Table 1.
Rabies Virus in Captive Colonies of Eptesicus fuscus
| Relationship between the year, total number of bats, and bats developing rabies while in captivity | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Total |
| Number of bats in colony | 35 | 89 | 12 | 63 | 199 |
| Number of bats developing rabies (% of total) | 2 (6) | 1 (1) | 0 | 2 (4) | 5 (2.5) |
| Average duration bats were maintained in captive colony before developing clinical signs | 37 days | 134 days | N/A | 161 days | |
| Number of bats from which RV was isolated from salivary glands (% of rabid) | 2 (100) | ND | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (40) |
| Duration bats were maintained in captive colony | 6 months | 13 months | 18 months | 18 months | |
| Percent of rabid bats that were seropositive when entering the colony | ND | 6a | 0 | 0 | 2.5 |
Eptesicus fuscus were collected in Fort Collins, CO, during September–October. Bats were brought into a captive colony and maintained for at least 6 months.
a
These bats remained healthy for the duration of the quarantine period.
NA, not available; ND, not done; RV, rabies virus.