Question

Which among the following disease is not spread through fruit bats?

• A. Human Immuno Virus
• B. Nipah Virus
• C. Ebola Virus
• D. Marburg Virus

Hint:

Remember that fruit bats are known natural hosts for a number of emerging infectious diseases, including several highly dangerous viruses like Nipah, Hendra, Ebola, and Marburg. HIV, however, has a well-established primate origin (SIV).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
The question asks to identify which of the listed viral diseases is not zoonotic with fruit bats as a natural reservoir. A natural reservoir is an animal population that harbors a pathogen and can transmit it to other species, including humans.

Step 2: Analyzing the Transmission of the Viruses


(B) Nipah Virus, (C) Ebola Virus, (D) Marburg Virus: All three of these are severe viral hemorrhagic fevers. Scientific evidence strongly points to fruit bats of the \textit{Pteropodidae} family as the natural reservoirs for these viruses. Humans can get infected through direct contact with infected bats or through intermediate animal hosts.

(A) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): HIV is a retrovirus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The virus is believed to have originated in non-human primates (chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys) in Central and West Africa and was transmitted to humans through a process known as zoonosis. This is known as the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV). However, the natural reservoir is primates, not fruit bats. HIV is primarily transmitted between humans through specific bodily fluids.


Step 3: Final Answer
Nipah, Ebola, and Marburg viruses are associated with fruit bats. HIV originated from primates. Therefore, Human Immuno Virus is not spread through fruit bats. Option (A) is the correct answer.