A team of researchers in Uganda have discovered a complex network of animals feeding on bats infected with Marburg virus, and documented these scenes that highlight the potential risks of transmission for the first time.
Observations recorded by surveillance cameras outside the entrance to Python Cave in Queen Elizabeth National Park revealed that more than 14 species of vertebrates, including tigers, monkeys, birds of prey and lizards, visited the cave to feed on bats over a five-month period, according to a report in the Telegraph newspaper.
The researchers believe that these interactions may serve as a key to understanding the direct mechanisms of zoonotic disease transmission, although there is no evidence of transmission between animals yet.
The cave contains about 56,000 bats, and is considered an important site for studying the Marburg virus, a virus similar to the Ebola virus, which has a mortality rate of up to 90%.
The researchers confirmed that this cave represents a unique meeting point between predators and bats, and that these repeated interactions over the months may provide vital information for understanding the risks of zoonotic diseases and how they are transmitted to humans.
The researchers pointed out that many visitors arrive at the cave without taking any preventive precautions, which increases the importance of understanding the potential risks.
“There are many ways in which a disease of international concern can spread to a population without anyone noticing,” said Bosco Atukwatsi, the project’s field coordinator.
