# Nipah Virus Antibodies in Bats, the Philippines, 2013–2022

**Authors:** Yoshihiro Kaku, Shumpei Watanabe, Joseph S. Masangkay, Phillip Alviola, Satoshi Taniguchi, Edison Cosico, Yumi Une, Frances C. Recuenco, Satoko Sugimoto, Kentaro Kato, Shigeru Kyuwa, David Emmanuel M. General, Allen John F. Manalad, Sheryl A. Yap, Hironori Bando, Nanako Isobe, Yui Sakata, Shione Takeguchi, Hikaru Fujii, Masayuki Shimojima, Shigeru Morikawa, Ken Maeda, Tsutomu Omatsu

PMC · DOI: 10.3201/eid3108.250210 · Emerging Infectious Diseases · 2025-08-01

## TL;DR

The study found Nipah virus antibodies in bats from the Philippines, suggesting a wider geographic spread than previously known.

## Contribution

The detection of Nipah virus antibodies in insectivorous bats from Siargao Island expands the known distribution range of the virus.

## Key findings

- Nipah virus neutralizing antibodies were detected in insectivorous bats on Siargao Island.
- The presence of antibodies suggests exposure to Nipah virus in bats beyond Mindanao Island.

## Abstract

In 2014, an outbreak of zoonotic Nipah virus (NiV) occurred on Mindanao Island, the Philippines. We investigated the prevalence of NiV in Philippine bats. Because neutralizing antibodies were detected in insectivorous bats on Siargao Island, public health officials should consider that the distribution range of NiV is not limited to Mindanao Island.

## Full-text entities

- **Species:** NiV [taxon 121791], Chiroptera (bats, order) [taxon 9397]

## Full text

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## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12309753/full.md

## References

10 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12309753/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12309753