title: [The bats and rabies in the Western region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Polo da Alta Sorocabana Laboratory in Presidente Prudente, SP, in partnership with other research institutions, conducted studies related to bats from the western region of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Thus, certain situations were investigated, including: a) isolation of the rabies virus from 2006 to 2008; b) identification of respective antigenic variants; and c) characterization of daytime shelters of Desmodus rotundus vampire bats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples for examination originated from nonhematophagous bats forwarded to the laboratory and subjected to direct fluorescent antibody test and mouse inoculation test. Positive samples were characterized by the monoclonal antibody test. Regarding the bats, they were identified and classified and mapping of their shelters was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The laboratory received 1,113 nonhematophagous bats for rabies diagnosis, 11 (1%) of which were positives, and among the positive samples, 5 (45.5%) presented antigenic variant 3 (from the bat Desmodus rotundus) and 4 (36.5%) were compatible with samples derived from Brazilian insectivorous bats. Sixteen vampire bat shelters were investigated and observation confirmed the presence of another 3 species of nonhematophagous bats coexisting with them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experiments showed that at least 3 antigenic variants of rabies virus are circulating in the region and that the cohabitation of vampire bats with nonhematophagous bats could be related to the dissemination of the rabies virus.
authors.affiliation: Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brasil. avealbas@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Avelino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albas
authors.forename: Edson Aroldo Novaes de
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Miléia Ricci
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Picolo
authors.forename: Silvana Regina
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Favoretto
authors.forename: Adriana Ruckert
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: da Gama
authors.forename: Miriam Martos
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sodré
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001938:Brazil; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D051379:Mice; D011818:Rabies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral