Lexi Webster
Australia is currently rabies-free, but bats in the country carry other viruses in the lyssavirus family, including Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), which is closely related to rabies. ABLV is a zoonotic disease that can cause fatal neurological disease in humans and other animals. While human cases are extremely rare, bat exposures in Australia pose a potential risk of infectious exposure. Therefore, it is recommended that people avoid all contact with bats in Australia and treat all bats as if they could be carrying ABLV.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rabies in Australia | Australia is currently rabies-free |
| Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) | ABLV is a viral disease similar to rabies and is endemic to Australia |
| ABLV carriers | ABLV is carried by several species of bats in Australia, including larger fruit bats (flying foxes) and smaller insectivorous (micro) bats |
| ABLV cases in Australia | Three human cases of ABLV infection have been reported in Australia as of 2013, with three deaths reported as of 2020 |
| ABLV prevention | It is recommended to avoid handling bats unless vaccinated against rabies and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) |
| ABLV treatment | There is no treatment for ABLV once symptoms have developed, but post-exposure vaccines are available |
| ABLV reporting | ABLV is a notifiable disease in Australia, and cases must be reported to the Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) |
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What You'll Learn
- Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a rabies-like virus carried by some Australian bats
- ABLV can cause fatal neurological disease in rare cases
- Travellers to Australia must avoid contact with bats
- The rabies vaccine is believed to provide cross-protection against ABLV
- The risk of rabies from bats in Australia is low, but all bats should be treated as if they carry ABLV
Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a rabies-like virus carried by some Australian bats
The virus is transmitted to humans from infected bats. It is estimated that less than 1% of healthy bats carry the virus, although the prevalence is higher in sick or dead bats. The known species of bat reservoirs include the Black Flying Fox, the Grey-headed Flying Fox, the Spectacled Flying Fox, the Little Red Flying Fox, and the Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat. These species are distributed throughout Australia.
ABLV causes a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can be fatal. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, sensory changes, and difficulty swallowing. As the disease progresses, symptoms include paralysis, delirium, convulsions, and death. There is currently no effective treatment for ABLV infection, and it is almost always fatal.
To prevent ABLV infection, people should avoid handling bats unless they have been vaccinated against rabies, are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and are trained in bat handling. If exposed to a potentially infected bat, it is important to wash the wound and seek medical care immediately. Vaccination is recommended for individuals with an increased risk of bat exposure, such as veterinarians, nurses, and wildlife carers.
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ABLV can cause fatal neurological disease in rare cases
Australia is currently rabies-free, but bats in the country carry other viruses in the lyssavirus family, including Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV). ABLV is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) and can cause serious and usually fatal disease in humans, livestock, horses, and pets. It was first identified in a 5-month-old juvenile black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) in northern New South Wales, Australia, in January 1995. ABLV shares many structural characteristics with other lyssaviruses, such as rabies, but is genetically and serologically distinct.
ABLV is a rare disease, and research suggests that less than 1% of wild bats carry the virus. It is more likely to be found in injured or sick bats, displaying unusual or aggressive behaviour, or other neurological signs such as paralysis or seizures. However, even bats that appear healthy may carry the virus, so it is recommended to treat all bats as if they could be carrying ABLV. Australia is currently rabies-free, but bats in the country carry other viruses in the lyssavirus family, including Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), which is closely related to the rabies virus. ABLV is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) and can cause serious and usually fatal disease in humans, livestock, horses, and pets.
ABLV was first identified in 1995 during a national surveillance program for the Hendra virus in a 5-month-old juvenile black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) in northern New South Wales, Australia. It was later identified in an encephalitic black flying fox in Queensland, Australia, in 1996, the same year the virus resulted in the first of three human deaths in Australia. The other two fatalities occurred in 1998 and 2013.
ABLV has been categorized into Phylogroup I of the Lyssaviruses. It shares many structural characteristics with other Lyssaviruses, despite being genetically and serologically distinct. It is a bullet-shaped, enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with a relatively small (-)ssRNA genome of 12kb that encodes five viral proteins. Bats, both flying foxes and insectivorous bats, are the only known host reservoir for ABLV. The known species of bat reservoirs include the Black Flying Fox (Pteropus alecto), the Grey-headed Flying Fox (P. poliocephalus), the Spectacled Flying Fox (P. conspicillatus), and the Little Red Flying Fox.
ABLV is more likely to be found in injured or sick bats, with signs of illness including unusual or aggressive behaviour, paralysis, or seizures. However, bats that appear healthy may also carry the virus, and it is recommended to treat all bats as potential carriers. The incubation period for ABLV is uncertain but is assumed to be similar to rabies, ranging from several weeks to years. Initial symptoms of ABLV infection include fever, headache, fatigue, malaise, paraesthesia (sensory changes), and difficulty swallowing.
There is currently no effective treatment for ABLV once symptoms have begun, and all three human cases resulted in fatality despite intervention methods. However, the rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin are believed to provide prophylactic and therapeutic protection from ABLV infection, and it is highly recommended to receive the RABV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) protocol immediately after potential exposure. The PEP protocol involves thoroughly cleaning the wound and surrounding tissue, administering the rabies vaccine, and administering rabies immunoglobulin (RIG).
