Antibodies to Australian bat lyssavirus in an asymptomatic bat carer

Abstract

[Extract] The recent fatal case of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) in an 8-year-old boy in February 2013[1] as well as infections in horses in May 2013[2] has prompted us to write about an earlier non-fatal exposure. In August 1996, soon after the discovery of ABLV,[3] a serological survey of 14 bat carers in Townsville, North Queensland, detected antibodies (rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) 0.48 international units (IU)/mL) in a 40-year-old male. As a volunteer bat carer for 10 years, mainly of black flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) and little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus), he had received multiple bites and scratches. He had never received rabies vaccine or rabies immunoglobulin. He did not care for other Australian wildlife and had not visited rabies endemic countries.