Lagos bat lyssavirus, formerly Lagos bat virus (LBV) is a Lyssavirus of southern and central Africa that causes a rabies-like illness in mammals. It was first isolated from a fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) from Lagos Island, Nigeria in 1956.[1] Brain samples from the bat showed poor cross-reactivity to rabies antibodies but the virus was found to be closely related to the rabies virus. This was the first discovery of a rabies-related virus. Until this time, rabies was thought to have a single causal agent.[citation needed]
Lagos bat lyssavirus has been isolated from wild and domestic mammals in southern Africa including bats, cats and one dog.[2] One isolate was detected in France in 1999 when a fruit bat (Rousettus egypticus), which had been displaying signs of aggression, died. The bat had been imported from Africa.[3]
No human cases of Lagos bat lyssavirus infection have been documented.[citation needed]
References
^Boulger, L. R.; Porterfield, J. S. (September 1958). "Isolation of a Virus from Nigerian Fruit Bats". Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 52 (5): 421–4. doi:10.1016/0035-9203(58)90127-5. PMID13592882.
^Picard-Meyer, E.; Barrat, J.; Tissot, E.; Verdot, A.; Patron, C.; Barrat, M. J.; Cliquet, F. (2006). "Bat Rabies Surveillance in France, from 1989 through May 2005". Developments in Biologicals. 125: 283–8. PMID16878486.
