Molecular screening of potential bat-borne hantavirus and determination of species richness and composition of bats in selected habitats within the woodland and savanna biomes in Namibia
type: CreativeWork
description: Bats are present and they play unique ecological roles in various habitats in Namibia. Yet the patterns of species richness and composition of bats associated with these habitats within different biomes in Namibia still remain unknown. Bats are also important carrier hosts and transmitters of zoonotic viruses of public health significance including old and emerging hantaviruses. The burden of hantavirus disease is globally well-documented but this remains unknown and unrecognised in many African countries including in Namibia. This study investigated the patterns of species richness and composition of bats as well as the potential prevalence of bat-borne hantaviruses at selected habitats in the broad-leaved tree and shrub savanna, and the Acacia tree and shrub savanna biomes in Namibia. Live bats were sampled using Dinier mist nets, biometrically processed and the species identifications were morphologically and molecularly determined. Blood and organ tissue samples were collected from live and sacrificed bats respectively, and they were molecularly screened for hantavirus using the two-step Pan-Hanta RT- PCR technique. A total of 219 bat captures were recorded from 17 selected habitats in both the broad-leaved tree (n = 7) and Acacia tree (n = 10) savanna biomes. Only 103 bat lung and blood samples were collected and screened for hantavirus. No hantavirus however was detected. A combined total of 11 species of bats were recorded from selected habitats in both biomes, and these included the following four families of the order Chiroptera: 1) Pteropodidae (1 species); 2) Molossidae (3 species); 3) Vespertilionidae (5 species); and 4) Rhinolophidae (2 species). Seven bat species were observed in selected habitats in the broad-leaved and eight in the Acacia tree savanna biomes, while 9 and 12 species, respectively, were predicted. Species richness of bats did not differ significantly across the biomes. In addition, there was no significant difference in species composi…
abstract: Bats are present and they play unique ecological roles in various habitats in Namibia. Yet the patterns of species richness and composition of bats associated with these habitats within different biomes in Namibia still remain unknown. Bats are also important carrier hosts and transmitters of zoonotic viruses of public health significance including old and emerging hantaviruses. The burden of hantavirus disease is globally well-documented but this remains unknown and unrecognised in many African countries including in Namibia. This study investigated the patterns of species richness and composition of bats as well as the potential prevalence of bat-borne hantaviruses at selected habitats in the broad-leaved tree and shrub savanna, and the Acacia tree and shrub savanna biomes in Namibia. Live bats were sampled using Dinier mist nets, biometrically processed and the species identifications were morphologically and molecularly determined. Blood and organ tissue samples were collected from live and sacrificed bats respectively, and they were molecularly screened for hantavirus using the two-step Pan-Hanta RT- PCR technique. A total of 219 bat captures were recorded from 17 selected habitats in both the broad-leaved tree (n = 7) and Acacia tree (n = 10) savanna biomes. Only 103 bat lung and blood samples were collected and screened for hantavirus. No hantavirus however was detected. A combined total of 11 species of bats were recorded from selected habitats in both biomes, and these included the following four families of the order Chiroptera: 1) Pteropodidae (1 species); 2) Molossidae (3 species); 3) Vespertilionidae (5 species); and 4) Rhinolophidae (2 species). Seven bat species were observed in selected habitats in the broad-leaved and eight in the Acacia tree savanna biomes, while 9 and 12 species, respectively, were predicted. Species richness of bats did not differ significantly across the biomes. In addition, there was no significant difference in species composi…
author: Mbangu, Augustinus Tumbo
language: en
keywords: Bat-borne hantaviruses, Species richness and composition, Molecular techniques, Cytochrome b
date published: 2020
date modified: 2026-07-27T20:22:19Z
provider: University of Namibia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Namibia

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11070/2772