Abstract:
Globally, bats provide critical ecosystem services. Rabies, caused by rabies virus and related lyssaviruses, is one of the most
significant zoonoses associated with bats. Bat biologists study bats in the laboratory and the field. To minimize the risk of
disease, all bat handlers should be vaccinated against rabies and undergo routine serological testing to measure their rabies
virus neutralizing antibody levels. They should use best practices to avoid exposures, such as personal protective equipment,
especially gloves appropriate to the size of the bat(s) being handled. Attention to such details will prevent unnecessary exposures and avoid some of the accompanying negative perceptions that endanger bats on a global level. The small body sizes
of many bats (<50 g, many <20 g) and small teeth makes their defensive bites easy to overlook. Breaks in the skin, however
small, may result in exposure to lyssaviruses in the animals’ saliva. Exposure to blood-feeding bats is less common because
these species are geographically restricted to the Neotropics and are the only species whose natural feeding behavior could
involve transmission of rabies virus. Understanding viral transmission, preventing exposures, and responding appropriately
to bites will minimize the consequences of this deadly zoonosis.
