Dataset Information

Influence of age and body condition on astrovirus infection of bats in Singapore: An evolutionary and epidemiological analysis.

ABSTRACT: Bats are unique mammals that are reservoirs of high levels of virus diversity. Although several of these viruses are zoonotic, the majority are not. Astroviruses, transmitted fecal-orally, are commonly detected in a wide diversity of bat species, are prevalent at high rates and are not thought to directly infect humans. These features make astroviruses useful in examining virus evolutionary history, epidemiology in the host, and temporal shedding trends. Our study screened for the presence of astroviruses in bats in Singapore, reconstructed the phylogenetic relations of the polymerase genes and tested for population characteristics associated with infection. Of the seven species screened, astroviruses were detected in Rhinolophus lepidus and Eonycteris spelaea. The R. lepidus sequences grouped with other Rhinolophus astrovirus sequences from China and Laos, while the Eoncyteris sequences formed a distinct clade with astroviruses from Rousettus spp. in Laos and Pteropus giganteus in Bangladesh, but not with other E. spelaea sequences. Longitudinal collections of Eonycteris feces demonstrated variable shedding. Juvenile status of bats was a risk factor for astroviruses. This study highlights the diversity of astroviruses in nectivorous and insectivorous bats in Singapore and provides a predictive framework for understanding astrovirus infection in these bats. It also suggests that in addition to host phylogenetic relatedness, host ecology, such as roosting behavior, may drive co-infections, virus maintenance and spillover.

SUBMITTER: Mendenhall IH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5678831 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Influence of age and body condition on astrovirus infection of bats in Singapore: An evolutionary and epidemiological analysis.

Mendenhall Ian H IH Skiles Maggie M MM Neves Erica Sena ES Borthwick Sophie A SA Low Dolyce H W DHW Liang Benjamin B Lee Benjamin P Y-H BPY Su Yvonne C F YCF Smith Gavin J D GJD

One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 20171006

Bats are unique mammals that are reservoirs of high levels of virus diversity. Although several of these viruses are zoonotic, the majority are not. Astroviruses, transmitted fecal-orally, are commonly detected in a wide diversity of bat species, are prevalent at high rates and are not thought to directly infect humans. These features make astroviruses useful in examining virus evolutionary history, epidemiology in the host, and temporal shedding trends. Our study screened for the presence of as ...[more]

PMID: 29159263

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundEarly diagnosis is crucial in securing optimal outcomes in the HIV care cascade. Recent HIV infection (RHI) serves as an indicator of early detection in the course of HIV infection. Surveillance of RHI is important in uncovering at-risk groups in which HIV transmission is ongoing. The study objectives are to estimate the proportion of RHI among persons newly-diagnosed in 2013-2017, and to elucidate epidemiological factors associated with RHI in Singapore.MethodsAs part of the National HIV Molecular Surveillance Programme, residual plasma samples of treatment-naïve HIV-1 positive individuals were tested using the biotinylated peptide-capture enzyme immunoassay with a cutoff of normalized optical density ≤ 0.8 for evidence of RHI. A recent infection testing algorithm was applied for the classification of RHI. We identified risk factors associated with RHI using logistic regression analyses.ResultsA total of 701 newly-diagnosed HIV-infected persons were included in the study. The median age at HIV diagnosis was 38 years (interquartile range, 28-51). The majority were men (94.2%), and sexual route was the predominant mode of HIV transmission (98.3%). Overall, 133/701 (19.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 16.2-22.0%) were classified as RHI. The proportions of RHI in 2015 (31.1%) and 2017 (31.0%) were significantly higher than in 2014 (11.2%). A significantly higher proportion of men having sex with men (23.4, 95% CI 19.6-27.6%) had RHI compared with heterosexual men (11.1, 95% CI 7.6-15.9%). Independent factors associated with RHI were: age 15-24 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.18, 95% CI 1.69-10.31) compared with ≥55 years; HIV diagnosis in 2015 (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.25-4.46) and 2017 (aOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.32-4.80) compared with 2013-2014; detection via voluntary testing (aOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.07-3.43) compared with medical care; and self-reported history of HIV test(s) prior to diagnosis (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.06-2.81).ConclusionAlthough there appears to be an increasing trend towards early diagnosis, persons with RHI remain a minority in Singapore. The strong associations observed between modifiable behaviors (voluntary testing and HIV testing history) and RHI highlight the importance of increasing the accessibility to HIV testing for at-risk groups.

Dataset Information

Influence of age and body condition on astrovirus infection of bats in Singapore: An evolutionary and epidemiological analysis.

Publications

Influence of age and body condition on astrovirus infection of bats in Singapore: An evolutionary and epidemiological analysis.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets