First detection of the Lasiurini variant in an Aeorestes cinereus bat from Catamarca province in Argentina

LOMBARDO, M. A.; LA ROSA, I.; MADARIAGA, M. J.; DÍAZ PÉREZ, P. M.; BUTELER, F.; GALLEGOS, J.; CARABALLO, D. A.; CISTERNA, D. M.; BELTRÁN, F. J.

Congreso; XXXII Rabies in the Americas; 2021

Rabies in the Americas

In Argentina, circulating rabies virus variants in insectivorous bats correspond to Tadarida brasiliensis, Lasiurini, Eptesicus spp, Myotis spp e Histiotus spp. Chiropteran species from the Lasiurini tribe, genera Lasiurus spp, Aeorestes spp, and Dasypterus spp, are widely distributed along the country. Until 2020, rabies virus has been detected in specimens of this tribe from several central and northeastern provinces. In May 2021 a positive case diagnosed by Fluorescent Antibodies Test and confirmed by Mouse Inoculation Test was reported in Catamarca, a province located in the northwestern region of Argentina. A brain sample of the bat was submitted to IZLP from Instituto de Zoonosis, Córdoba. The aim of this work was to report the first molecular detection of rabies virus corresponding to the Lasiurini tribe in Catamarca, Argentina. Molecular characterization of the rabies virus variant and species identification of the bat were performed. Roche Life Science commercial kits were used for RNA and DNA extraction. For Rabies detection, RT-PCR OneStep Kit from Qiagen was used. To determine the genus and species of the bat, a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene was amplified and sequenced. PCRs products were purified using Roche Life Science silica columns. Sequencing reactions were carried out using ThermoFisher BigDye Terminator v3.1. Readings were performed using the ThermoFisher Applied Biosystems 3500 Series Genetic Analyzer. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with the programs Mega 5.0 and MrBayes 3.2.6.The rabies sequence obtained corresponded to the Lasiurini variant. After amplification and sequencing of a 538 bp of the Cytb gene, the bat species was identified as Aeorestes cinereus. This is the first report of this rabies virus variant detected in Aeorestes cinereus in the northwestern region of Argentina. These results denote the importance of increasing the epidemiologic surveillance of rabies in insectivorous bats.