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Rabies virus circulation in a highly diverse bat assemblage from a high-risk area for zoonoses outbreaks in the Brazilian Amazon.

Rabies virus circulation in a highly diverse bat assemblage from a high-risk area for zoonoses outbreaks in the Brazilian Amazon.

Authors :
Novaes RLM
Almeida B
Cláudio VC
Costa-Neto SF
Couto ALG
Schmidt E
Bertocchi NA
Costa JO
Ferreira CF
de Oliveira AMR
Dos Santos MLM
Monteverde TSD
de Abreu EMN
Cunha ENP
Borges AR
Garcia JG
Barboza CM
Cocchi M
Batista HBCR
Moratelli R
Source :
Acta tropica [Acta Trop] 2024 Sep; Vol. 257, pp. 107309. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jun 30.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals and play a central role in ecosystem dynamics. They are also important reservoirs of potentially zoonotic microorganisms, of which rabies virus is the most lethal among the bat-transmitted zoonotic pathogens. Importantly, recent outbreaks of human rabies have been reported from the Brazilian Amazon. Here we present a survey of bat species and rabies virus (RABV) circulation in a bat assemblage in the Marajó region, northern Brazil. Using data from mist-net captures and bioacoustic sampling, 56 bat species were recorded along the Jacundá River basin over a 10-day expedition in November 2022. For the investigation of RABV, we used the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) and the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). In total, 159 bat individuals from 22 species were investigated for RABV. Five adults of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, showed RABV-specific antibodies in serum samples. Additionally, we report on local residents with injuries caused by D. rotundus bites and the occurrence of colonies of non-hematophagous bats from different species roosting inside human residences. This scenario raises concerns about the risks of new cases of human rabies and other zoonotic diseases associated with bats in the region and highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance and mitigation measures to prevent outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.<br /> (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1873-6254
Volume :
257
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Acta tropica
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38955321
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107309