Spatiotemporal distribution of a non-haematophagous bat community and rabies virus circulation: a proposal for urban rabies surveillance in Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, rabies surveillance is based on monitoring domestic and wild animals, although the most prevalent lineage of the rabies virus (RABV) currently diagnosed in Brazil is associated with bats, particularly non-haematophagous bats. Disease control is based on the mass vaccination of dogs and cats. We used data collected by the passive surveillance system of the city of Campinas from 2011 to 2015, to describe the temporal and geographic distributions of the bat specimens and RABV and discuss the current rabies surveillance with the advent of the declaration of canine and feline rabies-free areas in Brazil. We described the species, locations and health statuses of the collected bat specimens. Moreover, all samples were submitted for RABV diagnosis. Then, we performed a time series decomposition for each bat family. Additionally, we determined the spatiotemporal relative risk for RABV infection using the ratio of the kernel-smoothed estimates of spatiotemporal densities of RABV-positive and RABV-negative bats. From the 2537 bat specimens, the most numerous family was Molossidae (72%), followed by Vespertilionidae (14%) and Phyllostomidae (13%). The bat families behaved differently in terms of seasonal and spatial patterns. The distribution of bats varied geographically in the urban environment, with Molossidae and Phyllostomidae being observed downtown and Vespertilionidae being observed in peripheral zones. Concurrently, a significant relative risk of RABV infection was observed downtown for Vespertilionidae and in peripheral zones for Molossidae. No RABV-positive sample clusters were observed. As a result of the official declaration of RABV-free areas in southern Brazil, mass dog and cat vaccinations are expected to halt in the near future. This stoppage would make most dog and cat populations susceptible to other RABV lineages, such as those maintained by non-haematophagous bats. In this scenario, all information available on bats and RABV distribution in urban areas is essential. Currently, few studies have been conducted. Some local health authorities, such as that in Campinas, are spontaneously basing their surveillance efforts on bat rabies, which is the alternative in reality scenario of increased susceptibility to bat-associated RABV that is developing in Brazil.

Zoonotic Risk: One More Good Reason Why Cats Should Be Kept Away from Bats

“…Special measures should also be taken for cat colonies that occur in sites where a bat roost is known to be present; Outdoor cats should be included as a threat factor in all conservation plans aiming at the management of known bat colonies, and action should be taken, including legal measures, to prevent contacts between cats and bats; Where applicable, vaccination campaigns of cats living outdoor should be promoted to reduce major zoonotic risks such as that associated with rabies, and more investigation is warranted to see whether commercially available rabies–inactivated veterinary vaccines, prepared from RABV strains, can cross-protect cats against the different lyssaviruses circulating in Europe [ 102 ]. The risk of stopping vaccination campaigns in areas that have been recently declared rabies-free should also be evaluated [ 103 ]; Cat predation on wildlife is a complex process that is deeply rooted in cats’ evolutionary history but also depends on a range of variables including dietary requirements and physiological traits, early life history, individual personality and environmental factors [ 104 ]. A better understanding of the relative weights of such variables is key to develop appropriate strategies to prevent cat predation on wildlife and bats more specifically, and ad hoc work should be done on bat–cat interactions, including those involving sick bats.…”

“…Where applicable, vaccination campaigns of cats living outdoor should be promoted to reduce major zoonotic risks such as that associated with rabies, and more investigation is warranted to see whether commercially available rabies–inactivated veterinary vaccines, prepared from RABV strains, can cross-protect cats against the different lyssaviruses circulating in Europe [ 102 ]. The risk of stopping vaccination campaigns in areas that have been recently declared rabies-free should also be evaluated [ 103 ];…”

Perfil do consumo alimentar e relação com a composição corporal e dispêndio energético de repouso em cadetes do exército brasileiro

“…70 A positividade (1,3%) dos morcegos incriminados nos eventos de exposição que resultaram em atendimentos antirrábicos humanos foi menor que em outros países investigados: EUA (7%), Canadá (5%) e Austrália (5,1%). 61,62,63,69 Nesses países citados, os protocolos de profilaxia da raiva humana 71,72 Nota-se, no Brasil, a ausência de estudos sobre os atendimentos antirrábicos decorrentes da exposição a morcegos, sendo possíveis somente comparações com países com características ambientais e sociodemográficas distintas.…”

>b<Zoneamento municipal como ferramenta no estudo ecoepidemiológico da quiropterofauna em interfaces urbano-rurais>/b<

“…O Brasil conta com 9 famílias de morcegos, contendo 68 gêneros e 181 espécies registradas (BARBIER & GRACIOLLI, 2016). Destas, oito são endêmicas (PACHECO et al, 2010) e 84 (47,2%) ocorrem em áreas urbanas (DIAS et al, 2019). As famílias Phyllostomidae, Molossidae e Vespertilionidae são as mais encontradas em áreas urbanas pelo país (PACHECO et al, 2010).…”

“…No geral, morcegos insetívoros têm sido os que melhor se adaptaram ao ambiente urbano e ao uso de abrigos artificiais, como forros e telhados de casas, porões, blocos de concreto oco, espaços entre edificações, garagens e outros (DIAS et al, 2019;ROSA et al, 2011). Algumas espécies podem ser beneficiadas por insetos atraídos pela iluminação artificial (LIMA, 2008).…”