Assessment of a Rabies Virus Rapid Diagnostic Test for the Detection of Australian Bat Lyssavirus.

Andrea Certoma,David T Williams,Axel Colling,Ina Smith,Stuart D Blacksell,Thao Tran,Wilna Vosloo,Ross A Lunt

doi:10.3390/tropicalmed3040109

Abstract

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is closely related to the classical rabies virus and has been associated with three human fatalities and two equine fatalities in Australia. ABLV infection in humans causes encephalomyelitis, resulting in fatal disease, but has no effective therapy. The virus is maintained in enzootic circulation within fruit bats (Pteropid spp.) and at least one insectivorous bat variety (Saccolaimus flaviventris). Most frequently, laboratory testing is conducted on pteropodid bat brains, either following a potential human exposure through bites, scratches and other direct contacts with bats, or as opportunistic assessment of sick or dead bats. The level of medical intervention and post-exposure prophylaxis is largely determined on laboratory testing for antigen/virus as the demonstrable infection status of the in-contact bat. This study evaluates the comparative diagnostic performance of a lateral flow test, Anigen Rabies Ag detection rapid test (RDT), in pteropodid variant of ABLV-infected bat brain tissues. The RDT demonstrated 100% agreement with the reference standard fluorescent antibody test on 43 clinical samples suggesting a potential application in rapid diagnosis of pteropodid variant of ABLV infection. A weighted Kappa value of 0.95 confirmed a high level of agreement between both tests.

Highlights

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a species of the Lyssavirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, and is closely related to classical rabies virus [1]
This study evaluated the performance of the Anigen rapid test (RDT) in the diagnosis of pteropodid variant of ABLV infection in pteropodid bat brain tissues compared to the reference standard fluorescent antibody test (FAT)
The results presented here demonstrated high levels of relative sensitivity and specificity for the rabies RDT with pteropodid variant of ABLV positive and negative pteropodid bat samples

Summary

Introduction

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a species of the Lyssavirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, and is closely related to classical rabies virus [1]. ABLV was first identified in 1996 and has been associated with three reported human fatalities, two in adults and another in a child [2,3,4]. Prevalence of ABLV infection in sick, injured or orphaned bats has been reported as 6–9% [8,9]. Closely-related viruses may circulate more widely as evidenced by serological detection of ABLV neutralizing antibodies in bats in the Philippines [10]. ABLV infection in humans is rare but fatal, and without effective treatment. ABLV infection may be prevented by administration of a post-exposure prophylaxis regimen of human rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine [11]

Methods

Results

Conclusion