Australian Bat Lyssavirus Infection in a Captive Juvenile Black Flying Fox
Author Information
Author(s): Hume Field, Brad McCall, Janine Barrett
Primary Institution: Queensland Department of Primary Industries
Hypothesis
What is the clinical course of Australian bat lyssavirus infection in juvenile flying foxes?
Conclusion
A juvenile black flying fox infected with Australian bat lyssavirus exhibited severe neurologic symptoms and died, highlighting the risks of rabies-like diseases in bats.
Supporting Evidence
- The infected bat exhibited progressive neurologic signs over 9 days before dying.
- Eight human contacts received postexposure vaccination after being bitten or scratched by the infected bat.
- All eight human contacts remained well 10 months after the incident.
Takeaway
Two baby bats were taken care of, but one got very sick and died from a virus that can cause rabies. This shows that even baby bats can get really sick from this virus.
Methodology
Clinical observation and necropsy were performed on the infected bat, and various diagnostic tests were conducted to confirm ABL infection.
Limitations
The study is limited by the small sample size and the lack of serologic testing for the infected bat prior to its illness.
Participant Demographics
The study involved juvenile black flying foxes, specifically a male and a female, aged 2 to 3 weeks.
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