Experimental infection of the bat tick Carios fonsecai (Acari: Ixodidae) with the rabies virus.
BACKGROUND
This study assessed the viability of the rabies virus in the argasid tick Carios fonsecai following experimental infection.


METHODS
The mouse inoculation test (MIT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used. The rabies virus was administered to ticks via the intra-coelomic route, and the ticks were sacrificed at different time points.


RESULTS
The inoculated ticks were negative for rabies according to the MIT. Ticks macerated with rabies virus were positive according to the MIT and FAT. All of the tick lots tested by PCR were positive. CONCLUSIONS The rabies virus became unviable shortly after its inoculation into tick bodies. Ticks are not likely to play an important role in the epidemiology of rabies.
Instituto Pasteur de São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Silvana Regina
SR
Favoretto
Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Marilene Fernandes
MF
de Almeida
Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Luzia Fátima Alves
LF
Martorelli
Secretaria Municipal da Saúde, Supervisão de Vigilância em Saúde, São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Caroline Cotrin
CC
Aires
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Marcelo Bahia
MB
Labruna
Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Ana Paula Arruda Geraldes
AP
Kataoka
Núcleo de Pesquisas em Raiva, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Angélica Cristine de Almeida
AC
Campos
Genomic Engenharia Molecular Ltda, São PauloSP.
Débora Regina Veiga
DR
Sacramento
Núcleo de Pesquisas em Raiva, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São PauloSP.
Edison Luiz
EL
Durigon
Department of Cancer Biology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, PA, USA.
Hilary
H
Koprowski
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012367:RNA, Viral