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Bats face diverse challenges that cause global bat population declines, including habitat loss and roost disturbance. Additionally, negative perceptions of bats and their potential role in several zoonotic diseases have led to actions against bats. We documented existing knowledge and perception of bats through interviews with 151 participants of fifteen tribes in Northern Uganda in 2020 and conducted a sensitization campaign that prevented planned actions against bats. The interviews revealed distinct firm beliefs, negative perceptions, limited knowledge on bats, and the influence of media in shaping actions against bats. In addition, modified landscapes and habitat loss increased encounters and subsequent deterioration of relations between humans and bats. Targeted threats towards bats were exacerbated by public misinformation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. No deliberate conservation efforts exist, and negative perception largely hampers the implementation of bat conservation in Northern Uganda. Importantly, the study also demonstrates that sensitization campaigns can be effective tools to protect bats in the short term. Regular sensitizations and education are recommended for sustainable changes in attitudes to and coexistence with bats.

Serological cross-reactivity among flaviviruses makes determining the prior arbovirus exposure of animals challenging in areas where multiple flavivirus strains are circulating. We hypothesized that prior infection with ZIKV could be confirmed through the presence of subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR), which persists in tissues due to XRN-1 stalling during RNA decay. We amplified ZIKV sfRNA but not NS5 from three experimentally-infected Jamaican fruit bats, supporting the hypothesis of sfRNA tissue persistence. Applying this approach to 198 field samples from Uganda, we confirmed presence of ZIKV sfRNA, but not NS5, in four bats representing three species: Eidolon helvum (n = 2), Epomophorus labiatus (n = 1), and Rousettus aegyptiacus (n = 1). Amplified sequence was most closely related to Asian lineage ZIKV. Our results support the use of sfRNA as a means of identifying previous flavivirus infection and describe the first detection of ZIKV RNA in East African bats.

Reconstructing diets from stable carbon isotopic signals in enamel bioapatite requires the application of a δ(13)C enamel-diet enrichment factor, or the isotopic offset between diet and enamel, which has not been empirically determined for any primate. In this study, an enamel-diet enrichment factor (ε*(enamel-diet)) of 11.8 ± 0.3‰ is calculated for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at Ngogo in Kibale National Park, Uganda, based on a comprehensive isotopic assessment of previously analyzed dietary plant data and new isotopic analyses of enamel apatite. Different enamel sampling methods are evaluated to determine the potential influence of weaning on isotopic enamel values and dietary interpretations. The new chimpanzee enrichment factor and a sampling strategy that excludes teeth that formed before weaning completion are applied to all known chimpanzee δ(13)C(enamel) data, either previously published or newly derived in this study, resulting in a dietary range of almost 6‰ across all chimpanzees sampled. This new chimpanzee enamel-diet enrichment factor is then used to reassess dietary reconstructions of 12 fossil hominin species whose isotopic enamel signatures have been determined. Results reveal hominin diets that are isotopically more positive than previously reconstructed, highlighting the widespread contribution of (13)C enriched C(4)/CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) resources in fossil hominin diets and emphasizing the broad use of these resources during human evolution. These findings stress the importance of ascertaining and employing an appropriate enrichment factor for dietary reconstructions of specific taxa as well as standardizing the sampling protocol for tooth enamel in isotopic paleodietary reconstructions.

Uganda is one of the most species rich countries in Africa because of the presence of several major biomes. However, it is also a country that has lost much of its natural habitat to agriculture. Uganda is a country that has been better surveyed for its biodiversity than many African countries, but despite this, there has not been a comprehensive analysis of the critical sites that contribute to biodiversity conservation at a global, as well as at a national level. We here present such an assessment using mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plants as surrogate taxa. We identified 36 terrestrial sites that are of sufficient global importance to qualify as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), using the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs, which complement an additional nine freshwater sites. National red listing of species and ecosystems was used to identify sites of national importance for conservation. We employ a conservation planning approach using Marxan to identify the minimum set of sites needed to conserve all the globally and nationally threatened species and nationally threatened habitats in Uganda. The findings show that most of the remaining natural habitat in Uganda is important for the conservation of globally and nationally threatened species and threatened habitat. Large areas of irreplaceable habitat occur outside protected areas, although more extensive surveys of these areas would likely reduce the area that is irreplaceable.

International audience; In 2018, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 12 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.

