Location: Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research
Project Number: 3022-32000-027-030-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2025
End Date: Jun 30, 2026
Objective:
America Somoa represents a transboundary area within the United States Commonwealth where wildlife, humans, and agriculture interact in close proximity, there are approximately 45,000 residents, 35,000 pigs, and 5,000 fruit bats that inhabit the main island. Fruit bats are associated with spillover events whereby pathogens enter the human and/or agricultural population for the paramyxoviruses Nipah and Hendra, their close relatives, and other viral pathogens. The goal of this project is to identify paramyxoviruses that may pose a transboundary threat by studying exposures as evidenced by serology, identification of incidence patterns of viruses, and if the viruses are potentially spread by fruit bats, which can migrate long distances across Oceana.
Approach:
Swine and bats will be sampled to assess exposures to paramyxoviruses of the henipah virus genus using either serological MAGPIX assays or ELISA-based diagnostics. Sample sequencing and qPCR targeting known and novel paramyxoviruses will be performed on RNA isolated from blood aliquots mixed with RNA/DNA Shield. Samples that are positive by qPCR will be sequenced using Oxford Nanopore MinION technology. Collection locations will be mapped for spatial analysis of serological and qPCR positivity.