Bat Rabies in Georgia, 1956-65

Abstract

THE first laboratory-confirmed infection of rabies in an insectivorous bat was reported by Pawan (1) in a white bat, Diclidurus alba, in 1936. This white bat was among a group of insect-eating, fruit-eating, and blood-lapping species examined during the investigation of an outbreak of rabies in cattle and humans in Trinidad in 1932. Rabies infection in an insectivorous bat from North America was first reported by Venters and associates (2) in a yellow bat, Dasypterus floridanus, killed near Tampa, Fla., in 1953. In the 13 years following (1953-65) rabies was diagnosed in one or more species of insectivorous bats from 47 States (personal communication, Dr. R. K. Sikes, Communicable Disease Center, 1966) and from two Provinces of Canada (3, 4). Rabies infection in an insectivorous bat from Georgia was first reported in a Seminole bat, Lasiu,rus semninolus, found dead on a street in Thomas County, by personnel of the Public Health Service's Newton Field Station in 1956 (personal communication, Dr. Douglas Hawkins, Newton Field Station, 1956). In the 10 years following (1956-65) rabies was diagnosed in six species of bats and from 18 counties in the State. This paper reviews the 36 cases of laboratoryconfirmed rabies in 531 insectivorous bats examined in Georgia during the 1956-65 period.