Neutralizing Antirabies Antibodies in Urban Terrestrial Wildlife in Brazil

Abstract

The prevalence of rabies neutralizing antibodies (NA) in sera of wild animals from São Paulo City (Brazil) was investigated using the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test between 1994 and 1997. Sera from 547 specimens were examined. Marsupials represented 45% of the sample and primates 37%; carnivores, rodents, deer and edentates represented 6, 6, 3 and 2%, respectively. The overall prevalence of NA was 14%. The prevalence of NA was 18% in primates; whereas in marsupials, carnivores, edentates and rodents it was 13, 9, 8 and 6%, respectively. The stratification according to sex, age, and site of capture of the marsupials and primates showed a small predominance in males versus females and a large predominance of adults versus juveniles. The same relationship was seen in specimens captured near human habitations versus specimens captured in their own habitat. It is evident that there is circulation of rabies virus in wild animals, which are not recommended as pets since they represent a potential risk of exposure to rabies virus for both humans and domestic animals.

Antibodies to Rabies Virus in Terrestrial Wild Mammals in Native Rainforest on the North Coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

“…The ways that animals can contact the virus in nature are unclear but include contact with animals of the same or a different species that are excreting the virus or the ingestion of a contaminated animal carcass (Almeida et al 2001). The finding of RVNA in apparently healthy animals could be a consequence of an insufficient dose to produce disease, or could indicate that a particular viral variant is less pathogenic or more immunogenic in some species (Rosatte and Gunson 1984).…”

“…However, because 1) there are confirmed rabies-positive bats in the region, 2) there have been no cases of rabies due to the dog variant in Sã o Paulo State since 1997, and 3) spillover from dogs to wildlife has not been identified outside the Northeastern region, we believe that the virus is most likely of bat origin. There are additional findings of RVNA in wild species in Brazil without symptoms of disease (Megid 2000;Almeida et al 2001;Jorge et al 2010;Machado et al 2012).…”

“…Antibodies have been identified in opossums (Didelphis aurita) and primates from an urban area (Almeida et al 2001) and in marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus; Megid 2000), wild canids (Jorge et al 2010), and capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella; Machado et al 2012).…”

Haematophagous Bats in Brazil, Their Role in Rabies Transmission, Impact on Public Health, Livestock Industry and Alternatives to an Indiscriminate Reduction of Bat Population

“…Sera of wild animals totalling 547 in the São Paulo city were tested for neutralizing anti‐rabies antibodies. A prevalence of neutralizing antibodies of 14% has been found (Almeida et al., 2001).…”

Rabies Encephalitis and its Prophylaxis

“…In Brazil, 11% of wild mammals were recently found to be seropositive (Almeida et al 2001). Although humans with paralytic rabies can survive for several weeks, especially with intensive care (Emmons et al 1973) the illness progresses relentlessly.…”