STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF RABIES IN INSECTIVOROUS BATS : II. INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Wildlife Disease Ecology

Background:

• Environmental temperature significantly impacts pathogen behavior.
• Rabies virus in Chiroptera (bats) presents unique transmission dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of environmental temperature and hibernation in rabies pathogenesis in bats.
• To compare the pathogenicity of a canine rabies virus strain and a bat-derived rabies virus strain.

Main Methods:

• Experimental inoculation of Mexican free-tailed bats and little brown bats with two rabies virus strains.
• Induction of hibernation and subsequent monitoring of viral load.
• Comparative analysis of disease presentation and tissue tropism in bats and mice.

Main Results:

• Rabies virus multiplication was minimal during experimentally induced hibernation.
• Viral load increased significantly when bats were awakened from hibernation.
• The bat rabies virus strain showed a greater affinity for brown adipose tissue and faster salivary gland invasion post-hibernation compared to the canine strain.

Conclusions:

• Hibernation acts as a latency period for rabies virus in bats, with viral reactivation upon arousal.
• Environmental temperature plays a critical role in the activation and potential transmission of bat rabies.
• Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for the natural history and control of bat rabies.