Wild rabies in insectivorous bats in Chile
Núñez, F.; Favi, M.; Urcelay, S.; Sepúlveda, C.; Fábrega, F.
Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau 103(2): 140-145
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-0632 PMID: 2959293 Document Number: 304702
From 1970 to 1984 theres was a significant reduction of rabies in animal species in Chile, where from an endemic it waned to a disease of sporadic occurrence, with long intervals between outbreaks. No human cases have been reported since 1972. During the stated period, there were 131 cases of rabies, 98.5% of them in animal species (1.5% in wildlife). The disease had never been described in the country in any species of bat until its diagnosis in the summer of 1985 in three specimens of the insectivorous bat Tadarida brasiliensis, which were found near dath in the Metropolitan Region. In the present study brain tissue sections from the three bats were examined by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and suspensions of the three brains inoculated into suckling and adult mice. All the bats and mice tested positive. In addition suspensions of the triturated bodies of the three bats were inoculated into the brains of suckling mice; one of the cases was 50% positive. The confirmation of rabies in wildlife, added to the fact that the mass dog immunization program has been suspended since 1983, indicates a possible regressive trend in the occurrence of the disease, which could climb to endemic levels higher than before in the country. This situation must be prevented by epidemiological surveillance and community education.