Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

Statement of the Problem: Rabies is one of the most important zoonosis that affects the central nervous system of mammals, particularly in the orders Carnivores and Chiroptera. Insectivorous bats are the main reservoirs of Rabies Lyssavirus (RABLV) in various regions of the world. From that decade on, as canine rabies came under control in many municipalities and molecular and  antigenic typing were incorporated in surveillance programs, the importance of nonhematophagous bats in the epidemiology of the disease began to be appreciated in these countries. In the present study, we analyzed virulence and

pathogenesis of RABLV associated with insectivorous bats.

Methodology: For evaluation of the pathogenesis, RABLV were inoculated by intradermical route in mice and clinical signs observed for 40 days. All parameters were compared with fixed virus (CVS-31).

Findings: We observed that the insectivorous strain showed a higher replication rate, slowly cell-to-cell spread and lesser pathogenicity in mice when compared to the fixed virus. Our results indicate that the insectivorous strain showed lower virulence and pathogenicity compared with the virus fixed, as well as strains associated with other reservoirs.

Conclusion & Significance: These results can contribute to a better understanding of the RABLV pathogenesis of isolates from insectivorous bats, which is useful for plan strategies to control rabies.