South Dakota Bat Working Group
Last updated June 6, 2008

Bat Rabies in South Dakota

Rabies (aka Hydrophobia) is a fatal, viral disease that affects the central nervous system. Rabies may be transmitted to pets, livestock, or humans by infectious blood or saliva, usually through a bite. Without prompt medical attention rabies is fatal. Human cases and domestic animal rabies can be prevented (or greatly reduced) through education and keeping pets current on their vaccinations. In 2007, 99 bats were tested for rabies in South Dakota and only 4% of these were rabid. In the past decade (1998-2007) 2,112 bats were tested and only 3% were rabid.

Skunks: The skunk is the primary disease reservoir in South Dakota. During the 12-year period 1990-2001, 68% of all skunks tested in SD were shown to be rabid; 69% of ALL rabid animals in SD were skunks. During this same time period 50 rabid bats were found in South Dakota. Though this number seems high, remember that 1390 other rabid animals were reported in SD, including 997 skunks 181 cattle, 79 dogs, 70 cats, 38 horses, in addition to 25-odd sheep, foxes, badgers, bison, pigs, raccoons, opossums and a shrew. From a public health standpoint, all rabid animals pose an extreme risk. However, there is absolutely no basis in fact for the common misconception by the public that bats are the major carrier of rabies in South Dakota, in fact, they do not make it into the top three on the list since 1990!

2007 REPORT: RABIES SURVEILLANCE
Supplied by L. Kightlinger, SD-DOH

NASBR: RESOLUTION REGARDING RABIES
Supplied by S. Pedersen, SDSU

• The CDC bat rabies website

What to do if there has been bat-human contact...."If a bat is present in your home and you cannot rule out the possibility of exposure (bite, deep scratch), leave the bat alone and contact an animal-control or public health agency for assistance. If professional help is unavailable, use the following precautions to capture the bat safely. [You will need: leather work gloves (put them on), small box or coffee can, piece of cardboard, tape.] When the bat lands, approach the bat slowly, while wearing the gloves, and place the box or coffee can over the top of the bat. Slide the sheet of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container securely, and punch small holes in the cardboard, which allows the bat to breathe. Contact your health department or animal-control authority to make arrangements for rabies testing. "

No bat-human contact? - If you see a bat in your home and you are sure no human or pet exposure has occurred, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors leading inot the rest of the house, but open any windows to the outside so that the bat has a way to escape. After the bat has calmed down and regained it's energy, it will be quite happy to fly out of your house as quickly as possible. If the animal is very tired or pregnant, you may have to catch the animal as described above, and then release it outdoors away from people, small children, and pets.

• SD-DOH Rabies Fact Sheet
• Rabies Surveillance in SD 2007 (pdf-file)
• Submit a rabies specimen to the SD Health Lab for testing

IF AN ANIMAL IS TO BE TESTED, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE.

• Notify the South Dakota Public Health Laboratory (SDPHL) of all shipments
• Call: 1-800-592-1861/605-773-3368 during regular business hours, 605-280-4810 after hours, weekends, holidays.
• Submit the completed SDPHL submission form (see link above)
• Be careful not to damage the head of the animal by gunshot or crushing.
• Wrap the head/body carefully in an insulated container cooled with ice. DO NOT FREEZE!

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES & TELEPHONE NUMBERS

• Lon Kightlinger, MSPH, Ph.D. State Epidemiologist
  South Dakota Department of Health
  615 East 4th Street, Pierre, South Dakota 57501
  Phone: 605-773-3737 or 1-800-592-1861
  Fax: 605-773-5509 lon.kightlinger@state.sd.us
  
  
• DOH Office of Disease Prevention (Rabies consultations):
  Phone: 605-773-3737; 1-800-592-1861; after hours 605-280-4810
  
  
• DOH Public Health Laboratory: 615 East Fourth Street, Pierre, SD 57501
  1-800-592-1861 or 605-773-3368; after hours 605-280-4810
  
  
• SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory: ADRDL
  Dept of Veterinary Science, Box 2175, North Campus Dr., South Dakota State
  University, Brookings, SD 57007-1396. Phone: 605-688-5171
  

South Dakota Rabies 2001

SPECIES	POSITIVE	TESTED	% POSITIVE
Skunk	34	69	49%
Cattle	7	105	7%
Horse	1	24	4%
Bat	11	406	3%
Cat	4	286	1%
Dog	1	195	1%
Racoon	0	44	0
Other*	0	53	0
Totals	58	1182	5%

Other*: Bison 1, Coyote 3, Deer 6, Donkey 1, Elk 1, Ferret 3,
Fox 3, Gopher 3, Hamster 1, Mink 3, Mouse 2, Muskrat 5,
Opossum 4, Pig 2, Sheep 6, Squirrel 7, Woodchuck 2.

Which SD bats had Rabies in 2000/2001?

In 2001, 833 bats had been submitted to the South Dakota Department of Health (entire State) for rabies testing in 2000 (pers. comm. Lon Kightlinger, SD-DOH, Pierre). Of these, only 11 tested positive for the Rabies virus (2.5%) - these were Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). 2.5% is certainly a low value by CDC standards, but nevertheless significantly greater than the incidence of rabies in wild-caught animals (<0.5%). On October 15th, Scott Pedersen (SDSU) had received 251 rabies negative carcasses from the Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic laboratory (ADRDL, SDSU) for species identification. Of the 251 ADRDL specimens, 243 were Big Brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) collected from Sioux Falls, 3 were Hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus), 4 were Red bats (Lasiurus borealis), and a single mutilated/unidentifiable species of Myotis was also present in the sample. Using these carcasses, Pedersen began the process of identifying reproductive patterns in Big Brown bats in eastern South Dakota by documenting several life-history events based upon the DOH 2000 voucher specimens from Sioux Falls (see above figure). Several important landmarks should be noted: (1) Lactating females first appeared on June 19th and were collected through July 14th; (2) Neonates and juveniles were first noted on June 23rd; (3) Scrotal males made their first appearance on August 8th and were submitted for testing through September. These dates reflect the day the animals were actually turned in for testing, as such, they lag behind the actual date of appearance by a week or more.

The current vaccine is an inactivated-virus vaccine and comes in injectable form. Rabies shots have had a notorius reputation in the past including several nasty shots in the stomach. This is no longer the case. Post-exposure shots are a series of 5 small shots in the shoulder muscles. For pre-exposure protection (scientists and bat-biologists) a prophylactic series of shots consists of 3 injections.

POST-EXPOSURE TREATMENT:
- Clean wound with soap, water and a virucidal agent such as povidone-iodine solution.
- Seek prompt, professional medical treatment!!!
- Immunize for tetanus as indicated.
- Control the bacterial infection as indicated.
- Immunize for rabies if indicated.

Report all dead links/images to Scott_Pedersen@SDSTATE.edu