%0 Journal Article
%T Insights into Australian Bat Lyssavirus in Insectivorous Bats of Western Australia
%A Bethany Jackson
%A Diana Prada
%A Mark O¡¯Dea
%A Michelle Baker
%A Victoria Boyd
%J -
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed4010046
%X Abstract Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a known causative agent of neurological disease in bats, humans and horses. It has been isolated from four species of pteropid bats and a single microbat species (Saccolaimus flaviventris). To date, ABLV surveillance has primarily been passive, with active surveillance concentrating on eastern and northern Australian bat populations. As a result, there is scant regional ABLV information for large areas of the country. To better inform the local public health risks associated with human-bat interactions, this study describes the lyssavirus prevalence in microbat communities in the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia. We used targeted real-time PCR assays to detect viral RNA shedding in 839 oral swabs representing 12 species of microbats, which were sampled over two consecutive summers spanning 2016¨C2018. Additionally, we tested 649 serum samples via Luminex£¿ assay for reactivity to lyssavirus antigens. Active lyssavirus infection was not detected in any of the samples. Lyssavirus antibodies were detected in 19 individuals across six species, with a crude prevalence of 2.9% (95% CI: 1.8¨C4.5%) over the two years. In addition, we present the first records of lyssavirus exposure in two Nyctophilus species, and Falsistrellus mackenziei. View Full-Tex
%K Australian bat lyssavirus
%K microbats
%K Western Australia
%K serology
%K Luminex
%K real-time PCR
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/4/1/46