captured which included 679 bats, 222 birds, and 129 small terrestrial vertebrates. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) which is for the Ebola virus was detected in the serum of three different bat species (Leroy et al. 2005). The organs targeted by the Ebola virus were the liver and spleen. The researchers concluded that their results supported the results of previous investigations as bats as reservoirs for
[1, 4, 5, 9, 13] There have been no documented cases where a human has contracted the disease from another human. [4] It appears, based on field and lab data, that infection requires direct contact with the virus through means such as contact with infective bodily secretions, urine, or tissues. [12] It is unknown to scientists how the virus can be maintained in the bat populations and avoids extinction as the host species becomes immune to its presence. [14] The incubation period from time of infection to the onset of symptoms is about 5-14 days in experimentally induced animals [4] and 8-14 days in natural field cases.
The population of bats in the United States is facing a serious threat of extinction due to the outbreak of a deadly fungus called Deomyces destructans. The fungus is nicknamed White-Nose Syndrome, after the white fungus that typically appears on the infected bats noses and wings. Other signs and symptoms of White Nose Syndrome are white fungus on the ears and tail as well, bats flying during the day in the middle of winter, bats clustered near the entrance to a hibernacle or cave, and general abnormal behavior for a hibernating bat. Scientifically the fungus has been identified as, Deomyces destructans. The fungus itself causes damage to their connective tissues, muscles, and skin. It also can disrupt many of their physiological processes. Typically during a hibernation period bats will wake up on average every 10 to 20 days. An infected bat on the other hand will wake up every 3 to four days which causes them to burn up their fat stores twice as fast. When they wake up they are both dehydrated and hungry, around 90% of the bats actually die from starvation due to a lack of insects for food in the winter season. WNS is transmitted from bat to bat and that is why any contact between an infected bat from one cave population with a non-infected bat from another population has serious consequences.
They are also know as mouse-eared bats. The little brown bats being one of the most common bat species in most of the United States and Canada have many interesting and unique characteristics that set them far apart from other animals. Unfortunately, with a disease called white-nose syndrome bat populations have been on the decline. With the species being threatened it is even more important to fully understand the little brown bat and all of its habits and characteristics.
Lots of reason has been observed of causing the incidence of Ebola. One of the main reasons is human contact with the fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family (WHO Media Centre, 2014), which are Ebola
Samples of tissue from patients infected with the mysterious disease were sent to the CDC Special Pathogens Branch for analysis. After a few weeks and several tests, the virologists linked the disease with an unknown type of hantavirus. Because other hantaviruses were known to be transmitted to people by inhalation or ingestion of rodent feces or urine, our next task was to collect as many species of rodent in the area as possible in order to pinpoint the source of the virus (AMNH). While trapping rodents, we decided that it was worth the risk to not wear protective clothing or masks so as to avoid alarming residents of "The Four Corners" region (CDC). After testing approximately 1,700 rodents we had found a link--the prevalent deer mouse carried the unknown type of hantavirus. But why was this mouse suddenly infecting people in this region? I was becoming frustrated, my years of work in medicine were failing me and I couldn't figure out why these people kept getting sick.
