Otros
Defining New Pathways to Manage the Ongoing Emergence of Bat Rabies in Latin America
Fecha
2020-09-01Registro en:
Viruses-basel. Basel: Mdpi, v. 12, n. 9, 13 p., 2020.
10.3390/v12091002
WOS:000581211600001
Autor
Univ Andres Bello
Univ Glasgow
Assoc Conservat & Dev Nat Resources ILLARIY
Univ Autonoma Barcelona
Univ Nacl Mayor San Marcos
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico
Univ Juarez Autonoma Tabasco
Ctr Dis Control & Prevent
Ctr Controle Zoonoses Prefeitura Municipio Sao Pa
Inst Fed Educ Ciencias & Tecnol
WHO PANAFTOSA PAHO WHO
OIE World Org Anim Hlth
Programa Conservac Murcielagos Peru
Gobierno Reg Apurimac
Institución
Resumen
Rabies transmitted by common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) has been known since the early 1900s but continues to expand geographically and in the range of species and environments affected. In this review, we present current knowledge of the epidemiology and management of rabies in D. rotundus and argue that it can be reasonably considered an emerging public health threat. We identify knowledge gaps related to the landscape determinants of the bat reservoir, reduction in bites on humans and livestock, and social barriers to prevention. We discuss how new technologies including autonomously-spreading vaccines and reproductive suppressants targeting bats might manage both rabies and undesirable growth of D. rotundus populations. Finally, we highlight widespread under-reporting of human and animal mortality and the scarcity of studies that quantify the efficacy of control measures such as bat culling. Collaborations between researchers and managers will be crucial to implement the next generation of rabies management in Latin America.