Serological survey of lyssaviruses in synanthropic bats and human exposure to bats in Slovakia

Bats are considered natural reservoirs for lyssaviruses. A total of 17 out of 19 known lyssaviruses circulate in bat populations. Lyssaviruses cause rabies in animals and humans. The transmission of lyssaviruses from European bats to terrestrial animals and humans is rare, but the risk of infection...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 2022-03, Vol.29 (1), p.44-49
Main Authors: Korytár, Ľuboš, Ondrejková, Anna, Drážovská, Monika, Zemanová, Silvia, Prokeš, Marián
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Bats
Chiroptera
Developed countries
Fluorescent antibody test
Health risks
human exposure
Humans
Lyssavirus
lyssaviruses
one health
Public health
Rabies
Rabies - epidemiology
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Serology
seroprevalence
slovakia
Slovakia - epidemiology
surveillance
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Summary:Bats are considered natural reservoirs for lyssaviruses. A total of 17 out of 19 known lyssaviruses circulate in bat populations. Lyssaviruses cause rabies in animals and humans. The transmission of lyssaviruses from European bats to terrestrial animals and humans is rare, but the risk of infection still exists even in developed countries. Slovakia is currently a rabies-free country. The aim of the study was to assess the potential circulation of EBLV-1 in synanthropic bats present in human inhabited buildings, and to give an overview of human exposure to bats. A passive serological survey targeted the prevalence of antibodies to bat lyssaviruses in synanthropic bats between 2009 - 2019. A total of 598 bats of the species , , and were captured in buildings mainly in Eastern Slovakia, and examined by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). Lyssavirus-specific antibodies were detected in 2 (0.3%) of the 598 examined bats. Additionally, brain tissues of bats found dead were examined using the standard fluorescent antibody test (FAT) with negative results. An overview of available data on human exposure to bats recorded in Slovakia from 2007 - 2019 is also included. The study confirmed the presence of lyssavirus antibodies in synanthropic bats in Slovakia, suggesting the active circulation of bat lyssaviruses in bat populations exploiting human buildings. Although the seroprevalence was found to be extremely low, the results show that any case of human exposure to bats must be treated with caution in order to protect public health.
ISSN:1232-1966
1898-2263
DOI:10.26444/aaem/146208