Int. J. One Health  Vol.11   No.1  Article - 16 

Comprehensive surveillance and molecular detection of the Nipah virus in fruit bats (Pteropus vampyrus) across Indonesia: Insights from 2023 to 2024

Background and Aim: The Nipah virus (NiV), a highly pathogenic zoonotic paramyxovirus, presents a severe public health threat due to its high case fatality rate and potential for human-to-human transmission. Indonesia, with its extensive fruit bat habitats and dense human population, remains a crucial region for proactive NiV surveillance. This study represents the first national-scale molecular screening of NiV in Pteropus vampyrus populations across Indonesia, aimed at detecting viral circulation, identifying zoonotic hotspots, and establishing foundational data to inform public health preparedness through a One Health framework.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional surveillance study was carried out from June 2023 to January 2024 in 13 locations across Western, Central, and Eastern Indonesia. Fruit bats were sampled in both natural roosts and anthropogenic environments such as bat markets. A total of 305 biological samples (250 swabs and 55 organ tissues) were collected and processed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction targeting the NiV nucleocapsid (N) gene. Positive samples (cycle threshold [Ct] ≤38) were further analyzed through partial gene sequencing and phylogenetic comparison.

Results: Out of 305 bat samples, 4 (1.31%) tested positive for NiV RNA, all originating from Central and East Kalimantan. Ct values ranged from 31.0 to 34.0, indicating low viral loads. Sequence analysis of the partial N gene revealed a 95% similarity to Malaysian NiV strains, suggesting possible regional viral exchange. No positive cases were recorded in Sumatra or Java, despite extensive sampling. Ecological or host-specific resistance may explain this geographical disparity.

Conclusion: This pioneering surveillance study confirms the presence of NiV in specific Indonesian bat populations and identifies Central and East Kalimantan as potential spillover zones. The findings emphasize the urgent need for a continuous, nationally coordinated surveillance program integrating wildlife, livestock, and human health sectors. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies, ecological modeling, and genomic analyses to refine risk assessments and enhance outbreak preparedness under the One Health paradigm.

Keywords: Indonesia, molecular surveillance, Nipah virus, One Health, Pteropus vampyrus, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, zoonosis.

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How to cite this article: Nidom RV, Indrasari S, Prakoso D, Nidom AN, and Afifah B (2025) Comprehensive surveillance and molecular detection of the Nipah virus in fruit bats (Pteropus vampyrus) across Indonesia: insights from 2023 to 2024, Int. J. One Health, 11(1): 171–177.

Received: 30-12-2024   Accepted: 21-04-2025   Published online: 09-06-2025

Corresponding author: Reviany V. Nidom    E-mail: reviany@pnfinstitute.org

DOI: 10.14202/IJOH.2025.171-177

Copyright: Nidom, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.