Abstract

NUNEZ, Constanza et al. Rabies virus transmission among urban bats in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia, 1999-2008. Infect. [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.1, pp.23-29. ISSN 0123-9392.

Introduction: Human activities in the wild have recently increased the changes in bat behavior and invasion of houses, turning these animals into a health threat for humans and pets. Objectives: To determine the associations between behavioral habits and rabies transmission among bats in the department of Valle del Cauca and to assess the risk the existence of rabies in house dwelling bats presents for human health. Material and methods: In the period from December 1999 to June 2008, 1,321 hematophagous and non-hematophagous bats were captured for rabies epidemiological surveillance in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Rabies was diagnosed by direct immunofluorescence test on the brain tissue of collected animals. Viral typification was achieved by indirect immunofluorecense using rabies specific monoclonal antibodies. Results: Four bats were positive for rabies: two Eptesicus brasiliensis in 2000 and 2002, and an Eptesicus brasiliensis and a Molossus molossus in 2008. During the years 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 no rabies virus was found in E. brasiliensis and M. molossus or in any other bat species. Various species including E. brasiliensis, M. molossus, Myotis nigricans, Glossophaga soricina, Noctiliio albiventris and Carollia perspicillata were found sharing shelters in houses. Rabies virus antigenic variants 3 and 4 were found in M. molossus and E. brasiliensis bats only. Conclusions: The presence and potential spread of rabies antigenic variants 3 and 4 to cities have very likely been facilitated by the perturbation of the natural habitats of non-hematophagous bats in the department of Valle del Cauca; the urban architecture style also provides an artificial habitat which allows for physical contact and rabies transmission among the species. Seeing the difficulty for controlling rabies in bats and the lack of adequate tools, intensive laboratory based rabies surveillance in and around human settlements, preventive vaccination for house and production animals, and education for the community (in relation to increasing the awareness concerning the risk, and passive recollection of samples for analysis) represent major preventive strategies against bat rabies transmission to humans and pets.

Keywords : Rabies virus; lyssavirus; zoonoses; chiroptera; epidemiological surveillance; Colombia.

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