Bats are natural reservoir hosts of highly virulent pathogens such as Marburg virus, Nipah virus, and SARS coronavirus. However, little is known about the role of bat ectoparasites in transmitting and maintaining such viruses. The intricate relationship between bats and their ectoparasites suggests that ectoparasites might serve as viral vectors, but evidence to date is scant. Bat flies, in particular, are highly specialized obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that incidentally bite humans. Using next-generation sequencing, we discovered a novel ledantevirus (mononegaviral family Rhabdoviridae, genus Ledantevirus) in nycteribiid bat flies infesting pteropodid bats in western Uganda. Mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed that both the bat flies and their bat hosts belong to putative new species. The coding-complete genome of the new virus, named Kanyawara virus (KYAV), is only distantly related to that of its closest known relative, Mount Elgon bat virus, and was found at high titers in bat flies but not in blood or on mucosal surfaces of host bats. Viral genome analysis indicates unusually low CpG dinucleotide depletion in KYAV compared to other ledanteviruses and rhabdovirus groups, with KYAV displaying values similar to rhabdoviruses of arthropods. Our findings highlight the possibility of a yet-to-be-discovered diversity of potentially pathogenic viruses in bat ectoparasites.

Field expeditions to Bukwa in the late 1960s and early 1970s established that the site had a small but diverse early Miocene fauna, including the catarrhine primate Limnopithecus legetet. Initial potassium-argon radiometric dating indicated that Bukwa was 22 Ma, making it the oldest of the East African early Miocene fossil localities known at the time. In contrast, the fauna collected from Bukwa was similar to other fossil localities in the region that were several million years younger. This discrepancy was never resolved, and due to the paucity of primate remains at the site, little subsequent research took place. We have collected new fossils at Bukwa, reanalyzed the existing fossil collections, and provided new radiometric dating. 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating ages on lavas bracketing the site indicate that the Bukwa fossils were deposited ∼19 Ma, roughly 3 Ma younger than the original radiometric age. Our radiometric dating results are corroborated by a thorough reanalysis of the faunal assemblage. Bukwa shares taxa with both stratigraphically older localities (Tinderet, Napak) and with stratigraphically younger localities (Kisingiri, Turkana Basin) perfectly corresponding to our revised radiometric age. This revised age for Bukwa is important because it indicates that significant faunal turnover may have occurred in East Africa between 20 and 19 Ma. Bukwa samples immigrant taxa such as large suids, large ruminants, and ochotonids that are absent from stratigraphically older but well-sampled localities in the region, such as Tinderet (∼20 Ma) and Napak (20 Ma). Further age refinements for Bukwa and the entire East African early Miocene sequence will help to constrain the timing of this faunal turnover event, of particular importance in paleoanthropology since this temporal sequence also provides us with what is currently our best window into the early evolution of cercopithecoid and hominoid primates.

The straw-coloured fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, is a common and conspicuous migratory species, with an extensive distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, yet hunting and habitat loss are thought to be resulting in decline in some areas. Eidolon helvum is also a known reservoir for potentially zoonotic viruses. Despite E. helvum's importance, ecological and behavioural traits are poorly described for this species. Here we present extensive data on the distribution, migration patterns, roost size, age and sex composition of 29 E. helvum roosts from nine countries across tropical Africa, including roosts not previously described in the literature. Roost age and sex composition were dependent on timing of sampling relative to the annual birth pulse. Rather than a single 'breeding season' as is frequently reported for this species, regional asynchrony of reproductive timing was observed across study sites (with birth pulses variably starting in March, April, September, November or December). Considered together with its genetic panmixia, we conclude that the species has a fluid, fission-fusion social structure, resulting in different roost 'types' at different times of the year relative to seasonal reproduction. Bat-human interactions also varied across the species' geographical range. In the absence of significant hunting, large urban colonies were generally tolerated, yet in regions with high hunting pressure, bats tended to roost in remote or protected sites. The extensive quantitative and qualitative data presented in this manuscript are also valuable for a wide range of studies and provide an historical snapshot as its populations become increasingly threatened., Funding for this study was provided by the Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium (grant VT0105 — AJP, DTSH, KSB), The Charles Slater Trust (AJP), Zebra Foundation for Veterinary Zoological Education (AJP), Isaac Newton Trust (AJP), the Wellcome Trust (DTSH, KSB), a David H. Smith postdoctoral fellowship (DTSH), the RAPIDD program of the Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Home - land Security, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (DTSH, JLNW), The Albo rada Trust (JLNW), a European Union FP7 project ANTIGONE (Antici pat ing Glob - al Onset of Novel Epidemics 278976) (ACB, JLNW, AAC) and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (AAC).

