Serological survey for rabies in serum samples from vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in Botucatu region, SP, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The chiropterans constitute 25% of the world's mammal fauna. Due to the destruction of their natural ecosystem, the vampire bats have moved from nature to artificial roosts closer to man and domestic animals. This phenomenon has happened particularly in rural areas. Rabies is a viral anthropozoonosis, 100% lethal, and vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) represent an important role in its epidemiology. D. rotundus were captured at night with mesh nets in partnership with the Botucatu Defense Office and sent to the Zoonosis Diagnostic Service, at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, UNESP. Serum samples from 204 bats were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fluorescent antibody viral neutralization test (FAVN) for rabies antibody detection. The results showed 7.4% of sera with titers higher or equal to 0.5 U for rabies antibodies, which demonstrated viral flow circulation among the studied region. Data suggest a need for constant monitoring accomplished by epidemiological and sanitary measures.

Rabies surveillance in bats in Northwestern State of São Paulo

“…The positivity rate in our study was 72%; seropositivity indicates a previous contact with RABV in the colony or a recent disease outbreak 15,31 , even though no ill animals were observed. Similar situations have been described in the literature by Souza et al 19 for Vale do Ribeira, which had a 6.7% positivity rate, and by Langoni et al 14 in Botucatu, in which 65.2% of all bats examined had reactive antibody titers.…”

“…This detection rate was greater than the 1.3% (98/7393) reported by Cunha et al 20 However, in other studies, the rabies virus was not detected in bats from urban areas, including Japurá, Paraná 27 and municipalities in Roraima 28 . Positivity rates ranging from 0 to 0.9% in the same geographical area have also been observed, for example in the Botucatu region, SP 14,29,30 . In the present study, 11.5% of rabies virus cases detected during the study period (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012) were in the frugivorous species Artibeus lituratus.…”

“…In hematophagous bats, the disease is identifi ed only when a high percentage of the population is already infected, suggesting that a portion of the animals can be infected without clinical signs 13 while developing an antibody response 14 . Thus, seroprevalence studies can provide valuable information about rabies virus circulation, with the detection of anti-RABV antibodies indicating that seropositive animals were exposed to the virus and that there may have been a recent disease outbreak in the colony 12,15 .…”

“…Serum samples were categorized as non-reactive (%), negative (< 0.06IU/mL) and reactive with low (0.06IU/mL to 0.19IU/mL), medium (0.20IU/mL to 0.49IU/mL) and protective (≥ 0.50IU/mL) titers. RABV seroprevalence rate was calculated considering titers ≥ 0.50IU/mL to be seroprotective, as previously described 12,14 .…”

Microsatélites revelan heterocigosidad y estructura poblacional de murciélagos vampiro (Desmodus rotundus) (Quiróptera: Phyllostomidae) de México

“…(Mickleburgh, Hutson & Racey, 2002). Survey data suggest high local flow of vampire bats in suburban and livestock areas (Langoni et al, 2008), and no-relatedness relationship among cave roost mates (Wilkinson, 1985b).…”