We thank Tien-Cheng Li, Yi-Tang Lin, Chia-Jung Tsai, and Ya-Lan Li for their assistance during this study. This study was supported by grant no. 107AS-8.7.1-BQ-B2 (1) from the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taiwan.

1. Safety precautions when handling lyssaviruses
<ol>
	<li>Ensure that all laboratory workers handling bat specimens receive pre-exposure rabies prophylaxis17. Monitor the rabies antibody levels of the workers beforehand and re-examine them every 6 months17. Follow-up rabies vaccination is required for those whose antibody levels are lower than 0.5 IU/mL17.</li>
	<li>Depending on the biosafety regulations of the country where the laboratory is loca...

<ol>
	<li>Kuzmin, I. V., Rupprecht, C. E., Nagarajan, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Basic+facts+about+lyssavirus.">Basic facts about lyssavirus.</a> Current laboratory techniques in rabies diagnosis, research, and prevention, volume 1. , 3-21 (2014).</li><li>Ar&#233;chiga Ceballos, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+lyssavirus+in+bat,+Spain.">Novel lyssavirus in bat, Spain.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 19 (5), 793-795 (2013).</li><li>Gunawardena, P. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lyssavirus+in+Indian+Flying+Foxes,+Sri+Lanka.">Lyssavirus in Indian Flying Foxes, Sri Lanka.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 22 (8), 1456-1459 (2016).</li><li>Hu, S. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lyssavirus+in+Japanese+Pipistrelle,+Taiwan.">Lyssavirus in Japanese Pipistrelle, Taiwan.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 24 (4), 782-785 (2018).</li><li>Nokireki, T., Tammiranta, N., Kokkonen, U. -. M., Kantala, T., Gadd, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tentative+novel+lyssavirus+in+a+bat+in+Finland.">Tentative novel lyssavirus in a bat in Finland.</a> Transboundary Emerging Diseases. 65 (3), 593-596 (2018).</li><li>Banyard, A. C., Evans, J. S., Luo, T. R., Fooks, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lyssaviruses+and+bats:+emergence+and+zoonotic+threat.">Lyssaviruses and bats: emergence and zoonotic threat.</a> Viruses. 6 (8), 2974-2990 (2014).</li><li>Pal, S. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rabies+virus+infection+of+a+flying+fox+bat,+Pteropus+policephalus+in+Chandigarh,+Northern+India.">Rabies virus infection of a flying fox bat, Pteropus policephalus in Chandigarh, Northern India.</a> Tropical and Geographical Medicine. 32 (3), 265-267 (1980).</li><li>Smith, P. C., Lawhaswasdi, K., Vick, W. E., Stanton, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+rabies+virus+from+fruit+bats+in+Thailand.">Isolation of rabies virus from fruit bats in Thailand.</a> Nature. 216 (5113), 384 (1967).</li><li>Tang, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pivotal+role+of+dogs+in+rabies+transmission,+China.">Pivotal role of dogs in rabies transmission, China.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 11 (12), 1970-1972 (2005).</li><li>Kuzmin, I. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bat+lyssaviruses+(Aravan+and+Khujand)+from+Central+Asia:+phylogenetic+relationships+according+to+N,+P+and+G+gene+sequences.">Bat lyssaviruses (Aravan and Khujand) from Central Asia: phylogenetic relationships according to N, P and G gene sequences.</a> Virus Research. 97 (2), 65-79 (2003).</li><li>Arguin, P. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Serologic+evidence+of+Lyssavirus+infections+among+bats,+the+Philippines.">Serologic evidence of Lyssavirus infections among bats, the Philippines.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 8 (3), 258-262 (2002).</li><li>Lumlertdacha, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Survey+for+bat+lyssaviruses,+Thailand.">Survey for bat lyssaviruses, Thailand.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 11 (2), 232-236 (2005).</li><li>Kuzmin, I. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lyssavirus+surveillance+in+bats,+Bangladesh.">Lyssavirus surveillance in bats, Bangladesh.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 12 (3), 486-488 (2006).</li><li>Reynes, J. -. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Serologic+evidence+of+lyssavirus+infection+in+bats,+Cambodia.">Serologic evidence of lyssavirus infection in bats, Cambodia.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 10 (12), 2231-2234 (2004).</li><li>Nguyen, A. T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bat+lyssaviruses,+northern+Vietnam.">Bat lyssaviruses, northern Vietnam.</a> Emerging Infectious Diseases. 20 (1), 161-163 (2014).</li><li>Liu, Y., Zhang, S., Zhao, J., Zhang, F., Hu, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+Irkut+virus+from+a+Murina+leucogaster+bat+in+China.">Isolation of Irkut virus from a Murina leucogaster bat in China.</a> PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 7 (3), 2097 (2013).</li><li>Kaplan, M. M., Meslin, F. X., Kaplan, M. M., Kiprowski, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Safety+precautions+in+handling+rabies+virus.">Safety precautions in handling rabies virus.