Exposure of Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa) to the Common Vampire Bat and Lack of Immune Protection to Rabies Virus in Brazilian Hunters

One Health at gunpoint: Impact of wild boars as exotic species in Brazil - A review

“…pneumonia [ 23 ], hepatitis E virus, influenza A virus, trichinosis [ [24] , [25] , [26] ] and sarcocystosis [ 27 ] in Brazil and other South American countries [ 28 ]. In addition, wild boars in Brazil have been also associated with Brazilian spotted fever [ 29 ] and rabies [ 30 ], providing blood meals for ticks and hematophagous bats ( Table 1 ).…”

“…Wild boars may be carrying and spreading capybara ticks, important to BSF transmission in Brazil 2016–2018/southern and central-western Brazil [ 29 ] Rabies virus Rabies-modified rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test/serum 9/80 (11%) A total of 43/49 (88%) hunters lacked immune protective titers (0.50 IU/mL). Images obtained by camera trap ( n = 11,112) revealed vampire bats blood feeding in 13/94 (14%) wild boars from State Park 2016–2018/southern and central-western Brazil [ 30 ] Trichinella spp. ELISA, artificial enzymatic digestion/serum; diaphragm, tongue, and or masseter muscles 7/115 (6.1%) seropositive; tissue samples from all 37 wild boars were negative – 2018–2020/southeastern Brazil [ 24 ] Trichinella spp.…”

“…Rabies may be the most threating zoonosis that wild boars may spread in Brazil, as one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. In a recent study, 11.2% of wild boars in Brazil presented serum titers for rabies exposure, likely due to contact with contaminated saliva of vampire bats or from infected carcass consumption [ 30 , 37 ]. Meanwhile, 87.8% of corresponding hunters lacked immune protective titers [ 30 ].…”

“…In a recent study, 11.2% of wild boars in Brazil presented serum titers for rabies exposure, likely due to contact with contaminated saliva of vampire bats or from infected carcass consumption [ 30 , 37 ]. Meanwhile, 87.8% of corresponding hunters lacked immune protective titers [ 30 ]. Thus, Brazilian wild boars exposed to rabies may play an important role in the sylvatic rabies cycle by indirectly providing a blood supply for vampire bats, along with directly transmission of rabies virus to hunters and hunting dogs [ 30 ].…”

“…Meanwhile, 87.8% of corresponding hunters lacked immune protective titers [ 30 ]. Thus, Brazilian wild boars exposed to rabies may play an important role in the sylvatic rabies cycle by indirectly providing a blood supply for vampire bats, along with directly transmission of rabies virus to hunters and hunting dogs [ 30 ]. These findings have suggested that hunters, park rangers, researchers and other wild boar contacting individuals may be potential risk groups for contracting rabies, as workers´ health occupations who should receive mandatory pre-exposure rabies vaccination [ 30 ].…”