scholarly journals Use of a Direct, Rapid Immunohistochemical Test for Diagnosis of Rabies Virus in Bats

2022 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Charles E. Rupprecht ◽  
Lolita I. Van Pelt ◽  
April D. Davis ◽  
Richard B. Chipman ◽  
David L. Bergman

Rabies, a zoonotic encephalitis due to transmission of a lyssavirus, such as rabies virus (RABV), has the highest case fatality of any infectious disease. A global program for the elimination of human rabies caused by dogs is proposed for realization by 2030. Sensitive, specific, and inexpensive diagnostic tests are necessary for enhanced surveillance to detect infection, inform public health and veterinary professionals during risk assessments of exposure, and support overall programmatic goals. Multiple laboratory techniques are used to confirm a suspect case of rabies. One method for the detection of lyssavirus antigens within the brain is the direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT), using light microscopy, and suitable for use under field conditions. Besides dogs, other major RABV reservoirs reside among mammalian mesocarnivores and bats. To date, use of the dRIT has been applied primarily for the diagnosis of RABV in suspect mesocarnivores. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the dRIT to the diagnosis of rabies in bats, compared to the gold-standard, the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT). Brains of 264 suspect bats, consisting of 21 species from Arizona and Texas, were used in the evaluation of the dRIT. The overall sensitivity of the dRIT was 100% (0.969–1.0, 95% CI) and the specificity was 94.6% (0.896–0.976, 95% CI), comparable to the DFAT. This preliminary study demonstrated the utility of the dRIT in the confirmation of RABV infection in bats. Future studies should include additional geographic, lyssavirus, and mammalian species representations for broader application during enhanced rabies surveillance, with incorporation of any potential adjustments to standard protocols, as needed.

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 3098-3099 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kasempimolporn ◽  
W. Saengseesom ◽  
B. Lumlertdacha ◽  
V. Sitprija

Dog bites are responsible for more than 90% of human rabies deaths in Asia. We developed a simple and inexpensive test based on latex agglutination (LA) for rabies virus antigen detection in dog saliva. Rabies virus antigen could be detected by agglutination on a glass slide using latex particles coated with gamma globulin. By evaluation of paired saliva-brain specimens from 238 dogs, the LA test using saliva was 99% specific and 95% sensitive compared to the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) on brain smears. The advantages of the LA test over the standard FAT are that it is comparatively simple and there is no need to kill the animal before examination.


2020 ◽  
Vol 280 ◽  
pp. 113879
Author(s):  
Gabriela Hidaka da Silva ◽  
Jaqueline Helena Santos da Silva ◽  
Keila Iamamoto ◽  
Tamires Santos de Arruda ◽  
Iana Suly Santos Katz ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
A.B. Tirmidhi ◽  
H.M. Kazeem ◽  
A. Jibril ◽  
B.M. Jahun ◽  
O. Orakpoghenor

Rabies as an ancient zoonosis constitutes a threat to public health by causing over 59,000 annual human mortalities worldwide. The aim of this study was to detect rabies virus in brain tissue of dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Taraba State, Nigeria. A total of 150 dogs comprising 136 adults and 14 puppies consisting of 82 males and 68 females was sampled from slaughter points in five Local Government Areas. Brain samples were collected from each dog in labeled sterile sample bottles and screened for rabies virus antigen using direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT). Results showed that 3 out of the 150 (2%) brain samples screened were positive for rabies virus; out of which 2 were from Unguwan Kasa (14.3%) and 1 was from Quarter Five (7.1%). This therefore suggests the presence of rabies virus in dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Taraba State, Nigeria and their role as reservoirs of the virus. Therefore, there is need for awareness education on safe handling of dog meat to minimize the risk for butchers/meat handlers. Keywords: Brain samples, dogs, Prevalence, Rabies, Taraba State


2018 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Appler ◽  
Scott Brunt ◽  
Jodie A. Jarvis ◽  
April D. Davis

Objectives: Each year, rabies virus infection results in the death of more than 50 000 persons worldwide. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 23 human rabies cases from May 1, 2008, through October 1, 2017. Although rabies testing in the United States is highly reliable, some specimens submitted to rabies laboratories do not have adequate tissues or may be substantially decomposed. In these instances, the specimen may be considered unsatisfactory for testing or produce indeterminate results using the gold standard direct fluorescent antibody test. The objective of this study was to evaluate the number of unsatisfactory samples or samples with indeterminate results that were positive for rabies virus after additional testing using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods: In 2016, we retested all unsatisfactory specimens or specimens with indeterminate results using real-time RT-PCR. We further typed any sample that was real-time RT-PCR positive to identify the infecting rabies virus variant. Results: Of 210 retested unsatisfactory specimens or specimens with indeterminate results, 9 (4.3%) were positive for rabies. In each case, the animal was infected with a homologous rabies virus variant. Conclusion: These results confirm the recommendation by CDC and state public health laboratories that indeterminate results should be considered positive and justify the prompt treatment of exposed persons through an animal that is suspected to have rabies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 053-056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vrushali Patwardhan ◽  
Preena Bhalla ◽  
Deepti Rawat ◽  
Vijay Kumar Garg ◽  
Kabir Sardana ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare laboratory tests that can simultaneously detect and type herpes simplex virus (HSV) directly from the genital ulcer specimens in clinically suspected cases of genital herpes. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted over 10 months and 44 adult male and female patients clinically suspected with genital herpes were recruited. Genital ulcer swab specimens were subjected to glycoprotein-G gene-based conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and commercially available direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test and the results were compared. Results: PCR for HSV was positive in 82% (36/44) cases. DFA was positive in 68.2% (30/44) cases. There was 100% agreement between HSV types detected by DFA and PCR. The strength of agreement between the results was better in primary genital herpes than recurrent cases. Conclusion: PCR was found to be better in the detection of HSV in recurrent genital herpes patients. It is a better modality, especially when genital herpes clinically presents with ulcerative or crusted lesions, and is also a cheaper alternative as compared to DFA.


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