Spatio-temporal study of diagnosis of rabies in vampire bats in Sergipe (Brazil), between 1987 and 2014

Abstract

Rabies is a zoonosis of great importance for human and animal health, being responsible for a progressive and acute encephalitis in humans and animals. Considering that the correct viral identification has serious implications for the prophylaxis and treatment, is important a diagnostic system specifically designed for monitoring the infection cases. The objective of the study was to describe the occurrence of rabies in hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus) analyzing many diagnoses performed in the state of Sergipe. The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of rabies in hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus) from an analysis of the diagnoses performed in the state of Sergipe. An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted with the evaluation of 935 rabies diagnoses in bats (D. rotundus) between 1987 and 2014. It was noticed that only one case was positive in the city of Aracaju in the year 2000 and no positive bat was identified with the rabies virus in the rural area. The results show the need to increase the monitoring of rabies in other species of non-hematophagous bats, and especially in other wild reservoirs. It is suggested that the monitoring of rabies take into account the specific ecosystem of each region, since Brazil has continental dimensions and a great biological diversity.