[Experimental lyssavirus infection in chiropters]

Area of Science:

• * Virology
• * Bat immunology
• * Zoonotic diseases

Background:

• * Lyssaviruses are a significant public health concern, with bats being a primary reservoir.
• * Understanding Lyssavirus dynamics in bats is crucial for disease prevention.
• * Pipistrellus pipistrellus bats are common insectivorous species susceptible to Lyssavirus infection.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the impact of hibernation on Lyssavirus infection in Pipistrellus pipistrellus.
• * To determine how hibernation affects the incubation period and virus distribution in extraneural tissues.
• * To describe the clinical manifestations of diseases caused by different Lyssavirus strains in bats.

Main Methods:

• * Experimental inoculation of Pipistrellus pipistrellus bats with bat unclassified Lyssavirus Aravan and Lyssavirus serotypes 1 and 4.
• * Comparison of infection parameters between bats in active state and hibernation.
• * Clinical observation and virological analysis of extraneural tissues.

Main Results:

• * Hibernation significantly altered the duration of the incubation period for Lyssavirus infections.
• * The distribution of Lyssavirus in extraneural tissues varied depending on the bat's physiological state (active vs. hibernation).
• * Distinct clinical symptoms were observed for infections caused by different Lyssavirus strains.

Conclusions:

• * Hibernation is a critical factor influencing the pathogenesis of Lyssavirus in insectivorous bats.
• * The findings highlight the importance of considering bat hibernation cycles in epidemiological studies and disease control strategies.
• * Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying hibernation-mediated changes in Lyssavirus infection.