European Bat Lyssavirus Type 2 RNA inMyotis daubentonii

Nicholas Johnson,Sharon M Brookes,Anthony R Fooks,Philip R Wakeley

doi:10.3201/eid1207.060287

Nicholas Johnson, Sharon M Brookes + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1207.060287

Copy DOI

Abstract

Organ distribution of European bat lyssavirus type 2 viral RNA in its reservoir host, Myotis daubentonii (Daubenton's bat), was measured with a novel quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay. High levels of genomic RNA were found in the brain and were also detectable in the tongue, bladder, and stomach.

Highlights

Bat-mediated rabies has been reported in Europe for more than 50 years
Two reports detail isolation of European bat lyssaviruses (EBLVs)-2 from humans who died of rabies encephalitis in Finland and the United Kingdom (4,5)
Like rabies virus, EBLV-2 does not persist in the environment outside of an infected host, and alternative routes of infection should be considered

Summary

Introduction

Bat-mediated rabies has been reported in Europe for more than 50 years. Two variants or genotypes are recognized that are distinct from rabies viruses of terrestrial mammals and new world bats (1). Two reports detail isolation of EBLV-2 from humans who died of rabies encephalitis in Finland and the United Kingdom (4,5). 4 isolations from Daubenton’s bat have been reported in the United Kingdom since 1996. Biting by Daubenton’s bats was suspected in the 2 human cases from Finland and the United Kingdom because both persons had handled this species before symptoms developed.

Results

Conclusion