Hematologic profile of hematophagous Desmodus rotundus bats before and after experimental infection with rabies virus

Introduction Hematophagous Desmodus rotundus bats play an important role in the rabies lifecycle. This study describes the hematological profile of these bats before and after experimental infection with rabies virus. Methods Cells counts were performed in a Neubauer chamber. Results The average values of erythrocytes and leucocytes counts in blood before experimental infections were 9.97 × 106mm3 and 4.80 × 103mm3, respectively. Neutrophils represented 69.9% of white blood cells and the lymphocytes represented 26.9%. Following the experimental infections, the average numbers of erythrocytes and leucocytes was 9.43 × 106mm3 and 3.98 × 103mm3, respectively. Neutrophils represented 40% of white blood cells and the lymphocytes represented 59%. Conclusions The hematological profile given in this study can serve as reference values for D. rotundus bats.

Rabies surveillance in bats in Northwestern State of São Paulo

Introduction Rabies is an important zoonosis that occurs in mammals, with bats acting as Lyssavirus reservoirs in urban, rural and natural areas. Rabies cases in bats have been recorded primarily in urban areas in Northwestern State of São Paulo since 1998. This study investigated the circulation of rabies virus by seeking to identify the virus in the brain in several species of bats in this region and by measuring rabies-virus neutralizing antibody levels in the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus. Methods From 2008 to 2012, 1,490 bat brain samples were sent to the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Rabies Laboratory in Araçatuba, and 125 serum samples from vampire bats that were captured in this geographical region were analyzed. Results Rabies virus was detected in the brains of 26 (2%) of 1,314 non-hematophagous bats using the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and the mouse inoculation test (MIT). None of the 176 hematophagous bat samples were positive for rabies virus when a virus detection test was utilized. Out of 125 vampire bat serum samples, 9 (7%) had levels of rabies virus neutralization antibodies (RVNAs) that were higher than 0.5IU/mL; 65% (81/125) had titers between 0.10IU/mL and 0.5IU/mL; and 28% (35/125) were negative for RVNAs using the simplified fluorescent inhibition microtest (SFIMT) in BHK21 cells. The observed positivity rate (1.7%) was higher than the average positivity rate of 1.3% that was previously found in this region. Conclusions The high percentage of vampire bats with neutralizing antibodies suggests that recent rabies virus exposure has occurred, indicating the necessity of surveillance measures in nearby regions that are at risk to avoid diffusion of the rabies virus and possible rabies occurrences.

Eight new bats of the genus Rhinolophus.

v.24:no.5(1939)

Auditory region in bats including Icaronycteris index.

v.58:no.9(1971)

Bats from Polynesia, Melanesia, and Malaysia.

v.18:no.2(1931)

External characters of the bats of the subfamily Glossophaginae.

v.24:no.25(1943)

Bats from New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, and New Hebrides [by] Colin Campbell Sanborn and A. J. Nicholson.

v.31:no.36(1949)

Records and measurements of neotropical bats.

v.20:no.13(1936)

Bats from Guerrero, Jalisco and Oaxaca, Mexico.

v.37:no.26(1955)

Comparative morphology of the tongue in free-tailed bats (Chiroptera, Molossidae)

Descriptive and comparative studies on tongue of nineteen Molossidae, one Mystacinidae, and four Vespertilionidae bats species were carried out. Analysis was restricted to the external morphology, covering general shape of the tongue and its papillae. Types of papillae and their distribution presented considerable intergeneric variation, considering the strictly insectivorous feeding habits of these bats. Distribution of the data of tongue morphology is analyzed and compared with the phylogenetic schemes proposed previously and comments about evolutionary relationships among taxa were done.

The bacula of some fruit bats (Pteropus).

v.31:no.16(1947)

A survey of the mammals of Afghanistan, resulting from the 1965 Street Expedition (excluding bats) [by] Jerry D. Hassinger.

v.60(1973)

Remarks on the bats of the genus vampyrops.

v.37:no.14(1955)

Notes on bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) new to the faunal lists of Afghanistan and Iran [by] Hans N. Neuhauser and Anthony F. DeBlase.

v.62:no.5(1974)

The bats of Iran : systematics, distribution, ecology / Anthony F. DeBlase.

n.s. no.4(1980)