A new study shows promise in a new method to vaccinate vampire bats

[ad_1] Vaccinating vampire bats towards rabies may help stop the unfold of the illness to livestock and people. NPR's Scott Simon talks with epidemiologist Tonie Rocke a couple of new option to vaccinate bats.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Vampire bats could have earned their title, because the Smithsonian Channel describes them...

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UNIDENTIFIED COMMENTATOR: Vampire bats are the one bats on the planet that feed on blood.

SIMON: Oh, my. Properly, if that is not sinister sufficient, the illnesses these bats carry, like rabies, can kill livestock and even people. The bats have induced rabies outbreaks throughout their vary from Mexico to Argentina, however a brand new research exhibits promise in a brand new technique to attempt to vaccinate the animals, and it depends on a much less scary a part of vampire bat habits. They're recognized to groom one another. Tonie Rocke led the analysis workforce. She's an epidemiologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Nationwide Wildlife Well being Heart and joins us now for Madison, Wisconsin. Thanks very a lot for being with us.

TONIE ROCKE: I am completely happy to be right here. Thanks for having me.

SIMON: They groom one another?

ROCKE: Oh, sure, one another and themselves so much, on a regular basis. It is habits that we will benefit from in making use of medicines - and vaccines, specifically.

SIMON: Properly, inform us how that works.

ROCKE: Properly, so presently, the way in which to handle rabies depends on one thing referred to as a vampiricide. It is really a poison that is utilized topically. The bats are launched, they usually return to their colony, they usually groom one another, eat the poison, they usually die. However sadly, this method can generally exacerbate rabies as a result of it causes the bats to disperse. As soon as bats begin dying of their colony, they're going to disperse and carry the rabies with them. So we're in search of a unique method. We might use the identical sort of technique. We might apply a vaccine topically, launch the bats, after which they go once more and lick one another and switch vaccine as a substitute of poison.

SIMON: (Laughter) That is going to sound awfully naive, however - what? - you practice them? I imply, what...

ROCKE: No. There is not any coaching them. We lure them, seize them, apply the fabric, they usually simply naturally return to their colonies. And so they wish to get the fabric off of them as quickly as they'll. In order that they return. All of them lick one another and themselves, they usually eat the fabric.

SIMON: And forgive me if this sounds insensitive, however why ought to we care concerning the survival of vampire bats?

ROCKE: It isn't a lot the survival of vampire bats that we're fearful about. We're fearful about transmission of rabies to cattle and to people. And so if we vaccinate them, it improves their survival barely, however extra importantly, it stops transmission of the virus.

SIMON: Now, I collect that is what we name a preprint research as a result of you have not been peer reviewed but. However are you able to inform us the place your work goes from right here?

ROCKE: Certain. So this research, specifically, was actually describing the medium that we will use to use the vaccine to the bats in. We have needed to work on that a short time to ensure it is the proper consistency, that it transfers to bats, that they will eat it.

SIMON: I've to ask. If you speak about guaranteeing that the bats will eat it, I imply, does this imply arising with a pleasant taste?

ROCKE: No. They only wish to get it off of them. So it interferes with their flight and every little thing. In order that they'll lick something, actually, that you simply placed on them. It isn't - most likely would not style superb, to be trustworthy.

SIMON: And what do you see as among the implications of this research, if what you consider you have found is borne out?

ROCKE: Properly, for one, this might be used to handle different illnesses in bats, specifically, different zoonotic illnesses that have an effect on folks.

SIMON: Properly, the implications of this for different species additionally have been fairly good, aren't they?

ROCKE: Sure, as a result of they transmit illnesses to numerous different species, actually rabies to different wildlife, however significantly livestock in Latin America.

SIMON: Analysis epidemiologist Tonie Rocke, who's with the U.S. Geological Survey. Thanks a lot for being with us.

ROCKE: You are welcome. My pleasure.

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