European bat lyssavirus in Scottish bats.
We report the first seroprevalence study of the occurrence of specific antibodies to European bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2) in Daubenton's bats. Bats were captured from 19 sites across eastern and southern Scotland. Samples from 198 Daubenton's bats, 20 Natterer's bats, and 6 Pipistrelle's bats were tested for EBLV-2. Blood samples (N = 94) were subjected to a modified fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test to determine antibody titer. From 0.05% to 3.8% (95% confidence interval) of Daubenton's bats were seropositive. Antibodies to EBLV-2 were not detected in the 2 other species tested. Mouth swabs (N = 218) were obtained, and RNA was extracted for a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The RT-PCR included pan lyssavirus-primers (N gene) and internal PCR control primers for ribosomal RNA. EBLV-2 RNA was not detected in any of the saliva samples tested, and live virus was not detected in virus isolation tests.
Brookes
Sharon M
SM
World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the Characterisation of Rabies and Rabies-Related Viruses, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Aegerter
James N
JN
Smith
Graham C
GC
Healy
Derek M
DM
Jolliffe
Tracey A
TA
Swift
Susan M
SM
Mackie
Iain J
IJ
Pritchard
J Stewart
JS
Racey
Paul A
PA
Moore
Niall P
NP
Fooks
Anthony R
AR
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D018114:Lyssavirus / Q000276:immunology; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral