Isolamento do vírus da raiva em Artibeus fimbriatus no Estado de São Paulo / Isolation of rabies virus in Artibeus fimbriatus bat in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Descrevem-se, pela primeira vez, o isolamento e a identificação do vírus da raiva em morcego frugívoro Artibeus fimbriatus no município de São José do Rio Preto, Estado de São Paulo. O vírus foi isolado de exemplar encontrado em área urbana, caído sob uma árvore e ainda vivo. O diagnóstico foi realizado pelas técnicas de imunofluorescência direta e inoculação intracerebral em camundongos.

Rabies laboratory diagnosis: peculiar features of samples from equine origin

Rabies laboratory diagnosis is performed by using microscopic examination for Negri bodies (MEN), fluorescent-antibody test (FAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT). In the majority of cases, when specimens are properly collected and conserved and the laboratory worker has good experience, agreement among employed techniques is verified. Comparing the sensitivity of these three diagnosis techniques in 3,713 samples (hippocampus and brain stem) received during 1981-1994 period, being 3,010 from bovine (983 positives) and 703 from equine (111 positives) species, it was observed that in equine rabid samples, this agreement was not mantained. For the latter specie, only in few opportunities the Negri bodies could be observed. With respect to FAT, the test detected a lower porcentage of positive equine samples compared to bovie species. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the difference was significative. Mouse inoculation test proved to be more sensitive. However, a significant difference in mice incubation period was observed for samples from both species. The absence of inclusion bodies and the longer incubation period for equine samples suggest that rabies pathogenesis studies for equine species have to be intensified.

Isolamento do vírus rábico em Molossus ater (Chiroptera: Molossidae) no Estado de Säo Paulo / Rabies in insectivorous bat - Molossus ater in S. Paulo State, Brazil

Descreve-se o isolamento e a identificaçäo do vírus rábico em morcegos insetívoros Molossus ater, no Estado de Säo Paulo, nos municípios de Araçatuba, Penápolis e Säo José do Rio Preto. A maioria dos exemplares foi capturada ainda com vida, näo havendo, porém, contato com pessoas ou animais. O diagnóstico foi realizado pelas provas de imunofluorescência direta e inoculaçäo intracerebral em camundongos