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EBLV infections has crossed species into other mammals on four
reported occaions, 3 cases of transmission to Danish sheep and 1 case of
transmission to a stone marten in North Germany. All of these involved
EBLV-1. All four EBLV isolates in the UK have been EBLV-2 and this hasn't
as yet been reported to 'jump species'. In the situation that Dr. Mullen
describes the human should be offered rabies post-exposure treatment if
(in rescuing the bat) they have been bitten or scratched by the bat. As
for the cat if the animal falls sick, shows nervous signs or starts
behaving abnormally the owner should take it to a veterinary surgeon and
give a full history of the incident.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
07 March 2005
Alan Smith
Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine
Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, Colindale Avenue, NW9 5EQ
Bats in rural areas are often caught by domestic cats.
Indeed observational studies of my own and neighboring cats show that
windy days are the favoured conditions for bat catching.
So if cats catch bats, what when the cat scatches the human?
Bats and Cats
EBLV infections has crossed species into other mammals on four
reported occaions, 3 cases of transmission to Danish sheep and 1 case of
transmission to a stone marten in North Germany. All of these involved
EBLV-1. All four EBLV isolates in the UK have been EBLV-2 and this hasn't
as yet been reported to 'jump species'. In the situation that Dr. Mullen
describes the human should be offered rabies post-exposure treatment if
(in rescuing the bat) they have been bitten or scratched by the bat. As
for the cat if the animal falls sick, shows nervous signs or starts
behaving abnormally the owner should take it to a veterinary surgeon and
give a full history of the incident.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests