Rabies virus in Molossus molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in the State of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 526 - 527
• Main Authors: Silva, Luiz Augustinho Menezes da, Machado, José Lindemberg Martins, Melo, Mariluce de Lima, Alencar, Verônica Isabel de Brito, Melo, Robson Soares de, Andrade, Leandro Pimentel de, Silva, Emmanuel Messias Vilar Gonçalves da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01.07.2011; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil; Chiroptera - classification; Chiroptera - virology; Epidemiologia; Female; Male; Mice; Quirópteros; Rabies virus - isolation & purification; Raiva; Saúde pública; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Brazil; Bats; Raiva; Saúde pública; Rabies; Quirópteros; Epidemiologia; Epidemiology; Public health
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849; 0037-8682
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822011000400027

Rabies virus was detected in bats (Molossus molossus) from an urban area in the City of Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Four individuals were found during the day in visible, non-habitual places, lying on the ground, but still alive. No contact occurred with people or animals. Of these, only two were identified; it was not possible to identify two specimens, since they were incinerated prior to identification. Diagnosis was positive by direct immunofluorescence and intracerebral inoculation in mice. This study presents the first instance in which the virus was detected in insectivorous bats in the State of Pernambuco.