Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines

Marana S. Rekedal; Mary Glazel Noroña; Jairue Azel P. Café; Neil Mittal; Sophie A. Borthwick; Kirk J. Taray; Jezryl Jaeger L. Garcia; Samantha L. Magsanoc; Hazel R. Cruz; Dorothy Jane Manzano; Lianying Yan; Dolyce H.W. Low; David T.S. Hayman; Mary Grace Dacuma; Catalino Demetria; Phillip A. Alviola; Fedelino F. Malbas; Gavin J.D. Smith; Eric D. Laing

doi:10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720

Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines

Marana S. Rekedal, Mary Glazel Noroña, Jairue Azel P. Café, Neil Mittal, Sophie A. Borthwick, Kirk J. Taray, Jezryl Jaeger L. Garcia, Samantha L. Magsanoc, Hazel R. Cruz, Dorothy Jane Manzano, Lianying Yan, Dolyce H.W. Low, David T.S. Hayman, Mary Grace Dacuma, Catalino Demetria, Phillip A. Alviola, Fedelino F. Malbas, Gavin J.D. Smith, Eric D. Laing^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Microbiology and Immunology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly virulent zoonotic virus classified as a priority pathogen and biohazard. In 2014, an outbreak of NiV-like disease in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, Philippines resulted in a 53% case fatality rate. Here, we identified wildlife bat hosts of NiV by conducting monthly serological surveillance of flying foxes and other native frugivorous bat species across Luzon. We estimated 13.92% NiV seroprevalence in native flying foxes. We also detected NiV neutralizing activity in some flying fox sera and identified factors such as age and seasonality as drivers of high anti-NiV antibody levels. In contrast, less than 10% NiV seroprevalence was detected in R. amplexicaudatus, C. luzoniensis, and P. jagori bats, and these bats have no detectable neutralizing antibodies. This is the first serological description of NiV in native flying foxes in the Philippines, highlighting a major wildlife host in an understudied region.

Original language	English
Article number	2555720
Journal	Emerging Microbes and Infections
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720
State	Published - 2025

Keywords

bats
biosurveillance
Nipah virus
Philippines
spill over risk

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Rekedal, M. S., Noroña, M. G., Café, J. A. P., Mittal, N., Borthwick, S. A., Taray, K. J., Garcia, J. J. L., Magsanoc, S. L., Cruz, H. R., Manzano, D. J., Yan, L., Low, D. H. W., Hayman, D. T. S., Dacuma, M. G., Demetria, C., Alviola, P. A., Malbas, F. F., Smith, G. J. D., & Laing, E. D. (2025). Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines. Emerging Microbes and Infections, 14(1), Article 2555720. https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720

@article{f2ad919739d44be097aba31333852d55,

title = "Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines",

abstract = "Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly virulent zoonotic virus classified as a priority pathogen and biohazard. In 2014, an outbreak of NiV-like disease in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, Philippines resulted in a 53\% case fatality rate. Here, we identified wildlife bat hosts of NiV by conducting monthly serological surveillance of flying foxes and other native frugivorous bat species across Luzon. We estimated 13.92\% NiV seroprevalence in native flying foxes. We also detected NiV neutralizing activity in some flying fox sera and identified factors such as age and seasonality as drivers of high anti-NiV antibody levels. In contrast, less than 10\% NiV seroprevalence was detected in R. amplexicaudatus, C. luzoniensis, and P. jagori bats, and these bats have no detectable neutralizing antibodies. This is the first serological description of NiV in native flying foxes in the Philippines, highlighting a major wildlife host in an understudied region.",

