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. 2012 Aug;87(2):206-215.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0689.

Evidence of rabies virus exposure among humans in the Peruvian Amazon

Amy T Gilbert, Brett W Petersen, Sergio Recuenco, Michael Niezgoda, Jorge Gómez, V Alberto Laguna-Torres, Charles Rupprecht

Evidence of rabies virus exposure among humans in the Peruvian Amazon

Amy T Gilbert et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Aug.

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.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of the study location with the triangles indicating the communities surveyed and the circles with stars indicating the locations of previous human rabies outbreaks associated with to vampire bats.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Resistance to rabies.
    Willoughby RE. Willoughby RE. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Aug;87(2):205. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0304. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012. PMID: 22855748 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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