Abstract:
: Ecological information on wildlife reservoirs 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 (formerly Chaerephon pumilus).
We show that population-level synchronicity of M. condylurus birthing is wide (* 8.5 weeks) and even wider
in M. pumilus (> 11 weeks). This is predicted to promote the likelihood of filovirus persistence under
conditions of bi-annual birthing (two births per year). Ecological features underlying the magnitude of the
birth pulse—relative female abundance (higher than expected for M. condylurus and lower for M. pumilus,
based on literature) and reproductive rate (lower than expected)—will have countering effects on birthing
magnitude. Species-specific models are needed to interpret how identified birth pulse attributes 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.
Keywords: Africa, Chaerephon, Ebola virus disease, Filovirus, Molossidae, Transmission