For example, bat urine and guano can over-accumulate, saturating particle board, sheet rock, insulation, dry wall, ceilings, carpeting, hardwood flooring, and much more. Theses restorations can add up quickly when it comes to your budget. This is why it is crucial to manage a bat infestation issue right away, before the damages become too expensive. Other than structural damage, bats can spread disease and bugs. Bat mites are a very common threat for homes with a bat infestation. Bat mites are similar to lice or scabies, and can be a troubling ailment to get rid of. Bat mites can affect adults, children, and even household pets. Another possible infectious disease caused from bat invasions is called Histoplasmosis. It is a respiratory illness caused from the inhalation of poisonous spores from bat
Macaques showed sudden onset of illness with signs of anorexia, cough, nasal exudates, swollen eyelids, and enlarged spleens and kidneys (3). Macaques were determined to be co-infected with REBOV and simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV). Through testing REBOV was demonstrated to be less pathogenic than ZEBOV and SEBOV, with only 7 of 7 African green monkeys and 4 of 8 cynomolgus macaques surviving challenge (3). REBOV could not be recovered from survivors 20–600 days after challenge. Following this initial outbreak in Reston, several other cases of REBOV have occurred in both the United States and Italy, all attributed to animals imported from the Philippines and all from the same monkey breeding facility
We can now create a potential outbreak of Marburg Virus. Considering the transmission mode includes bodily fluids contact, our index cases include a couple scenarios. One scenarios include a person who is on a mission trip to Kenya and decided to visit a national Park like Mount Elgon. Tourist who come to these parks will adventure the caves which has fruit bats. As we learned earlier the African fruit bats are reservoirs for the Marburg Virus. There are report that date in 1980 and 1987 where people have visited the Kitum Cave in Kenya and contracted the virus and have died with 9 to 10 days after onset symptoms. In my outbreak I have two people who are on a mission trip and visit the Kitum Cave in Kenya. They visit the cave on their second to last day of their trip, and have came in contact of the fruit bats, not knowing the virus is within the bats. The two people then travel back to the US, and in my choice, they travel back to Indiana. When they do travel back to Indiana it has probably been two to three days since first contact of the bats and no signs of symptoms. This is where I think Marburg can be a deadly outbreak if we do not pay attention to details. The two people who visited the cave in Kenya then visit the caves in Indiana like Marengo within two days after getting back. If there are any bats in the cave what are the possibilities of the virus being
In the US and Canada it is estimated that 5.7 million bats have died because of White nose syndrome (wisconbio,4). Bats are a very helpful animal in our area, but sadly they are being wiped out. Bats in Wisconsin need to be protected or they could eventually go extinct.
To begin with, there are many sources to show that vampire bats are misunderstood. First, research by Stefan Klose gives evidence vampire bats should be saved. For example, research by Chris Kraul, journalist for the Los Angeles Times, shares the opinion of an expert research zoologist, Stefan Klose. Klose speaks his heart for the creatures by saying at feeding time it always remind him “how close these animals are to us and how incredibly intelligent they are- certainly more exotic and wilder than my neighbor’s dog.” Thus, Klose also points out that are only three species of vampire bats and that we should save them. Secondly, Klose also gives evidence these vampire bats have led to medical discoveries that are beneficial to people. For instance,
In 1976 the first two Ebola outbreaks were recorded. In Zaire and western Sudan five hundred and fifty people reported the horrible disease. Of the five hundred and fifty reported three hundred and forty innocent people died. Again in 1995 Ebola reportedly broke out in Zaire, this time infecting over two hundred and killing one hundred and sixty. (Bib4, Musilam, 1)
Disease causing viruses have a reservoir where the virus exists and is where most symptoms in host animals are either shown or not. The animal with the reservoir acts as a continual source for the virus for other host species. Some examples of this reservoir virus that causes disease in humans include the avian influenza and West Nile encephalitis which is carried in wild birds. Rodents carry viruses that causes Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, mosquitoes carry yellow fever and raccoons carry rabies.
Wildlife diseases have been an increasing problem in ecology with many modes of transmission that are continually being studied. Both emerging and re-emerging wildlife diseases are increasing at an alarming rate, with consequences for ecosystem health and biodiversity (Plowright). The two different types of disease transfer are horizontal and vertical, in which horizontal transmission passes on a disease or virus from individual to individual, whereas vertical transmission passes on a disease from parent to offspring. The ability of any infectious disease to invade a population or transfer to new areas is one of the most important concerns regarding wildlife ecology (van den Driessche).
Do you know that white-nose syndrome is killing the bats? According to the National Wildlife Health Center the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans is one of the causes of white-nose syndrome. According to nps.gov white-nose syndrome can also be caused by geomyces destructans. White-nose syndrome affects bats physiological functions causing dehydration. White-nose syndrome has been estimated to have killed over six million bats in the eastern part of North America since 2006. Scientists believe that a vinegar solution could be tried, however the government does not agree.
In 2013 most people didn't know nothing about Ebola and didn't even know this disease existed. This infection was first identified in 1976 but did little harm that they did not make a cure for it. This disease can be spread through having contact with another persons blood, saliva, and sweat (Brooks). There are also some information that shows that a person who did not have Ebola did use a blanket from someone who did have Ebola and got the disease just like that (Altman). "Ebola is a virus, or infection, It gets its name from the Ebola River, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the disease was first reported, in 1976" (What Is Ebola?). Ebola started in west Africa and is now a global crisis. Some say that this disease was originated from fruit bats and these animals can spread this disease and not have it at the same time