</a> Laboratory Techniques in Rabies, 4th Ed. , 3-8 (1996).</li><li>Smith, I., Wang, L. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bats+and+their+virome:+an+important+source+of+emerging+viruses+capable+of+infecting+humans.">Bats and their virome: an important source of emerging viruses capable of infecting humans.</a> Current Opinion in Virology. 3 (1), 84-91 (2013).</li><li>Corbet, G. B., Hill, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. , (1992).</li><li>Mayer, F., von Helversen, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cryptic+diversity+in+European+bats.">Cryptic diversity in European bats.</a> Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 268 (1478), 1825-1832 (2001).</li><li>Epstein, J. H., Field, H. E., Wang, L. F., Cowled, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anthropogenic+epidemics:+the+ecology+of+bat-borne+viruses+and+our+role+in+their+emergence.">Anthropogenic epidemics: the ecology of bat-borne viruses and our role in their emergence.</a> Bats and viruses: a new frontier of emerging infectious diseases. , 249-280 (2016).</li><li>. Protocol for postmortem diagnosis of rabies in animals by direct fluorescent antibody testing Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/pdf/rabiesdfaspv2.pdf">https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/pdf/rabiesdfaspv2.pdf</a> (2019)</li><li>Hayman, D. T. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+universal+real-time+assay+for+the+detection+of+Lyssaviruses.">A universal real-time assay for the detection of Lyssaviruses.</a> Journal of Virological Methods. 177 (1), 87-93 (2011).</li><li>Franka, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+phylogenetic+lineage+of+rabies+virus+associated+with+western+pipistrelle+bats+(Pipistrellus+hesperus).">A new phylogenetic lineage of rabies virus associated with western pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus hesperus).</a> Journal of General Virology. 87 (8), 2309-2321 (2006).</li><li>Trimarchi, C. V., Smith, J. S., Press, A., Jackson, A. C., Wunner, W. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diagnostic+evaluation.">Diagnostic evaluation.</a> Rabies, 1st ed. , 307-349 (2002).</li><li>Moldal, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=First+detection+of+European+bat+lyssavirus+type+2+(EBLV-2)+in+Norway.">First detection of European bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2) in Norway.</a> BMC Veterinary Research. 13, 216 (2017).</li><li>Robardet, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparative+assay+of+fluorescent+antibody+test+results+among+twelve+European+National+Reference+Laboratories+using+various+anti-rabies+conjugates.">Comparative assay of fluorescent antibody test results among twelve European National Reference Laboratories using various anti-rabies conjugates.</a> Journal of Virological Methods. 191 (1), 88-94 (2013).</li><li>Hanlon, C. A., Nadin-Davis, S. A., Jackson, A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laboratory+diagnosis+of+rabies.">Laboratory diagnosis of rabies.</a> Rabies, 3rd ed. , 409-459 (2013).</li><li>Fischer, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+step+forward+in+molecular+diagnostics+of+lyssaviruses--results+of+a+ring+trial+among+European+laboratories.">A step forward in molecular diagnostics of lyssaviruses--results of a ring trial among European laboratories.</a> PLoS ONE. 8 (3), 58372 (2013).</li><li>David, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rabies+virus+detection+by+RT-PCR+in+decomposed+naturally+infected+brains.">Rabies virus detection by RT-PCR in decomposed naturally infected brains.</a> Veterinary Microbiology. 87 (2), 111-118 (2002).</li><li>Robardet, E., Picard-Meyer, E., Andrieu, S., Servat, A., Cliquet, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=International+interlaboratory+trials+on+rabies+diagnosis:+an+overview+of+results+and+variation+in+reference+diagnosis+techniques+(fluorescent+antibody+test,+rabies+tissue+culture+infection+test,+mouse+inoculation+test)+and+molecular+biology+techniques.">International interlaboratory trials on rabies diagnosis: an overview of results and variation in reference diagnosis techniques (fluorescent antibody test, rabies tissue culture infection test, mouse inoculation test) and molecular biology techniques.</a> Journal of Virological Methods. 177 (1), 15-25 (2011).</li></ol>

This laboratory standard operating procedure (SOP) provides a serial process for testing bat samples for the presence of lyssavirus antigens in Taiwan. The key steps include the employment of FAT and RT-PCR. The selection of suitable samples and successful isolation of the virus are also important. Additionally, some troubleshooting was conducted during the monitoring of bat lyssaviruses. The major difference was the target animals. Initially (2008&#8211;2009), the target animals of bat lyssavirus surveillance were live ...

