A cross-sectional serological study of bats in the United States Virgin Islands during 2019 to 2020 reveals no evidence of rabies virus exposure

Bats are a known reservoir of rabies virus in 10 Caribbean nations. A cross-sectional survey of five species of native bats on U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas was performed during September 2019–January 2020. Serological testing was used to determine whether native bat populations have been exposed to rabies virus. Bats (n = 72) from seven sampling locations in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) all tested negative for rabies neutralizing antibodies. The sensitivity of detection of rabies virus antibodies ranged from 49.4% to 100%, depending on geography, bat species clustering, and presumed prevalence. A previous rabies cross-sectional survey conducted during 2019–2020 led by the USVI Department of Health determined freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) populations in U.S. Virgin Islands. These findings, along with a historical absence of rabies detections in passive surveillance of dogs, cats, and wildlife, supports an evidence base that USVI may be rabies-free. These surveillance activities built local One Health capacity and fostered federal, university, and territory collaboration in USVI. Continued surveillance will help determine a declaration of rabies freedom for USVI.

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Publication Details

Journal
Scientific Reports
Published
2026-03-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-42571-3
Primary Topic
Rabies epidemiology and control
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

A cross-sectional serological study of bats in the United States Virgin Islands during 2019 to 2020 reveals no evidence of rabies virus exposure

Kristine M. Bisgard, Pearl Cales, Marissa L. Taylor, Joseph Roth et al.
Scientific Reports
Rabies epidemiology and control
article

A cross-sectional serological study of bats in the United States Virgin Islands during 2019 to 2020 reveals no evidence of rabies virus exposure

Kristine M. Bisgard, Pearl Cales, Marissa L. Taylor, Joseph Roth, R. J. Wallace, David Worthington, Claudia D. Lombard, David S. Horner, Jeffrey B Doty, Valicia J. Burke-France, Cosme Harrison, Thomas Kelley, Danielle Fibikar, Hannah M. Cranford, Leanne Jankelunas, Brett R. Ellis, Renata Platenberg, Bethany Bradford, Nicole F. Angeli, Esther M. Ellis, Jenn Valiulis, A. Springer Browne, Clint N. Morgan, James A. Ellison
article en

Abstract

Bats are a known reservoir of rabies virus in 10 Caribbean nations. A cross-sectional survey of five species of native bats on U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas was performed during September 2019–January 2020. Serological testing was used to determine whether native bat populations have been exposed to rabies virus. Bats (n = 72) from seven sampling locations in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) all tested negative for rabies neutralizing antibodies. The sensitivity of detection of rabies virus antibodies ranged from 49.4% to 100%, depending on geography, bat species clustering, and presumed prevalence. A previous rabies cross-sectional survey conducted during 2019–2020 led by the USVI Department of Health determined freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) populations in U.S. Virgin Islands. These findings, along with a historical absence of rabies detections in passive surveillance of dogs, cats, and wildlife, supports an evidence base that USVI may be rabies-free. These surveillance activities built local One Health capacity and fostered federal, university, and territory collaboration in USVI. Continued surveillance will help determine a declaration of rabies freedom for USVI.

Scientific Reports
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US), National Park Service (US), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US), College of Staten Island (US), University of the Virgin Islands (VI), Oak Crest Institute of Science (US), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (US), Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances (US), United States Virgin Islands Department of Health (VI), Epidemic Intelligence Service (US), Boehringer Ingelheim (United States) (US)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 38%
Rabies epidemiology and control
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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