Diagnosis of rabies in nonhematophagous bats in Campo Grande City, Mato Grosso do Sul Centro Oeste do Brazil: report cases

Abstract

Ecological alterations in the environment may have contributed significantly for the increase of nonhematophagous bats in urban perimeter. This migration has also brought the virus into the cities. This work aimed to describe rabies cases in bats caught from the urban areas of Campo Grande, Mato Gorsso do Sul – Center West Brazil. During the period of February the December of 2001,a total 526 bats were sent for rabies diagnosis. After the identification and classification of bats, fragments of brain, salivary gland and interscapular brown fat collected from each animal were submitted for direct fluorescent antibody (dFA) test and mouse inoculation test (MIT) for rabies diagnosis. Among the 526 sample examined, six (1.13%) were found positive for rabies by the both tests, and of theses, three belonged to insectivorous bats and the other three, frugivorous bats. Among the frugivorous bats, one was identified as the Artibeus fimbriatus. The presence of this species had never been reported in the city of Campo Grande, and this is also the first report of rabies in this species in our country.