Naturally Acquired Rabies Virus Infections in Wild-Caught Bats

Davis, April; Gordy, Paul; Rudd, Robert J.; Jarvis, Jodie A.; Bowen, Richard A.

doi:10.1089/vbz.2011.0674

Cited by 21 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These deaths from rabies, however, are not of epizootic proportions (e.g. Davis et al 2012 in Appendix S7). MMEs in Brazilian free-tailed bats during the 1950s at Carlsbad Caverns were equivocal: although > 10 individuals had died of rabies each year, others may have died of pesticide poisoning (Clark 2001), whereas inclement weather and abnormally cool conditions may have been associated with many of the deaths in 1955 and 1956, but not in 1957 (Appendix S7 and references therein).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple mortality events in bats: a global review

et al. 2016

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Despite conservation concerns for many species of bats, factors causing mortality in bats have not been reviewed since 1970. Here we review and qualitatively describe trends in the occurrence and apparent causes of multiple mortality events (MMEs) in bats around the world.We compiled a database of MMEs, defined as cases in which ≥ 10 dead bats were counted or estimated at a specific location within a maximum timescale of a year, and more typically within a few days or a season. We tabulated 1180 MMEs within nine categories.Prior to the year 2000, intentional killing by humans caused the greatest proportion of MMEs in bats. In North America and Europe, people typically killed bats because they were perceived as nuisances. Intentional killing occurred in South America for vampire bat control, in Asia and Australia for fruit depredation control, and in Africa and Asia for human food. Biotic factors, accidents, and natural abiotic factors were also important historically. Chemical contaminants were confirmed causes of MMEs in North America, Europe, and on islands. Viral and bacterial diseases ranked low as causes of MMEs in bats.Two factors led to a major shift in causes of MMEs in bats at around the year 2000: the global increase of industrial wind-power facilities and the outbreak of white-nose syndrome in North America. Collisions with wind turbines and white-nose syndrome are now the leading causes of reported MMEs in bats.Collectively, over half of all reported MMEs were of anthropogenic origin. The documented occurrence of MMEs in bats due to abiotic factors such as intense storms, flooding, heat waves, and drought is likely to increase in the future with climate change. Coupled with the chronic threats of roosting and foraging habitat loss, increasing mortality through MMEs is unlikely to be compensated for, given the need for high survival in the dynamics of bat populations.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple mortality events in bats: a global review

et al. 2016

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“…If weight loss continued, the bat was placed in a smaller isolation cage, monitored more closely, hand-fed mealworms and beef baby food, and, if necessary, administered 0.5 ml lactated Ringer's saline s.c. every 24 h. If a bat was demonstrating clinical signs of rabies and did not improve within 24 to 48 h, it was euthanized, necropsied, and tested for rabies via a direct fluorescent-antibody test (dFAT). Sera were collected to assay for anti-rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (VNAs) as previously described (11).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Susceptibility and Pathogenesis of Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) to Heterologous and Homologous Rabies Viruses

Davis

Jarvis

Pouliott

et al. 2013

J Virol

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bRabies virus (RABV) maintenance in bats is not well understood. Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), and Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) are the most common bats species in the United States. These colonial bat species also have the most frequent contact with humans and domestic animals. However, the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) RABV is associated with the majority of human rabies virus infections in the United States and Canada. This is of interest because silver-haired bats are more solitary bats with infrequent human interaction. Our goal was to determine the likelihood of a colonial bat species becoming infected with and transmitting a heterologous RABV. To ascertain the potential of heterologous RABV infection in colonial bat species, little brown bats were inoculated with a homologous RABV or one of two heterologous RABVs. Additionally, to determine if the route of exposure influenced the disease process, bats were inoculated either intramuscularly (i.m.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) with a homologous or heterologous RABV. Our results demonstrate that intramuscular inoculation results in a more rapid progression of disease onset, whereas the incubation time in bats inoculated s.c. is significantly longer. Additionally, cross protection was not consistently achieved in bats previously inoculated with a heterologous RABV following a challenge with a homologous RABV 6 months later. Finally, bats that developed rabies following s.c. inoculation were significantly more likely to shed virus in their saliva and demonstrated increased viral dissemination. In summary, bats inoculated via the s.c. route are more likely to shed virus, thus increasing the likelihood of transmission. Lyssavirus infections have been reported in numerous species of terrestrial and flying mammals (1, 2). Several regions of enzootic rabies virus (RABV) activity occur in raccoon, skunk, and fox populations within the continental United States. These enzootic foci are generally limited to homologous infections; e.g., raccoons are infected with a raccoon rabies virus variant (2). Despite less geographical isolation, chiropteran RABVs are also typically limited to their host species (3). However, RABV spillover into heterologous hosts does occur and has been implicated in the origin of raccoon-and skunk-adapted RABVs (4).Two of the most common species of bats in the continental Unites States are the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) (5). These highly colonial species are adapted to living in both urban and rural areas. On the basis of data from public health rabies laboratories, big brown bats and little brown bats are the bat species most commonly submitted for rabies testing. The large number of submissions stems from human or domestic animal exposure (6). Despite frequent interaction, only three human rabies cases acquired in the United States have been associated with the little brown bat or big brown bat RABV since 1990 (Fox News)...

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“…Blood was collected in heparinized microcapillary tubes following veinpuncture with a 26 gauge needle. Samples remained at 4°C overnight and were separated via centrifugation the following day [20]. Using the tissue culture serum neutralization test protocol (TCSN), samples were processed as described in Trimarchi et al 1996 [19].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rabies Virus Infection in Eptesicus fuscus Bats Born in Captivity (Naïve Bats)

et al. 2013

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The study of rabies virus infection in bats can be challenging due to quarantine requirements, husbandry concerns, genetic differences among animals, and lack of medical history. To date, all rabies virus (RABV) studies in bats have been performed in wild caught animals. Determining the RABV exposure history of a wild caught bat based on the presence or absence of viral neutralizing antibodies (VNA) may be misleading. Previous studies have demonstrated that the presence of VNA following natural or experimental inoculation is often ephemeral. With this knowledge, it is difficult to determine if a seronegative, wild caught bat has been previously exposed to RABV. The influence of prior rabies exposure in healthy, wild caught bats is unknown. To investigate the pathogenesis of RABV infection in bats born in captivity (naïve bats), naïve bats were inoculated intramuscularly with one of two Eptesicus fuscus rabies virus variants, EfV1 or EfV2. To determine the host response to a heterologous RABV, a separate group of naïve bats were inoculated with a Lasionycteris noctivagans RABV (LnV1). Six months following the first inoculation, all bats were challenged with EfV2. Our results indicate that naïve bats may have some level of innate resistance to intramuscular RABV inoculation. Additionally, naïve bats inoculated with the LnV demonstrated the lowest clinical infection rate of all groups. However, primary inoculation with EfV1 or LnV did not appear to be protective against a challenge with the more pathogenic EfV2.

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Naturally Acquired Rabies Virus Infections in Wild-Caught Bats

Cited by 21 publications

References 16 publications

Multiple mortality events in bats: a global review

Multiple mortality events in bats: a global review

Susceptibility and Pathogenesis of Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) to Heterologous and Homologous Rabies Viruses

Rabies Virus Infection in Eptesicus fuscus Bats Born in Captivity (Naïve Bats)

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