Newly Discovered Hepatitis C-Related Virus Found in Bats
NEW YORK - July 12, 2010 - Wildlife Trust, the global conservation health organization, announced the discovery of a previously unknown pathogen that may offer insight into the origins of the Hepatitis C virus. The virus, tentatively named GBV-D is related to a group of GB viruses, previously only known to occur in monkeys and humans. Dr. Jonathan Epstein, Associate Vice President of Conservation Medicine Programs at Wildlife Trust, reveals in a paper published today in PLoS Pathogens that the new viral discovery is part of a large family of viruses, called Flaviviridae, which includes the Hepatitis C virus, GB viruses and others. Viral hepatitis affects more than 500 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of liver failure and liver cancer.
The international research team, which includes partners from the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University and the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research in Bangladesh, was working to test bats for other known diseases such as the deadly Nipah virus that infects and kills people each year in Bangladesh. Wildlife Trust scientists are actively surveying wildlife species, such as bats, for viruses that may threaten human health in key regions all over the world that are highly vulnerable to disease emergence. It is estimated that infectious diseases lead to 13 million human fatalities per year. Additionally, over three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are a result of zoonotic pathogens (i.e. originating from wild or domestic animals and spreading to humans).
Bangladesh is a notable emerging disease hot spot due to its dense population and the close association between wildlife and humans. Scientists tested 100 giant fruit bats, Pteropus giganteus, in the Faridpur region of the country. "Bangladesh is densely populated and large colonies of bats roost in close proximity to people. These bats eat many of the same fruits as people and we know from studying Nipah virus that bat viruses can be transmitted to people through food-borne pathways," said Dr. Jonathan Epstein. Bats and people are relying on the same food sources causing cross-contamination of fruit and date palm sap, which is consumed as a beverage.
Bats are known to be the reservoir for many zoonotic viruses including rabies, Ebola, Marburg, Hendra, Nipah, and SARS. Wildlife Trust is working to predict and prevent emerging diseases by actively testing wildlife in critical hot spots around the world. "The Indian subcontinent and South Asia are areas where we are ardently working to identify the next possible pandemic disease," stated Dr. Peter Daszak, President of Wildlife Trust. "Bats are not the villains because they carry disease-causing viruses its failing ecosystems, shrinking natural habitats, and human encroachment on wildlife that are the top drivers for disease emergence."
In the lab, the bat blood samples were analyzed using high-throughput pyrosequencing - an emerging platform for DNA analysis. The technology has helped scientists improve genomic sequencing and enabled Dr. Epstein to discover the new GBV-D virus. "This discovery underscores the importance of international programs focused on microbe hunting in hot spots of emerging infectious diseases, said W. Ian Lipkin, John Snow Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the CII. "Finding this novel flavivirus in bats significantly broadens the host range of GB-like agents and may provide insights into the origins of Hepatitis C; further studies will now be needed to determine the geographic and species range of bat GB viruses," added Thomas Briese, lead molecular biologist on the team and Associate Professor and Associate Director of the CII.
Just five years ago, Wildlife Trust and a collaborative group of scientists were the first to identify the original reservoir for the SARS virus. Originally, it was believed that civets were the natural host for the disease but scientists questioned the role of live wet market conditions seen in Guangdong and other areas of China. The presence of bats and bat products in food and traditional medicine led to the sampling of several bat species and it was discovered that the Chinese horseshoe bat was the natural reservoir for the SARS virus "It's essential to understand if and how viruses are being transmitted from animals to people in an outbreak setting such as SARS, but it's equally important to identify the natural reservoir of the virus, which may not be directly infecting people, to ensure that more outbreaks don't happen in the future," said Dr. Epstein. "With our preliminary research it's too early to tell if GBV-D could cause disease in human populations our next steps will require testing people that come in contact with these bats to gauge possible infections."
About Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Trust is an international conservation organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and safeguarding human health from the emergence of disease. We believe the key to long-term, grassroots involvement requires local conservation expertise.
Building on more than 35 years of innovative science, Wildlife Trust develops solutions to combat the effects of damaged ecosystems on human and wildlife health. We focus on all of the aspects of a healthy planet - wildlife, ecosystems and human health.
Wildlife Trust specializes in saving biodiversity in human-dominated ecosystems where ecological health is most at risk from habitat loss, species imbalance, pollution and other environmental issues. Wildlife Trust scientists also identify and examine the causes impacting the health of global ecosystems in the U.S. and more than 20 countries worldwide. The organization's strength is built upon innovations in research, education, training and support from a global network of Wildlife Trust Alliance conservation partners.
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