Viruses within the genus Lyssavirus are zoonotic pathogens. There are at least seven lyssavirus species associated with human cases1. In addition to the 16 species in this genus1,2,3, Taiwan bat lyssavirus (TWBLV)4 and Kotalahti bat lyssavirus5 have been recently identified in bats, but their taxonomic statuses have yet to be determined.
Bats are the natural hosts of most lyssaviruses, with the exception of Mokola lyssavirus and Ikoma lyssavirus, which have yet not been identified in any bats1,2,3,6. The information on lyssaviruses in Asian bats is still limited. Two uncharacterized lyssaviruses in Asian bats (one in India and the other in Thailand)7,8 have been reported. One human rabies case associated with a bat bite in China was reported in 2002, but the diagnosis was made only by clinical observation9. In Central Asia, Aravan lyssavirus was identified in the lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythi) in Kyrgyzstan in 1991, and Khujand lyssavirus was identified in the whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) in Tajikistan in 200110. In South Asia, Gannoruwa bat lyssavirus was identified in the Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius) in Sri Lanka in 20153. In Southeast Asia, several serological studies on bats in the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Vietnam showed variable seroprevalence11,12,13,14,15. Although Irkut lyssavirus was identified in the greater tube-nosed bat (Murina leucogaster) in Jilin Province, China in 201216, the exact species and locations of lyssaviruses in East Asian bat populations remain unknown.
To assess the presence of lyssavirus in Taiwanese bat populations, a surveillance program employing both direct FAT and RT-PCR was initiated. Taiwan bat lyssavirus was identified in two cases of the Japanese pipistrelle (Pipistrellus abramus)4 in 2016&#8211;2017. In the present article, a laboratory standard operating procedure is introduced for lyssavirus surveillance of the bat population in Taiwan. The flow chart of bat lyssavirus diagnosis in our laboratory is presented in Figure 1.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>2.5% Trypsin (10x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15090046</td>
			<td>Trppsin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>25 cm2 flask</td>
			<td>Greiner bio-one</td>
			<td>690160</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetone</td>
			<td>Honeywell</td>
			<td>32201-1L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agarose I</td>
			<td>VWR Life Science</td>
			<td>97062-250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alcohol</td>
			<td>NIHON SHIYAKU REAGENT</td>
			<td>NS-32294</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AMV Reverse Transcriptase</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>M5101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibiotic-Antimycotic(100X)&#160;</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15240-062</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blade</td>
			<td>Braun</td>
			<td>BA215</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>eppendorf</td>
			<td>5424R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chemilumineance system</td>
			<td>TOP BIO CO.</td>
			<td>MGIS-21-C2-1M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collection tube</td>
			<td>Qiagen</td>
			<td>990381</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collection tube</td>
			<td>SSI</td>
			<td>2341-SO</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover slide</td>
			<td>Muto Pure chemical Co., LTD.</td>
			<td>24505</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DNA analyzer</td>
			<td>Applied Biosystems</td>
			<td>3700XL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10437028</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC Anti-Rabies Monoclonal Globulin</td>
			<td>Fujirebio Diagnostic Inc.</td>
			<td>800-092</td>
			<td>FITC-conjugated anti-rabies antibodies: reagent B</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Four-well Teflon-coating glass slide</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>30-86H-WHITE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gel Electrophoresis System</td>
			<td>Major Science</td>
			<td>MJ-105-R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HBSS (1x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14175095</td>
			<td>Trppsin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Incubator</td>
			<td>ASTEC</td>
			<td>SCA-165DS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Inverted Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>IX71</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamine 200 mM (100x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>A2916801</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LIGHT DIAGNOSTICS Rabies FAT reagent</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore Corporation</td>
			<td>5100</td>
			<td>FITC-conjugated anti-rabies antibodies: reagent A</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MagNA Pure Compact Instrument</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>03731146001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MagNA Pure Compact NA Isolation Kit 1</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>03730964001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEM (10x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11430030</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEM NEAA (100x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11140050</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEM vitamin solution</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11120052</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>1.06329.0500</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Needle</td>
			<td>Terumo</td>
			<td>NN*2332R9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS</td>
			<td>Medicago</td>
			<td>09-8912-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Primer synthesis</td>
			<td>Mission Biotech</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RNasin ribonuclease inhibitor</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>N2111</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sequencing service</td>
			<td>Mission Biotech</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Slide</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>AA00008032E00MNT10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Pyruvate (100 mM)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11360070</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stainless Steel Beads</td>
			<td>QIAGEN</td>
			<td>69989</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile absorbent pad</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>1604T-2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe filter</td>
			<td>Nalgene</td>
			<td>171-0045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Taq polymerase</td>
			<td>JMR Holdings</td>
			<td>JMR-801</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermal cycler</td>
			<td>Applied Biosystems</td>
			<td>2720</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TissueLyser II</td>
			<td>QIAGEN</td>
			<td>85300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tongue depressor</td>
			<td>HONJER CO., LTD.</td>
			<td>122246</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezer</td>
			<td>Tennyson medical Instrument developing CO., LTD.</td>
			<td>A0601</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tylosin Tartrate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T6271-10G</td>
			<td>MEM-10</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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standard operating procedure for lyssavirus surveillance of the bat population in taiwan

