Evidence of rabies virus exposure among humans in the Peruvian Amazon.

Bibliographic Collection: 
APE
Publication Type: Journal Article
Authors: Gilbert, Amy T; Petersen, Brett W; Recuenco, Sergio; Niezgoda, Michael; Gómez, Jorge; Laguna-Torres, V Alberto; Rupprecht, Charles
Year of Publication: 2012
Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg
Volume: 87
Issue: 2
Pagination: 206-15
Date Published: 2012 Aug
Publication Language: eng
ISSN: 1476-1645
Keywords: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Animals, Antibodies, Viral, Child, Child, Preschool, Chiroptera, Disease Outbreaks, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Peru, Rabies, Rabies virus, Rural Population, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Young Adult, Zoonoses
Abstract:

In May of 2010, two communities (Truenococha and Santa Marta) reported to be at risk of vampire bat depredation were surveyed in the Province Datem del Marañón in the Loreto Department of Perú. Risk factors for bat exposure included age less than or equal to 25 years and owning animals that had been bitten by bats. Rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (rVNAs) were detected in 11% (7 of 63) of human sera tested. Rabies virus ribonucleoprotein (RNP) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were detected in the sera of three individuals, two of whom were also seropositive for rVNA. Rabies virus RNP IgM antibodies were detected in one respondent with no evidence of rVNA or RNP IgG antibodies. Because one respondent with positive rVNA results reported prior vaccination and 86% (six of seven) of rVNA-positive respondents reported being bitten by bats, these data suggest nonfatal exposure of persons to rabies virus, which is likely associated with vampire bat depredation.

DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0689
Alternate Journal: Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.