While serological and virological evidence documents the exposure of bats to medically-important arboviruses, their role as reservoirs or amplifying hosts is less well-characterized. We describe a novel orbivirus (Reoviridae:Orbivirus) isolated from an Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus leachii) trapped in 2013 in Uganda and named Bukakata orbivirus. This is the fifth orbivirus isolated from a bat, however genetic information had previously only been available for one bat-associated orbivirus. We performed whole-genome sequencing on Bukakata orbivirus and three other bat-associated orbiviruses (Fomede, Ife, and Japanaut) to assess their phylogenetic relationship within the genus Orbivirus and develop hypotheses regarding potential arthropod vectors. Replication kinetics were assessed for Bukakata orbivirus in three different vertebrate cell lines. Lastly, qRT-PCR and nested PCR were used to determine the prevalence of Bukakata orbivirus RNA in archived samples from three populations of Egyptian fruit bats and one population of cave-associated soft ticks in Uganda. Complete coding sequences were obtained for all ten segments of Fomede, Ife, and Japanaut orbiviruses and for nine of the ten segments for Bukakata orbivirus. Phylogenetic analysis placed Bukakata and Fomede in the tick-borne orbivirus clade and Ife and Japanaut within the Culicoides/phlebotomine sandfly orbivirus clade. Further, Bukakata and Fomede appear to be serotypes of the Chobar Gorge virus species. Bukakata orbivirus replicated to high titers (106&ndash, 107 PFU/mL) in Vero, BHK-21 [C-13], and R06E (Egyptian fruit bat) cells. Preliminary screening of archived bat and tick samples do not support Bukakata orbivirus presence in these collections, however additional testing is warranted given the phylogenetic associations observed. This study provided complete coding sequence for several bat-associated orbiviruses and in vitro characterization of a bat-associated orbivirus. Our results indicate that bats may play an important role in the epidemiology of viruses in the genus Orbivirus and further investigation is warranted into vector-host associations and ongoing surveillance efforts.

Cultivating youth's capacity to address climate change is critical for a sustainable future. This is especially true in developing countries in equatorial Africa where agrarian communities are severely affected by climate change. We examine a youth development program designed to increase knowledge and capacity for leadership and action in response to climate change. Ugandan youth, ages 16 to 24 years, participated in multiday residential workshops held in national forests. Workshops included biodiversity assessments with scientist mentors, discussions of environmental concerns, and reflective writing. Surveys revealed increases in self-efficacy, connection to nature, and political awareness. Youth reported gains in knowledge, leadership, social awareness, and commitment to civic action. Our results suggest that engaging youth in nature-based field experiences is a contextually appropriate pedagogical approach to empower conservation. We discuss challenges of interdisciplinary community-based research, highlighting the needs for advances in cross-cultural measurement and support for collaborative international program development and research.

Introduction: A number of arboviruses have previously been isolated from naturally-infected East African bats, however the role of bats in arbovirus maintenance is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure history of Ugandan bats to a panel of arboviruses. Materials and methods: Insectivorous and fruit bats were captured from multiple locations throughout Uganda during 2009 and 2011–2013. All serum samples were tested for neutralizing antibodies against West Nile virus (WNV), yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue 2 virus (DENV-2), Zika virus (ZIKV), Babanki virus (BBKV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Sera from up to 626 bats were screened for antibodies against each virus. Results and Discussion: Key findings include the presence of neutralizing antibodies against RVFV in 5/52 (9.6%) of little epauletted fruit bats (Epomophorus labiatus) captured from Kawuku and 3/54 (5.6%) Egyptian rousette bats from Kasokero cave. Antibodies reactive to flaviviruses were widespread across bat taxa and sampling locations. Conclusion: The data presented demonstrate the widespread exposure of bats in Uganda to arboviruses, and highlight particular virus-bat associations that warrant further investigation.

