The Epidemiological Importance of Bats in the Transmission of Rabies to Dogs and Cats in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, Between 2005 and 2014

Abstract

In Brazil, rabies control in dogs and cats was pioneered by the state of São Paulo with the adoption of the Pan American Health Organization recommendations for prophylaxis and control, which led to a reduction in rabies cases from 1994 onwards. As a result of these measures, the rabies virus (RABV) genetic lineage associated with dogs has not been found in the state since 1998, and all the cases in domestic animals reported since then have been caused by bat-associated lineages of RABV. In the light of this, this study sought to investigate rabies cases in dogs and cats in the state of São Paulo between 2005 and 2014 and identify the associated transmission cycles by characterizing the RABV lineages responsible for these cases. Nine samples from dogs (n = 5) and from cats (n = 4) were collected between 2005 and 2014. The tenth animal, a rabid cat, was analysed by a different laboratory. The N gene nucleotide sequences obtained were analysed with the neighbor-joining algorithm and Kimura 2-parameter model using the MEGA 6 program. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genetic lineages identified in all the samples were those circulating in Brazilian bats. The findings of this study demonstrate that bats play an important role in the transmission of rabies to domestic animals in São Paulo state and that emphasis should be placed on the implementation of public policies to support surveillance of chiropterans for rabies.

Increased detection of rabies virus in bats in Ceará State (Northeast Brazil) after implementation of a passive surveillance programme

“…Our data confirm that surveillance of bats is crucial for rabies control in Brazil, as these play a pivotal role in the transmission of rabies virus to domestic animals, and to humans (Castilho et al, ), and that implementation of passive surveillance measures had a considerable impact, as compared to active surveillance in previous years.…”

“…While bats are considered the main transmitters of rabies virus in rural Brazil (Rocha et al, ), increasing urbanization and deforestation have been discussed as possible driving factors for an increased risk of rabies virus transmitted from bats to humans and domestic animals also in urban areas (Castilho et al, ). Haematophagous bats usually occur in rural areas, but non‐haematophagous bats are well adapted to urban areas.…”

“…From 1998 to 2014, a total of 778 human cases were reported in 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries; in 38% of them, rabies virus was directly transmitted by haematophagous bats (Freire de Carvalho et al, ). Bats are considered the main source of infection for rabies in humans and livestock, since viral transmission by dogs and cats in general has been widely controlled (Castilho et al, ; Sousa, Ribeiro, Duarte, Andre, & Santiago, ; Vigilato, Cosivi, Knöbl, Clavijo, & Silva, ). In fact, the transmission of rabies virus by bats and other sylvatic animals to humans and domestic animals, and the reintroduction of the disease into urban environments, has been more and more a matter of concern (Cordeiro et al, ; Rocha, de Oliveira, Heinemann, & Gonçalves, ).…”

Babesia vesperuginis, a neglected piroplasmid: new host and geographical records, and phylogenetic relations

“…Chiroptera is the second largest order of mammals and includes about 20% of all mammal species worldwide [ 1 ]. Studies on the epidemiological role of chiropterans in the transmission of pathogens have focused mainly on zoonotic viruses such as rabies [ 2 , 3 ], acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) [ 4 ], Ebola [ 5 ], Zika [ 6 ], and other viral disease (influenza, acute respiratory illness, chikungunya) [ 7 ]. Compared with other mammals, the role of bats in the transmission cycle of tick-borne protists [ 8 , 9 ] and bacteria are less studied [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Rabia: 99,9% mortal, 100% prevenible

“…En las Américas la rabia humana transmitida por perros se encuentra en vías de eliminación, pero aún se registran casos en Bolivia, Haití, Guatemala, Brasil y República Dominicana. Además, desde 2014 se han registrado casos de rabia canina en áreas de Argentina, Paraguay, Brasil y Perú, en zonas declaradas sin rabia canina desde hace más de diez años, lo que llevó a una alerta epidemiológica en junio de 2015 por parte de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud/Organización Mundial de la salud (OPS/OMS) (14)(15)(16) . Es así que la epidemiología de la rabia humana está determinada por la epidemiología de la rabia animal en un área determinada.…”