Scientists detect proof of rabies-like virus among bats

Scientists have for the first time detected proof of rabies-like virus among bats in India and suggested revision of national guidelines to prescribe anti-rabies vaccinations after bat bites.
To understand the role of Indian bats as carriers of zoonotic infections, a surveillance study was conducted which has detected antibodies, or indirect evidence of rabies-like virus, in some bats in Nagaland.
The study, done by a team of researchers from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and National Centre for Biological Sciences, has been published in January in the international journal Epidemiology and Infection, published by Cambridge University Press.
"This is the first study reporting evidence of infection with rabies or related viruses in bats in India and has important implications in disease transmission and rabies control measures," the study said.

"It highlights the need for a more holistic view for effective management strategies and preventive measures with regards to infectious disease of animal origin to protect the health of humans, livestock, wild animals and environment," it said.
Rabies is a fatal encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), caused by rabies virus and dogs are most commonly known to be the main source of rabies infection.

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 60,000 people die of rabies each year, of which India accounts for almost one-third of all reported cases.
The study said although the risk of rabies transmission from bats to humans is very low, given the scale of contact in the region, it is foreseeable that transmission of infectious disease from bats could potentially occur.

"WHO guidelines recommend Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) following exposure to bats which are considered as category III exposure," the study said.
"Considering bat lyssaviruses have been detected on every continent where bats are present and there is at least one published record of rabies-like illness after bat bite in India, it is prudent to revise the current national guidelines to recommend PEP for bat," it said.
The researchers collected bats samples from six different locations, including two villages (Mimi and Salomi villages) where traditionally the locals hunt bats.
"Multiple diagnostic tests revealed evidence of rabies or related lyssaviruses circulating in some of these hunted bats.

"We found antibodies against rabies virus (indirect evidence) or closely related lyssaviruses in common fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx (Greater short-nose fruit bat) and the insect bat Eptesicus serotinus (Serotine Bat)," the researchers said.
"Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins produced by our immune system to help fight against any invader (antigens) from causing disease. Presence of rabies antibodies in some bats suggests that they were exposed to rabies virus in the past," they said.
Studies in zoonotic disease outbreaks over the last few decades have revealed that bats are important reservoir hosts for infectious diseases with instance of SARS outbreak in China, Hendra virus in Australia, Nipah virus in Malaysia, Ebola virus in West Africa and MERS in Saudi Arabia attributed to bats.