Rabies diagnosis and serology in bats from the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Bats are one of the most important reservoirs and vectors of the rabies virus in the world. Methods: From 1988 to 2003, the Zoonosis Control Center in São Paulo City performed rabies diagnosis on 5,670 bats by direct immunofluorescent test and mouse inoculation test. Blood samples were collected from 1,618 bats and the sera were analyzed using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test to confirm rabies antibodies. Results: Fortyfour (0.8%) bats were positive for rabies. The prevalence of rabies antibodies was 5.9% using 0.5IU/ml as a cutoff. Insectivorous bats (69.8%) and bats of the species Molossus molossus (51.8%) constituted the majority of the sample; however, the highest prevalence of antibodies were observed in Glossophaga soricina (

Rabies Risk: Difficulties Encountered during Management of Grouped Cases of Bat Bites in 2 Isolated Villages in French Guiana

“…A preliminary study on the carriage of the rabies virus by bats (hematophagous, frugivorous and insectivorous) in French Guiana showed that <0.1% of bats captured since 2009 were carriers (saliva and blood) (Anne Lavergne, personal communication) with a rabies seroprevalence of 6.6% for Desmodus rotundus . Serological studies conducted in São Paulo, Brazil [34] and Peru [35] found seroprevalence rates of 1–40%, depending on the species and the type of habitat. Desmodus rotundus rabies seroprevalence was 12% in Brazilian study and 14% in those conducted in Peru.…”

Zoonotic Viruses and Conservation of Bats

“…Reported antibody prevalences against RABV in D. rotundus include 3-28 % in Peru (Streicker et al 2012) and 12 % in Brazil (Almeida et al 2011). Depending on the year, location and species, prevalence in other bats varies from relatively low 2 % in T. brasiliensis in New Mexico (Steece and Altenbach 1989) and 2.5 % in the little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) in New York (Trimarchi and Debbie 1977), to 58 % in Seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata) in Peru (Salmón-Mulanovich et al 2009) and 67 % in T. brasiliensis in Texas (Baer and Smith 1991).…”

Updated list of bat species positive for rabies in Brazil

“…Two cases of positive colonies captured while roosting in roofs (1.03%) were reported, but the first specimens of these colonies were captured on the ground, leading to the location of the shelter 3,43 .…”