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Volume 16, Number 8—August 2010
Dispatch

Bat Rabies in Massachusetts, USA, 1985–2009

Xingtai WangComments to Author , Alfred DeMaria, Sandra Smole, Catherine M. Brown, and Linda Han
Author affiliations: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Main Article

Table 2

Characteristics of bats submitted for rabies testing, Massachusetts, USA, 1985–2009*

Characteristic
No. rabid/no. tested (%)
1985–1991
1992–1998
1999–2009
Total no. bats 50/720 (6.9) 135/2,113 (6.4) 311/7,424 (4.2)
Bat species
Big brown (Eptesicus fuscus) 47/581 (8.1) 126/1,898 (6.6) 270/6,371 (4.2)
Hoary (Lasiurus cinereus) 0/5 4/12 (33.3) NS
Little brown (Myotis lucifugus) 1/50 (2.0) 2/83 (2.4) 36/941(3.8)
Keen long-eared (M. keenii) 2/9 (22.2) 1/54 (1.9) 0/31
Red (L. blossevillii) 0/8 2/20 (10.0) 2/20 (10.0)
Seychelles fruit (Pteropus seychellensis) NS 0/1 NS
Silver-haired (Lasionycteris noctivagans) NS 0/4 1/13 (7.7)
Unidentified
0/67
0/41
2/48 (4.2)
Reasons for bat test
Human and pet exposure 0/5 16/250 (6.4) 40/1,004 (4.0)
Human exposure 17/160 (10.6) 35/635 (5.5) 164/4,339 (3.8)
Pet exposure 21/362 (5.8) 50/918 (5.5) 67/1,295 (5.2)
Sick and other reasons
12/193 (6.2)
34/310 (11.0)
40/786 (5.1)
Signs
Aggression
Unobserved NC 118/2,033 (5.8) 291/7,229 (4.0)
Yes NC 17/80 (21.3) 20/196 (10.3)
Ataxia
Unobserved NC 128/2,087 (6.1) 307/7,392 (4.2)
Yes NC 7/26 (26.9) 4/32 (12.5)
Death
Unobserved NC 114/1,765 (6.5) 284/6,566 (4.3)
Yes NC 21/348 (6.0) 27/858 (3.2)
Disorientation
Unobserved NC 113/1,985 (5.7) 278/7,038 (4.0)
Yes NC 22/128 (17.2) 33/386 (8.6)
Lethargy
Unobserved NC 119/2,034 (5.9) 275/7,145 (3.9)
Yes NC 16/79 (20.3) 36/279 (12.9)
Paralysis
Unobserved NC 135/2,105 (6.4) 304/7,394 (4.1)
Yes NC 0/8 7/30 (23.7)
Salivation
Unobserved NC 135/2,111 (6.4) 309/7,409 (4.2)
Yes NC 0/2 2/15 (13.3)
Seizures
Unobserved NC 135/2,107 (6.4) 309/7,416 (4.2)
Yes NC 0/6 2/8 (25.0)

*NS, no specimen; unobserved, none or unknown; NC, not collected.

Main Article

Page created: March 30, 2011
Page updated: March 30, 2011
Page reviewed: March 30, 2011
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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