High genetic diversity of East Asian village dogs has recently been used to argue for an East Asian origin of the domestic dog. However, global village dog genetic diversity and the extent to which semiferal village dogs represent distinct, indigenous populations instead of admixtures of various dog breeds has not been quantified. Understanding these issues is critical to properly reconstructing the timing, number, and locations of dog domestication. To address these questions, we sampled 318 village dogs from 7 regions in Egypt, Uganda, and Namibia, measuring genetic diversity >680 bp of the mitochondrial D-loop, 300 SNPs, and 89 microsatellite markers. We also analyzed breed dogs, including putatively African breeds (Afghan hounds, Basenjis, Pharaoh hounds, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and Salukis), Puerto Rican street dogs, and mixed breed dogs from the United States. Village dogs from most African regions appear genetically distinct from non-native breed and mixed-breed dogs, although some individuals cluster genetically with Puerto Rican dogs or United States breed mixes instead of with neighboring village dogs. Thus, African village dogs are a mosaic of indigenous dogs descended from early migrants to Africa, and non-native, breed-admixed individuals. Among putatively African breeds, Pharaoh hounds, and Rhodesian ridgebacks clustered with non-native rather than indigenous African dogs, suggesting they have predominantly non-African origins. Surprisingly, we find similar mtDNA haplotype diversity in African and East Asian village dogs, potentially calling into question the hypothesis of an East Asian origin for dog domestication.

The Albertine Rift is one of the most important regions for conservation in Africa. It contains more vertebrate species than any other region on the continent and contains more endemic species of vertebrate than any other region on mainland Africa. This paper compiles all currently known species distribution information for plants, endemic butterfly species and four vertebrate taxa from the Albertine Rift. The literature on fish species richness and endemism is also reviewed to assess the importance of the larger lakes in the Rift for conservation. We use data from 38 protected and unprotected areas to prioritise sites within the Albertine Rift for conservation based upon their numbers of endemic and globally threatened species. Virunga and Kahuzi Biega National Parks and Itombwe Massif in Democratic Republic of Congo, Bwindi Impenetrable and Kibale National Parks in Uganda, and Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda rank highest in terms of numbers of both endemic and globally threatened species. Six conservation landscapes are described that include most of these sites and it is argued that a focus on these landscapes may be a more holistic method to ensure the safety of the priority areas of the Albertine Rift.

Entebbe bat virus (ENTV; Flaviviridae: Flavivirus), closely related to yellow fever virus, was first isolated from a little free-tailed bat (Chaerephon pumilus) in Uganda in 1957, but was not detected after that initial isolation. In 2011, we isolated ENTV from a little free-tailed bat captured from the attic of a house near where it had originally been found. Infectious virus was recovered from the spleen and lung, and the viral RNA was sequenced and compared with that of the original isolate. Across the polypeptide sequence, there were 76 amino acid substitutions, resulting in 97.8% identity at the amino acid level between the 1957 and 2011 isolates. Further study of this virus would provide valuable insights into the ecological and genetic factors governing the evolution and transmission of bat- and mosquito-borne flaviviruses.

Small mammal species diversity in the major vegetation zones of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is discussed in relation to altitude. Species richness of the small mammals was found to decrease with an increase in altitude. The main factors accounting for the observed diversity are the wide altitudinal variation and a complex array of vegetation types. Sixty-seven species of rodents and shrews were found to exist in the Park; 47 of which were rodents and 20 shrews. Of these, 26 species are new to the Bwindi Park list. Three species have probably not been described before. The study found 10 species of small mammals to be Albertine Rift endemics. Three genera are recorded in Uganda for the first time: Rwenzorisorex, Suncus and Paracrocidura. Five species are new records for East Africa. These are Crocidura stenocephala, Lophuromys rahmi, L. medicaudatus, Paracrocidura maxima and Hylomyscus aeta. Because of the high endemism of plants, butterflies, birds and now of small mammal species, Bwindi forest is a unique biodiversity hotspot and is among the highest conservation priorities in the Albertine Rift. Resume On discute de la diversite des especes de petits mammiferes dans les principales zones de vegetation du Parc de la Foret Impenetrable de Bwindi, en fonction avec l'altitude. On a trouve que la richesse en especes de petits mammiferes diminuait avec l'augmentation de l'altitude. Les principaux facteurs qui expliquent la diversite observee sont la grande variation de l'altitude et un ensemble complexe de types de vegetation. On a decouvert que soixante-sept especes de rongeurs et de musaraignes vivent dans le parc, dont 47 rongeurs et 20 musaraignes. Parmi eux, 26 especes sont nouvelles sur la liste du Parc de Bwindi. Trois d'entre elles n'ont probablement jamais ete decrites auparavant. L'etude a decouvert que 10 especes de petits mammiferes sont endemiques au Rift Albertin. Trois genres sont rapportes pour la premiere fois pour l'Ouganda : Rwenzorisorex, Suncus et Paracrocidura. Cinq especes sont nouvelles pour l'Afrique de l'Est : Crocidura stenocephala, Lophuromys rahmi, L.medicaudatus, Paracrocidura maxima et Hylomyscus aeta. Etant donne le fort endemisme de plantes, de papillons, d'oiseaux et maintenant, de petits mammiferes, la foret de Bwindi est un haut lieu unique de la biodiversite qui se range parmi les plus urgentes priorites de la conservation du Rift Albertin.

