Transmission from fruit bats to pigs is also hypothesized to have occurred by the fecal-oral route. Fruit bats fly over the farrow to weaning operation buildings when departing their roost at dusk and when returning to the roost at dawn. Paths around the buildings which house the pigs are contaminated with fruit bat feces and pigs are moved on these paths. Lesions in the affected swine fetuses as mentioned above, indicate viremia probably occurs with the virus crossing the placenta. Virus may be present therefore, in meat, secretions, and excretions of affected animals.
Research is needed to determine however, if transmission via meat to animals or humans is possible.
The suspected reservoir for this apparently new virus is fruit bats. Pteropodidiae were found to be positive for the new virus in the virus neutralization test. Pteropodids can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of southern and central Asia, Africa, Australia, the Phillipines and other Pacific islands. Fruit bats in Australia have recently been identified as the reservoir of two other new viruses, equine morbillivirus and a lyssavirus, which cause disease in humans and domestic animals. Pteropodids are not naturally present in the U.S., though they may be imported and exist in U.S. zoos, private collections, or research facilities.