Viruses within the genus Lyssavirus are zoonotic pathogens, and at least seven lyssavirus species are associated with human cases. Because bats are natural reservoirs of most lyssaviruses, a lyssavirus surveillance program of bats has been conducted in Taiwan since 2008 to understand the ecology of these viruses in bats. In this program, non-governmental bat conservation organizations and local animal disease control centers cooperated to collect dead bats or bats dying of weakness or illness. Brain tissues of bats were obtained through necropsy and subjected to direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of lyssavirus antigens and nucleic acids. For the FAT, at least two different rabies diagnosis conjugates are recommended. For the RT-PCR, two sets of primers (JW12/N165-146, N113F/N304R) are used to amplify a partial sequence of the lyssavirus nucleoprotein gene. This surveillance program monitors lyssaviruses and other zoonotic agents in bats. Taiwan bat lyssavirus is found in two cases of the Japanese pipistrelle (Pipistrellus abramus) in 2016&#8211;2017. These findings should inform the public, health professionals, and scientists of the potential risks of contacting bats and other wildlife.

From 2014 to May 2017, 332 bat carcasses from 13 species were collected for surveillance. Two tested positive. In the first bat case, the brain impression tested negative using the FAT with one of the commercial FITC-conjugated anti-rabies antibodies (Figure 2), while the RT-PCRs employing each of the two primer sets (JW12/N165-146, N113F/N304R) yielded positive results (Figure 3). A 428 bp sequence of amplicon (amplified with N113F/N304R and containing the part...

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Standard Operating Procedure for Lyssavirus Surveillance of the Bat Population in Taiwan

This protocol introduces a standard laboratory operating procedure for diagnostic testing of lyssavirus antigens in bats in Taiwan.

Viruses within the genus Lyssavirus are zoonotic pathogens, and at least seven lyssavirus species are associated with human cases. Because bats are ...

