A novel approach for collecting samples from fruit bats for isolation of infectious agents.
During the outbreak of Nipah virus encephalitis involving pigs and humans in peninsular Malaysia in 1998/1999, a conventional approach was initially undertaken to collect specimens from fruit bats by mist-netting and shooting, as an integral part of wildlife surveillance of the natural reservoir host of Nipah virus. This study describes a novel method of collecting fruit bats' urine samples using plastic sheets for isolation of Nipah virus. This novel approach resulted in the isolation of several other known and unidentified infectious agents besides Nipah virus.
Chua
Kaw Bing
KB
International Medical University, Sesama Centre, Plaza Komanwel, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. chuakawbing@hotmail.com
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000652:urine* / Q000821:virology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D018098:Paramyxovirinae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*