Bat Rabies in Massachusetts, USA, 1985–2009

Wang, Xingtai; DeMaria, Alfred; Smole, Sandra; Brown, Catherine; Han, Lijin

doi:10.3201/eid1608.100205

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Abnormal behavior and hiding, injury, biting, and found in a body of water were all associated with RABV positivity. These results are consistent with the pathogenesis of RABV in mammals [ 6 ] and findings from previous studies, which include aggression, ataxia, disorientation, or lethargy [ 24 ]; downed, or described as ill or aggressive [ 38 ]; and biting [ 19 , 22 ]. Although biting was not associated with RABV positivity in one study [ 38 ], 17%–39% of human rabies cases with bat RABV variant in Canada and the United States were bitten by bats [ 51 , 52 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…), raccoons ( Procyon lotor ), and skunks ( Mephitits mephitis , Spilogale putorius ) constitute other RABV reservoirs in North America [ 1 ], none are currently known reservoirs in Washington State or bordering jurisdictions (British Columbia, Idaho, and Oregon) [ 4 , 13 , 17 ]. Trends in bat rabies surveillance in North America have been described previously [ 18 – 24 ], but the most recent description of bat rabies epidemiology in the Pacific Northwest dates back to 1985 [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bat rabies in Washington State: Temporal-spatial trends and risk factors for zoonotic transmission (2000–2017)

et al. 2018

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BackgroundRabies is a zoonotic viral disease that can affect all mammals. In the United States, the majority of human rabies cases are caused by bats, which are the only known reservoirs for rabies virus (RABV) in Washington State. We sought to characterize bat RABV epidemiology in Washington among bats submitted by the public for RABV testing.MethodsWe examined temporal and spatial trends in RABV positivity (% positive) for taxonomically identified bats submitted to diagnostic laboratories during 2006–2017. For a subset of Myotis species, we evaluated sensitivity and predictive value positive (PPV) of morphological identification keys, using mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b) as a reference. For bats tested during 2000–2016, we analyzed RABV positivity by circumstances of encounters with humans, cats, and dogs.ResultsDuring 2006–2017, RABV positivity for all bat species was 6.0% (176/2,928). Among species with ≥100 submissions, RABV positivity was 2.0%–11.7% and highest among big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). An increasing trend in annual positivity was significant only for big brown bats (P = 0.02), and was circumstantially linked to a geographic cluster. Sensitivity and PPV of morphological identification keys was high for M. evotis but varied for M. lucifugus, M. californicus, M. yumanensis, and M. septentrionalis. A positive RABV result was significantly associated with nonsynanthropic species, abnormal behavior, abnormal hiding, injury, biting, found in a body of water, found alive, found outdoors, and caught by a dog.ConclusionMonitoring passive RABV surveillance trends enables public health authorities to perform more accurate risk assessments. Differences in temporal and spatial trends in RABV positivity by bat species indicate the importance of collecting taxonomic data, although morphological identification can be unreliable for certain Myotis species. Current public health practices for RABV exposures should be maintained as RABV infection in bats can never be excluded without diagnostic testing.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bat rabies in Washington State: Temporal-spatial trends and risk factors for zoonotic transmission (2000–2017)

et al. 2018

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“…Similar rabies patterns have been reported from other states and Canada. In Massachusetts the number of bats submitted for rabies testing increased substantially during 1985–2009 ( 5 ). South Carolina reported an increase in administration of bat-associated PEP during the same period as this study ( 6 ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Bat Rabies and Human Postexposure Prophylaxis, New York, USA

Eidson¹,

Hagiwara²,

Rudd³

et al. 2011

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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“…The occurrence of individual species is limited to certain geographical regions; however, the prototype Lyssavirus species, RABV, is the most widespread of all lyssaviruses and is found worldwide except for in Antarctica and on a few islands. This virus causes infections in both humans and terrestrial animals including vampire bats and insectivorous bats in the Americas ( 17 ). The animal which is the main reservoir and vector of RABV may be the fox, skunk, raccoon or bat, depending on the region of the world.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of the rabies virus variants circulating in Poland in 2021–2023 and their phylogeny with analysis of the strains in the Mazowieckie and Podkarpackie voivodeships

Ciołek,

Orłowska,

Smreczak

2024

Journal of Veterinary Research

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Introduction Rabies is endemic in Europe and red foxes are the vector and reservoir of the rabies virus (RABV). Based on classification established in the early 1990s, four variants of the rabies virus have been distinguished in Europe. Rabies broke out in January 2021 in the Mazowieckie voivodeship in central north-eastern Poland. The virus spread rapidly, reaching the Świętokrzyskie voivodeship in the central southern part and the Lubelskie voivodeship in the eastern part in the next months. Nine rabies cases were reported in the Podkarpackie voivodeship in south-eastern Poland between 2021 and 2023, mainly in red foxes but also in dogs and wildcat. The aim of the study was the identification of RABV variants in wildlife and domestic animals in Poland between 2021 and 2023. Material and Methods The study involved 157 animal brains tested positive for rabies using a fluorescent antibody test. From 10% w/v brain homogenates, RNA was isolated and full-length RABV genomes were high-throughput sequenced with an RABV-enriched approach. Complete genomes of RABV isolates were phylogenetically analysed and the variants were estimated. Results Molecular and phylogenetic studies revealed 147 (93.6%) of the RABV strains out of 157 which had rapidly spread in the wildlife of the Mazowieckie, Świętokrzyskie and Lubelskie voivodeships to be Central European strains. Nine RABVs (5.7%) detected in foxes, a wildcat and a dog in the Podkarpackie voivodeship were identified as North-Eastern European. A vaccine-induced rabies case was detected in a red fox in the Lubelskie voivodeship in May 2023. Conclusion Central European and North-Eastern European RABVs were circulating in Poland between 2021 and 2023.

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Bat Rabies in Massachusetts, USA, 1985–2009

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 publications

Bat rabies in Washington State: Temporal-spatial trends and risk factors for zoonotic transmission (2000–2017)

Bat rabies in Washington State: Temporal-spatial trends and risk factors for zoonotic transmission (2000–2017)

Bat Rabies and Human Postexposure Prophylaxis, New York, USA

Determination of the rabies virus variants circulating in Poland in 2021–2023 and their phylogeny with analysis of the strains in the Mazowieckie and Podkarpackie voivodeships

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