Lyssavirus is a zoo-no-tic pathogens. To assess the presence of Lyssavirus in Taiwanese bat populations, we initiated a surveillance program. And it successfully identified four Lyssaviruses from 2016 to 2018.This protocol is a step-by-step introduction to vi-al Lyssavirus surveillance in Taiwan. We hope it will be useful to researches who are interested in vi-al Lyssavirus surveillance. It is important to connect the correct tac-keg symbol.A dead or dying bat is more suitable than a live bat for Lyssavirus surveillance. Depending on the bio-safety regulations of the country where the laboratory is located;perform the following procedures in a suitable bio-safety level laboratory. And ensure that the researchers are currently qualified and wear proper personal protective equipment.Upon the collection of weak or sick bats or carcasses, have a bat ecologist identify the bat species by the specimen's morphological characteristics. Submit an information sheet to the laboratory, including the collection site, species, clinical signs and other relevant data with each bat specimen. Before beginning the necroscopy, examine all the external orifices and photograph the bats external features, especially the head, ears and wings for species differentiation.To collect an oral swab sample place the bat in ventral recumbency on a sterile dissection board and fix the head with tweezers. Use a scalpel to cut the skin along the midline of the calf area;and pull the skin to the lateral sides, to make an incision in the skull along the midline of the calf area. Open the skull with tweezers to expose the brain tissue and use the tweezers to gently separate the brain tissue from the connected nerve tissue.Cut the cross-section of the brain, including the brain stem and cerebellum, and lightly touch the cut surface of the brain tissue with glass slides to make smear impressions. Press the slide on lens tissue to remove the excess tissue and fix the smear impression slides in minus 20 degree celsius acetone for 30 minutes. Then fix a small piece of fresh brain tissue, in formalin, for histopathological examination.And place the rest of the tissue in emi-em 10 for nucleic acid extraction. Next, incise the skin from the manifold to the anus along the midline of the body, and use the tweezers to lift and separate the skin and underline muscle tissues;to allow collection of the salivary glands, located near the mandibular bone. Slightly lifting the sternum with the tweezers, use the scalpel to cut the sternum and abdominal wall along the midline and cut the clavicles.Use needles to fix the left and right rib cages to the dissection board, to open the thoracic cavity. And record the gross legions and the degree of post mortem change. Then use the tweezers and scalpel to remove the visceral tissues as appropriate for the planned downstream analysis.To perform a direct fluorescent antibody test at the end of the fixation, dry the smear impression slides and select at least two fluorescence conjugated anti-rabies antibodies for the analysis. Filter one antibody onto each slide through a 0.45 micrometer strainer. And incubate the slides for 30 minutes at 37 degrees celsius in a humid chamber.At the end of the incubation, drain off the excess conjugate and wash the slides with PBS. Then use a small volume of 10%glycerol to mount cover-slips onto the slides and image the slides by fluorescence microscopy. When either the fluorescent antibody test or the RT-PCR analysis indicates positivity, homogenize the brain specimen in the 10%suspension in emi-en 10 and sediment the tissues fleu-rry by centrifugation.Inoculate 200 microliters of the super-nat-en with three times 10 to the 6th mouse neuroblastoma cells and one milliliter of emi-en 10 for one hour at 37 degrees celsius and 1%carbon dioxide. And transfer the brain homogeneous-cell suspension to a 25 centimeter squared flask, containing six milliliters of fresh emi-en 10. At one milliliter of brain homogeneous-cell suspension into a four-well Teflon-coated glass slide, with a six millimeter diameter and place the slide at 37 degrees celsius and 1%carbon dioxide for three to four days.After fixation with 100%acetone, stain the slides with the same two fluorescence conjugated anti-rabies antibodies as used for the fluorescence antibody test. And visualize the slides by fluorescent microscopy to determine the number of intracida-plas-mic inclusions. After trypsinizing and sub-culturing the inoculated cell culture according to standard protocols, return the cold-culture to the cell culture incubator for another three to four days with repeat counting of the number of infected cells as just demonstrated until a 100%infectivity is reached.From January 2014 to May 2017, 332 bat carcasses from 13 species were collected for surveillance. In this representative analysis of two positive bat cases, the brain impression tested negative using the fluorescent antibody test with one of the commercial, fit-sy conjugated anti-rabies antibodies, while the RT-PCR employing each of the two different primer sets, yielded positive results. Subjection of the obtained ampli-con sequence to blast querying in the Gen bank database revealed that sequence was similar to Lyssaviruses with identities of less than 79%supporting the identities of the detected Lyssaviruses.Two Lyssaviruses were subsequently successfully isolated from the two brains as confirmed by fluorescence antibody test and sequencing. The key step for determining Lyssavirus positivity are the fluorescence antibody test and the RT-CPR analysis. The use of two or more anti-rabies antibodies in the primer sets is highly recommended.In addition to Lyssavirus other zoo-not-ical bat pathogens can be monitored using closed diagnostical methods. The data can then be used to inform the public about avoiding contact with bats. The more we are able to study bat Lyssavirus, the more we will be able to understand its evolution and impact on public health.

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7.3K vues.  Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. Le lyssavirus est un agent pathogène zoo-no-tic. Afin d’évaluer la présence de lyssavirus dans les populations taïwanaises de chauves-souris, nous avons lancé un programme de surveillance. Et il a identifié avec succès quatre lyssavirus de 2016 à 2018.Ce protocole est une introduction étape par étape à la surveillance vi-al Lyssavirus à Taiwan. Nous espérons qu’il sera utile aux chercheurs qui s’intéressent à la surveillance du lyssavirus vi-al. Il est important de...