Experimental infection of the bat tick Carios fonsecai (Acari: Ixodidae) with the rabies virus

Introduction This study assessed the viability of the rabies virus in the argasid tick Carios fonsecai following experimental infection. Methods The mouse inoculation test (MIT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used. The rabies virus was administered to ticks...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Main Authors: Silvana Regina Favoretto, Marilene Fernandes de Almeida, Luzia Fatima Alves Martorelli, Caroline Cotrin Aires, Marcelo Bahia Labruna, Ana Paula Arruda Geraldes Kataoka, Angelica Cristine de Almeida Campos, Debora Regina Veiga Sacramento, Edison Luiz Durigon, Hilary Koprowski
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2013
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-1673-2013
https://doaj.org/article/1c37f26ea34b4120b2c32e7fad9e51e4
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Summary:Introduction This study assessed the viability of the rabies virus in the argasid tick Carios fonsecai following experimental infection. Methods The mouse inoculation test (MIT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used. The rabies virus was administered to ticks via the intra-coelomic route, and the ticks were sacrificed at different time points. Results The inoculated ticks were negative for rabies according to the MIT. Ticks macerated with rabies virus were positive according to the MIT and FAT. All of the tick lots tested by PCR were positive. Conclusions The rabies virus became unviable shortly after its inoculation into tick bodies. Ticks are not likely to play an important role in the epidemiology of rabies.