Lagos bat virus

• Lagos bat lyssavirus

Lagos bat virus (LBV) is a Lyssavirus of southern and central Africa that causes a rabies-like illness in mammals. It was first isolated from a fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) from Lagos Island, Nigeria in 1956. Brain samples from the bat showed poor cross-reactivity to rabies antibodies but the virus was found to be closely related to the rabies virus. This was the first discovery of a rabies-related virus. Until this time, rabies was thought to have a single causal agent.

Lagos bat virus has been isolated from wild and domestic mammals in southern Africa including bats, cats and one dog. One isolate was detected in France in 1999 when a fruit bat (Rousettus egypticus), which had been displaying signs of aggression, died. The bat had been imported from Africa.

Four cases of Australian bat lyssavirus (ALBV) have been documented in humans in various regions of Australia. There is no cure for lyssavirus, but it is closely enough related to rabies that all of the preventative measures for rabies, including vaccines and post-exposure treatment, are usually successful in preventing development of the disease. Post-exposure treatment involves immediate wound care, a series of four rabies vaccinations given over 14 days, and prompt administration of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) antibodies. It is rare for post-exposure treatment to fail.