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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
07:55
Standard Operating Procedure for Lyssavirus Surveillance of the Bat Population in Taiwan
Published on: August 27, 2019
[Viruses and bats: rabies and Lyssavirus]
1Institut Pasteur de Paris, France.
Bulletin Et Memoires De L'Academie Royale De Medecine De Belgique
|September 2, 2009
Summary
Bats can transmit infectious diseases like rabies to humans, though carnivores like dogs pose a greater public health risk. Research is ongoing to understand bat Lyssavirus and develop human therapies.
Area of Science:
- Zoonotic diseases
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Bats are recognized as potential reservoirs for emerging zoonotic diseases, including several hemorrhagic fevers and encephalitis viruses.
- Lyssavirus, the virus responsible for rabies encephalitis, has a significant evolutionary history in bats, with seven of eight genotypes originating from chiropterans.
- While bat-borne Lyssavirus poses a risk, carnivores, particularly domestic dogs, remain the primary source of human rabies deaths globally.
Purpose:
- To explore the role of bats as vectors for zoonotic disease transmission.
- To compare the interactions of humans and bats with Lyssavirus.
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of Lyssavirus pathogenicity in humans for potential therapeutic target identification.
Summary:
- Emerging zoonotic diseases highlight bats' potential as disease vectors, notably for Lyssavirus, the cause of rabies.
- While effective rabies control exists for carnivores, managing bat Lyssavirus is challenging due to ongoing debates about its pathogenicity in bats.
- Understanding the molecular basis of Lyssavirus pathogenicity in humans is crucial for developing antiviral therapies.
Impact:
- Informs public health strategies for zoonotic disease control, emphasizing the distinct roles of bats and carnivores.
- Contributes to the understanding of viral evolution and host-pathogen interactions.
- Provides a foundation for developing novel antiviral therapies targeting Lyssavirus in humans.
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