The large-bodied hominoid from Moroto, Uganda has until recently been known only from proconsulid like craniodental remains and some vertebrae with modern ape like features. The discovery of two partial femora and the glenoid portion of a scapula demonstrates that the functional anatomy of Morotopithecus differed markedly from other early and middle Miocene hominoids. Previous studies have consistently associated the vertebral remains with a short, stiff back and with orthograde postures. Although the proximal femur more closely resembles the femora of monkeys than of apes and suggests a moderate degree of hip abduction, the distal femur resembles those of extant large bodied apes and suggests a varied loading regime and an arboreal repertoire that may have included substantial vertical climbing. The femoral shaft displays uniformly thick cortical bone, beyond the range of thickness seen in extant primates, and signifies higher axial loading than is typical of most extant primates. The glenoid fossa is broad and uniformly curved as in extant suspensory primates. Overall, Morotopithecus is reconstructed as an arboreal species that probably relied on forelimb-dominated, deliberate and vertical climbing, suspension and quadrupedalism. Morotopithecus thus marks the first appearance of certain aspects of the modern hominoid body plan by at least 20 Ma. If the suspensory and orthograde adaptations linking Morotopithecus to extant apes are synapomorphies, Morotopithecus may be the only well-documented African Miocene hominoid with a close relationship to living apes and humans.

An early Miocene (18–20 mya) distal humerus from Napak, Uganda, is the only element of the forelimb to be allocated to African Lorisinae. Its loris-like features distinguish it from other East African material that more closely resembles galagids. Tracing the evolution of the lorisoid body has been a difficult task due to the lack of good fossil material. Here, we add a single specimen to this poor record. This humerus helps to document the beginning of extant lorisid locomotor specialization and function.

Fossils from a large-bodied hominoid from early Miocene sediments of Uganda, along with material recovered in the 1960s, show features of the shoulder and vertebral column that are significantly similar to those of living apes and humans. The large-bodied hominoid from Uganda dates to at least 20.6 million years ago and thus represents the oldest known hominoid sharing these derived characters with living apes and humans.

Summary The collection of Myotis welwitschii and Pipistrellus kuhlii fuscatus in Uganda and Pipistrellus kuhlii fuscatus from Burundi is reported. These species were previously unknown from these countries. External and skull measurements are presented, as well as descriptions of pelage coloration and collecting locality and comments on distribution of the taxa. Resume Lors de recentes recherches sur la faune en Ouganda et au Burundi, on a recolte deux especes de chauves-souris qui n'avaient jamais ete signalees dans ces deux pays. On a recolte un specimen de Myotis welwitschii Gray sur le Ruwenzori en Ouganda et des specimens de Pipistrellus kuhlii Kuhl sur le Ruwenzori et sur le mont Elgon, en Ouganda et au Pare National de Kibira, au Burundi. On presente des mesures corporelles et craniennes, ainsi que des descriptions de la couleur du pelage, de l'endroit exact de la recolte et des commentaires sur la distribution des taxons. Le but premier de ces etudes etait de recolter des donnees de base au sujet de la distribution et l'ecologie des oiseaux et des petits mammiferes a differentes altitudes dans les aires protegees et les zones avoisinantes. Ces informations sont essentielles pour la conception des plans de gestion des ces regions et pour l'evaluation de l'efficacite des efforts de conservation actuels et futurs.

Bat community patterns in Uganda are examined in relation to their occurrence in the different vegetation zones of the country. The data available so far cover only three of the country's floristic regions. These data suggest that the northern drier region U1 has more microchiropteran bats and that species diversity of megachiropteran bats tends to increase in the more forested western U2 and southern U4 regions. Species accounts in the appendix largely summarise the known information, they reveal that much more work is required to fully document the bats of Uganda. Journal of East African Natural History Vol. 85 (1&2) 1996: pp. 49-63

No Abstract.