keywords = "bats, biosurveillance, Nipah virus, Philippines, spill over risk",

author = "Rekedal, \{Marana S.\} and Noro{\~n}a, \{Mary Glazel\} and Caf{\'e}, \{Jairue Azel P.\} and Neil Mittal and Borthwick, \{Sophie A.\} and Taray, \{Kirk J.\} and Garcia, \{Jezryl Jaeger L.\} and Magsanoc, \{Samantha L.\} and Cruz, \{Hazel R.\} and Manzano, \{Dorothy Jane\} and Lianying Yan and Low, \{Dolyce H.W.\} and Hayman, \{David T.S.\} and Dacuma, \{Mary Grace\} and Catalino Demetria and Alviola, \{Phillip A.\} and Malbas, \{Fedelino F.\} and Smith, \{Gavin J.D.\} and Laing, \{Eric D.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright}, This work was authored as part of the Contributor's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Emerging Microbes and Infections",

issn = "2222-1751",

publisher = "Taylor and Francis Ltd.",

number = "1",

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Rekedal, MS, Noroña, MG, Café, JAP, Mittal, N, Borthwick, SA, Taray, KJ, Garcia, JJL, Magsanoc, SL, Cruz, HR, Manzano, DJ, Yan, L, Low, DHW, Hayman, DTS, Dacuma, MG, Demetria, C, Alviola, PA, Malbas, FF, Smith, GJD & Laing, ED 2025, 'Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines', Emerging Microbes and Infections, vol. 14, no. 1, 2555720. https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720

TY - JOUR

T1 - Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines

AU - Rekedal, Marana S.

AU - Noroña, Mary Glazel

AU - Café, Jairue Azel P.

AU - Mittal, Neil

AU - Borthwick, Sophie A.

AU - Taray, Kirk J.

AU - Garcia, Jezryl Jaeger L.

AU - Magsanoc, Samantha L.

AU - Cruz, Hazel R.

AU - Manzano, Dorothy Jane

AU - Yan, Lianying

AU - Low, Dolyce H.W.

AU - Hayman, David T.S.

AU - Dacuma, Mary Grace

AU - Demetria, Catalino

AU - Alviola, Phillip A.

AU - Malbas, Fedelino F.

AU - Smith, Gavin J.D.

AU - Laing, Eric D.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: ©, This work was authored as part of the Contributor's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly virulent zoonotic virus classified as a priority pathogen and biohazard. In 2014, an outbreak of NiV-like disease in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, Philippines resulted in a 53% case fatality rate. Here, we identified wildlife bat hosts of NiV by conducting monthly serological surveillance of flying foxes and other native frugivorous bat species across Luzon. We estimated 13.92% NiV seroprevalence in native flying foxes. We also detected NiV neutralizing activity in some flying fox sera and identified factors such as age and seasonality as drivers of high anti-NiV antibody levels. In contrast, less than 10% NiV seroprevalence was detected in R. amplexicaudatus, C. luzoniensis, and P. jagori bats, and these bats have no detectable neutralizing antibodies. This is the first serological description of NiV in native flying foxes in the Philippines, highlighting a major wildlife host in an understudied region.

AB - Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly virulent zoonotic virus classified as a priority pathogen and biohazard. In 2014, an outbreak of NiV-like disease in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, Philippines resulted in a 53% case fatality rate. Here, we identified wildlife bat hosts of NiV by conducting monthly serological surveillance of flying foxes and other native frugivorous bat species across Luzon. We estimated 13.92% NiV seroprevalence in native flying foxes. We also detected NiV neutralizing activity in some flying fox sera and identified factors such as age and seasonality as drivers of high anti-NiV antibody levels. In contrast, less than 10% NiV seroprevalence was detected in R. amplexicaudatus, C. luzoniensis, and P. jagori bats, and these bats have no detectable neutralizing antibodies. This is the first serological description of NiV in native flying foxes in the Philippines, highlighting a major wildlife host in an understudied region.

KW - bats

KW - biosurveillance

KW - Nipah virus

KW - Philippines

KW - spill over risk

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U2 - 10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720

DO - 10.1080/22221751.2025.2555720

M3 - Article

C2 - 41024321

AN - SCOPUS:105017522672

SN - 2222-1751

VL - 14

JO - Emerging Microbes and Infections

JF - Emerging Microbes and Infections

IS - 1

M1 - 2555720

ER -

Seroprevalence of Nipah virus and related paramyxoviruses in native frugivorous bats, Luzon, Philippines

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Keywords

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