posted on 2022-03-28, 12:09authored byHeather Joan Baldwin
Bats are implicated in the emergence of many zoonotic diseases, including the coronaviruses (CoVs) responsible for deadly outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) which first emerged in 2012. Despite an increased interest in bat CoVs since the SARS epidemic, little research has examined bat CoVs from a disease ecology perspective. In this thesis, I investigated the epidemiology and ecology of CoVs and bats that host them in Ghana, West Africa. I captured bats at several colonies regularly over two years. Samples were screened for CoVs, which were found to be widespread in insectivorous cave-dwelling bats of the genera Hipposideros and Nycteris. A novel CoV related to MERS-CoV was detected at high prevalence in slit-faced bats, Nycteris cf. gambiensis, supporting suggestions of a bat origin of MERS-CoV. I examined population and individual-level risk factors for infection with four CoVs in Nycteris cf. gambiensis, Hipposideros abae, and H. cf. ruber. I found a strong seasonal effect on CoV infection rates, and a strong association with age, whereby juvenile bats are at greater risk of infection, as well as evidence for higher risk with low body condition. These findings provide new insights into the ecological, demographic and temporal processes that influence CoV infection dynamics in bats, with implications for public health management to prevent virus spillover to humans and domestic animals.
In the second half of my thesis, I examined the evolution of cryptic species, and genetic and acoustic diversity in CoV-hosts Hipposideros caffer and H. ruber. Using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite loci, and acoustic and morphological data, I showed that mitochondrial DNA clades represent distinct species, with no evidence of interbreeding between groups. I then used mitochondrial sequence data to date lineage divergence, and explore the historical and evolutionary processes that may have given rise to diversity in these taxa. Further, I characterised spatial patterns of intraspecific genetic diversity in the three species corresponding to H. cf. ruber (H. sp. B, C, and D). Comparison shows stark contrasts in the spatial patterns of genetic variation of these species, despite them having diverged relatively recently and apparently having highly similar ecological and natural history traits. I discuss the implications of these results for disease surveillance and spread, wildlife management, and the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain diversity.The findings of this thesis add to knowledge of bat CoV ecology and epidemiology, aswell as to the evolution and patterns of diversity within a relatively widespread, but understudied,group of Afrotropical bats that are natural CoV hosts. The results are discussed in the context ofzoonoses, wildlife management and disease prevention, and the evolution of cryptic species inbats.
The findings of this thesis add to knowledge of bat CoV ecology and epidemiology, as well as to the evolution and patterns of diversity within a relatively widespread, but understudied, group of Afrotropical bats that are natural CoV hosts. The results are discussed in the context of zoonoses, wildlife management and disease prevention, and the evolution of cryptic species in bats.
I discuss the implications of these results for
History
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. General introduction -- Chapter 2. MERS-CoV-related viruses in bats in Ghana and Europe -- Chapter 3. Widespread coronavirus infection in Ghanaian bats : seasonal, demographic and ecological factors influence infection risk -- Chapter 4. Isolation and characterization of 11 novel micro satellite loci in a West Africanleaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros aff. ruber -- Chapter 5. Genetic and acoustic diversification: cryptic speciation of Pliocene origin in Afrotropical bats (Hipposideridae: Hipposideros) in West Africa -- Chapter 6. Do sympatric sister species with similar traits show similar patterns of genetic variation? A case study in Afrotropical bats (Hipposideridae: Hipposideros) -- Chapter 7. General discussion.
Notes
"Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University and Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University by cotutelle : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Philosophy" -- title-page.
Includes bibliographical references
Thesis by publication.
Awarding Institution
Macquarie University
Degree Type
Thesis PhD
Degree
PhD, Macquarie University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences
Department, Centre or School
Department of Biological Sciences
Year of Award
2015
Principal Supervisor
Adam Stow
Additional Supervisor 1
Marco Tschapka
Additional Supervisor 2
Elisabeth Kalko
Rights
Copyright Heather Joan Baldwin 2015.
Copyright disclaimer: http://www.copyright.mq.edu.au