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Travellers to Australia must avoid contact with bats
Australia is currently rabies-free, but bats in the country carry other viruses in the lyssavirus family, including Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV). This virus is closely related to rabies and is transmitted from bats to humans. ABLV is endemic to Australia and is carried by several bat species. Although human cases are extremely rare, bat exposure poses a potential risk of infection.
Travellers to Australia must be cautious and avoid contact with bats to prevent the transmission of ABLV. Bats must only be handled by appropriately trained and vaccinated individuals. If you come across a dead, sick, or injured bat, do not touch it and contact local authorities to arrange for its removal. Bat handlers, regardless of their vaccination status, must seek immediate medical attention if they experience any form of contact with bats, including bites or scratches.
It is crucial to educate children about the health risks associated with bats, as they are more likely to come into contact with them. Children should be instructed not to touch any bats, whether living, injured, or dead, and to immediately notify an adult if they are bitten or scratched.
In addition to avoiding contact with bats, travellers to Australia should be aware of other health risks and take necessary precautions. These include the risk of dengue fever, transmitted by mosquito bites, and the presence of dangerous coastal waters with strong riptides and potentially harmful wildlife. Bush and forest fires are also common during certain months, so staying informed about potential risks is essential.
Furthermore, travellers should ensure that their vaccinations are up to date and consider any additional vaccines recommended for travel to Australia, such as hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, and tetanus. Practising good hygiene and avoiding contact with stray animals can also reduce the risk of contracting other diseases. By taking these precautions, travellers can help protect themselves from potential health hazards and enjoy a safer journey during their stay in Australia.
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The rabies vaccine is believed to provide cross-protection against ABLV
Australia is currently rabies-free, but Australian bats carry other viruses in the lyssavirus family, including Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), which is closely related to rabies. ABLV is endemic to Australia and is carried by several bat species. Since rabies and ABLV are closely related viruses, the rabies vaccine is believed to provide cross-protection against ABLV.
Human rabies vaccines have been shown to induce partial protection against bat lyssaviruses. Studies have demonstrated that rabies vaccines for human use (mainly HDCV and PVRV) were capable of providing partial to complete protection against bat lyssaviruses such as Duvenhage, EBLV-1, EBLV-2, ABLV, or BBLV. The level of protection varies depending on the challenge route, ranging from 20% to 100%.
In one study, the widely used rabies inactivated veterinary vaccine Rabisin was investigated for its ability to cross-protect mice experimentally infected with three different bat lyssaviruses: European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1b), European bat lyssavirus 2 (EBLV-2), and Bokeloh bat lyssavirus (BBLV). The results showed that Rabisin was capable of significantly cross-protecting the mice inoculated with EBLV-1b and EBLV-2 intracerebrally and with BBLV intramuscularly. The vaccine induced a high level of rabies-neutralizing antibodies against the bat lyssaviruses.
The rabies vaccine is recommended for veterinarians, nurses, and wildlife carers who regularly handle bats or flying foxes as they are at risk of ABLV infection. Pre-exposure vaccination with the rabies vaccine is advised for these individuals. Regular rabies titre checks (blood tests) are also recommended to determine if a booster vaccine is required. The general public and non-vaccinated individuals are discouraged from handling bats.
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The risk of rabies from bats in Australia is low, but all bats should be treated as if they carry ABLV
Australia is currently rabies-free, with public health measures in place to prevent the introduction of the rabies virus to the Australian ecology. However, all four species of Megachiroptera (fruit bats and flying foxes) and at least seven species of Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats) are known to carry the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), which is closely related to the rabies virus. ABLV is thought to be widely distributed across Australia, and while human cases are extremely rare, bat exposures pose a potential risk of infectious exposure.
ABLV is spread from infected bats to people through bites or scratches, or from contact with saliva or neural tissue through broken skin or mucous membranes. The risk of infection is presumably related to the size of the inoculum, severity of the bite, nerve density in the area of the bite, and proximity of the bite to the central nervous system. There is no effective treatment for ABLV once symptoms have appeared, and it is almost always fatal.
While the risk of contracting ABLV from bats in Australia is low, it is important to treat all bats as if they carry the virus. Living, playing, or walking near bat roosting areas does not pose a risk of contracting ABLV, but people who handle bats in Australia are at risk of infection. If you are scratched or bitten by a bat, you should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you have been vaccinated against rabies, you should still see a doctor, as you may need treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and the rabies vaccine.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is currently rabies-free. However, Australian bats carry other viruses in the lyssavirus family, including Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), which is closely related to rabies.
The risk of contracting ABLV from bats in Australia is low. It is estimated that less than 1% of wild bats carry the virus. Additionally, public health measures are in place to prevent the introduction of the rabies virus to the Australian ecology. These measures include recommending rabies vaccinations for anyone who handles bats in Australia, such as wildlife officers, vets, and laboratory personnel.
If you are bitten or scratched by a bat in Australia, immediately wash the wounds thoroughly with soap and water for at least five minutes and promptly seek medical advice. Proper cleansing of the wound is the most effective way to reduce the transmission of the virus. Exposed mucous membranes such as eyes, nose, or mouth should be flushed well with water.
