All Australian bat species, including 1 of the 50 species of microbats (order Chiroptera [bats], suborder Microchiroptera) common in Australia, are considered susceptible to ABLV.

Chief Biosecurity Queensland officer Dr Thompson noted that a dead bat had been found on the property housing the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) infected horse, but were not closely associated with any colonies.

All 6 human contacts of the horse have been given preventative treatment including rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin, both of which cross-protect against serious disease caused by ABLV.

The main advice for humans to mitigate risk of infection is to avoid handling bats and flying foxes without appropriate vaccination. Even then, it would be best to report ill or strangely behaving (ill) bats to the authorities. Bats have been the source of a number of virus discoveries (not preventable by specific vaccines) in recent years including influenza virus (H17N10)and coronaviruses (numerous bat-CoVs and possible the MERS-CoV).

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First ever horse infection with Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV).

Having killed the 3 humans its infected since it was first isolated in 1996, the first recorded case of ABLV in a horse in the state of Queensland, Australia has been quickly acted upon.

Humans in contact with a horse that was put down last Saturday (11.05.13)have been offered treatment after test results on Friday 17.05.13 identified ABLV. There are 20 other horses on the property. This was the second horse euthanased from the same property although the first horse was not subjected to any testing. ABLV, 1 of 12 species of the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae, has been found in several bat species.

Rabies immunoglobulin can halt severe disease along with a course of rabies vaccine infections

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