Examinando por Autor "Velasco-Villa, Andres"

Mostrando 1 - 2 de 2
  • Miniatura
    Ítem
    Abortive vampire bat rabies infections in peruvian peridomestic livestock
    (Public Library of Science, 2020-06) A. Benavides, Julio; Velasco-Villa, Andres; C. Godino, Lauren; Subbian Satheshkumar, Panayampalli; Nino, Ruby; Paniagua, Elizabeth Rojas; Shiva, Carlos; Falcon, Nestor; G. Streicker, Daniel
    Rabies virus infections normally cause universally lethal encephalitis across mammals. However, ‘abortive infections’ which are resolved prior to the onset of lethal disease have been described in bats and a variety of non-reservoir species. Here, we surveyed rabies virus neutralizing antibody titers in 332 unvaccinated livestock of 5 species from a vampire bat rabies endemic region of southern Peru where livestock are the main food source for bats. We detected rabies virus neutralizing antibody titers in 11, 5 and 3.6% of cows, goats and sheep respectively and seropositive animals did not die from rabies within two years after sampling. Seroprevalence was correlated with the number of local livestock rabies mortalities reported one year prior but also one year after sample collection. This suggests that serological status of livestock can indicate the past and future levels of rabies risk to non-reservoir hosts. To our knowledge, this is the first report of anti-rabies antibodies among goats and sheep, suggesting widespread abortive infections among livestock in vampire bat rabies endemic areas. Future research should resolve the within-host biology underlying clearance of rabies infections. Cost-effectiveness analyses are also needed to evaluate whether serological monitoring of livestock can be a viable complement to current monitoring of vampire bat rabies risk based on animal mortalities alone. © 2020, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved.
  • Miniatura
    Ítem
    Defining New Pathways to Manage the Ongoing Emergence of Bat Rabies in Latin America
    (MDPI AG, 2020-09) Benavides, Julio A.; Valderrama, William; Recuenco, Sergio; Uieda, Wilson; Suzán, Gerardo; Avila-Flores, Rafael; Velasco-Villa, Andres; Almeida, Marilene; de Andrade, Fernanda A.G.; Molina-Flores, Baldomero; Marco Antonio Natal; Pompei, Julio Cesar Augusto
    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. © 2020 by the authors.