The common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, feeds mainly on the blood of mammals and plays a significant role in the life cycle of rabies; this species wreaks havoc on livestock and can affect other domestic animals, including humans. Owing to its role in transmitting rabies, D. rotundus has been the focus of studies elucidating the epidemiology of the rabies virus. This study aimed to examine the distribution of the rabies virus and understand its immunological dynamics in D. rotundus. One hundred and thirty-four samples were collected from the municipalities of Potiretama, Tauá, and Granja, where cases of rabies in herbivores were confirmed. Only one of the bats diagnosed by Direct Immunofluorescence and Mouse Inoculation tests tested positive by RT-PCR. It seems that D. rotundus can limit immune responses, thereby preventing rabies immunopathology.
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