title: Evidence of rabies virus exposure among humans in the Peruvian Amazon.
abstract: In May of 2010, two communities (Truenococha and Santa Marta) reported to be at risk of vampire bat depredation were surveyed in the Province Datem del Marañón in the Loreto Department of Perú. Risk factors for bat exposure included age less than or equal to 25 years and owning animals that had been bitten by bats. Rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (rVNAs) were detected in 11% (7 of 63) of human sera tested. Rabies virus ribonucleoprotein (RNP) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were detected in the sera of three individuals, two of whom were also seropositive for rVNA. Rabies virus RNP IgM antibodies were detected in one respondent with no evidence of rVNA or RNP IgG antibodies. Because one respondent with positive rVNA results reported prior vaccination and 86% (six of seven) of rVNA-positive respondents reported being bitten by bats, these data suggest nonfatal exposure of persons to rabies virus, which is likely associated with vampire bat depredation.
authors.forename: Amy T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Brett W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Recuenco
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niezgoda
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: V Alberto
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Laguna-Torres
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011818:Rabies / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral