Abstract
Ecological information on wildlife reservoir hosts is fundamental for research targeting prevention of zoonotic infectious disease, yet basic information is lacking for many species in global hotspots of disease emergence. We provide the first estimates of synchronicity, magnitude, and timing of seasonal birthing in Mops condylurus , a putative ebolavirus host, and a co-roosting species, Mops pumilus . We show that synchronicity of the birth pulse in M. condylurus is wide (~8.5 weeks), and even wider in M. pumilus(>11 weeks). This is predicted to increase the likelihood of filovirus persistence under conditions of bi-annual birthing, consistent with features of an ebolavirus reservoir. Ecological features underlying the potential magnitude of the birth pulse – relative female abundance (higher than expected for M. condylurus and lower forM. pumilus ) and reproductive rate (lower than expected) – will have countering effects on birthing magnitude. Species-specific models are needed to interpret how identified attributes of the birth pulse may interact with other features of molossid ebolavirus ecology to influence infection dynamics. As a common feature of wildlife species, and a key driver of infection dynamics, detailed information on seasonal birthing will be fundamental for future research on these species and will be informative for bat-borne zoonoses generally.
Key words: Africa, Chaerephon, Ebola virus disease, Filovirus, Molossidae, transmission