Raiva em morcegos insetívoros e raposas no Semiárido da Paraíba.

Abstract

Rabies is a viral zoonosis of great importance to public health, usually transmitted by infected domestic and wild animals . This dissertation consists of two original papers. The first one was submitted to the Journal of Wildlife diseases, which reports 5 cases of rabies in insectivorous bats Molossu smolossus in Animal Pathology Laboratory (APL) of the Federal University of Campina Grande , Patos , Paraíba . All bats were found in different regions of the city of Patos, during the day prostrate and unable to fly, then euthanized and necropsied for histopathological analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of the central nervous system (CNS). No macro or microscopically lesions were observed, but there was strong positive labeling for anti-rabies monoclonal antibodies by IHC. Three out of 5 cases were referred to performing direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT) also positive for rabies. Bats M. molossus may be infected with the rabies virus and develop the disease, even without lesions in the CNS and may be a source of infection to humans and domestic animals in the region. The second paper, submitted to publication in Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, reports two cases of rabies in foxes Cerdocyon thous in the semiarid of Paraíba state, characterizing the histopathological aspects of the disease. The foxes were found with neurological signs, euthanized and sent to the LPA for necropsy. Histologically, in the CNS was an acute non-suppurative menigoencephalomyelitis, diffuse, with inflammatory infiltrate composed primarily by lymphocytes and plasma cells, forming mononuclear perivascular cuffs associated with mild gliosis and inclusion bodies in neurons from various regions of the CNS. Similar Inflammation was also observed in peripheral ganglia, adrenal glands and salivary glands. The diagnosis of rabies was confirmed byIHC, FAT and MIT. The diagnosis of rabies in foxes can be accomplished by microscopic characteristic lesions observed in the CNS, supported by evaluation of peripheral nerve ganglia, salivary glands and adrenals that may also have similar lesions. Insectivorous bats and foxes are reservoirs of rabies virus and can transmit the disease to other animals and to humans in the semiarid region of Paraíba.