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Revista Cubana de Medicina Tropical
Print version ISSN 0375-0760
Abstract
LOPEZ SANTA CRUZ, Dámasa Irene; GONZALEZ ARREBATO, Jusayma and MORALES LESLIE, Martha. Rabies virus diagnosis in bats. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2013, vol.65, n.1, pp.119-124. ISSN 0375-0760.
Introduction: the bats are an important reservoir and vector of rabies virus in the world. The infection invariably leads to death, but can be prevented with vaccination. Objective: to detect rabies virus through direct immunofluorescence in bats. Method: the provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology of Havana received 651 bat brain samples from 2004 to 2009 to test for rabies virus, using the direct immunofluorescence method. Results: the presence of virus was confirmed in 5 bat brain samples. Positivity rate was 0.76 %. Conclusions: it was demonstrated that rabies virus circulates in Cuba in bats and that although the positivity rate is low, so the established precautions should be taken when behavioral changes are observed in this species.
Keywords : rabies; bats; Cuba; direct immunofluorescence.