Potential zoonotic pathogens from different species of bats in the Philippines

Professorial Chair Lecture

UPLB Faculty, Staff and Students Professorial Chair Lecture

Place

Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, UPLB, College, Laguna

Date

6-30-2008

Abstract

Bats comprise almost a quarter of the total mammalian species. The Philippines has more than 56 species of bats composed of fruit-eating bats and insectivore bats. Bats are known to transmit zoonotic viral diseases. Hendra virus was reported in Australia in 2004 that killed both horses and humans and proved to be transmitted from fruit bats. A similar disease cause by Nipah virus reported in Malaysia in 2005 caused death in pigs and humans. A joint collaborative research between the University of the Philippines Los Banos College of Veterinary Medicine (UPLB CVM) and the University of Tookyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences (UT GSALS) was conducted to determine if similar zoonotic viruses are present in the different species of bats in our country. Bat sample specimens from the Makiling area and the Polillo islands were captured. Initial results showed that some bat specimens from the Makiling area had evidence of Yokose virus.

To get a general sampling data other places in the Visayas and Mindanao will also be considered for bat specimen collection. The bats collected from three cave sites in Polillo Islands, Quezon province showed a mixture o species composed of both fruit-eating bats and insectivorous bats. Aside from viruses the collected bat specimens samples will also be examined for bacterial, fungal and parasitic pathogens with potential zoonotic capabilities.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

College

College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Language

English

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