This review presents some aspects about the biology and behavior of the hematophagous bats Diphylla ecaudata and Diaemus youngi. It is notable the lack of information regarding both species, and the need of training in order to identify them properly from Desmodus rotundus. We analyze the main anatomical features that allow differentiation of these species. This will result in a more specific control of Desmodus rotundus populations.

En la presente revisión se presentan algunos aspectos de la biología y comportamiento de las especies de quirópteros hematófagos Diphylla ecaudata y Diaemus youngi. Y se analizan las principales características anatómicas que permiten hacer la diferenciación de estas especies con Desmodus rotundus. Es notable la falta de información sobre las dos primeras especies y la necesidad de capacitación para la correcta identificación de las mismas, lo que redundará en un direccionamiento más específico para controlar las poblaciones de Desmodus rotundus

INTRODUÇÃO: A raiva é uma doença aguda do sistema nervoso central e é responsável por mortes de milhares de humanos, animais silvestres e animais de criação - especialmente bovinos - além de causar elevadas perdas econômicas. Este trabalho descreve a caracterização genética das variantes do vírus da raiva que circulam em populações de Desmodus rotundus e são transmitidas aos herbívoros. MÉTODOS: Cinquenta isolados de vírus da raiva de bovinos e equinos provenientes dos Estados de São Paulo e Minas Gerais, Brasil, foram caracterizadas geneticamente e comparadas com sequências recuperadas do GenBank. RESULTADOS: Dois clusters, I e II, apresentando identidades médias de nucleotídeos de 99,1 e 97,6%, foram obtidos, sendo o primeiro composto de quase a totalidade das amostras analisadas. Linhagens de outros estados do Brasil "clustered" no II. CONCLUSÕES: A análise das sequências de aminoácidos da proteína N revelou que existem marcadores genéticos que podem determinar uma possível regionalidade embora as regiões biologicamente ativas apresentem-se conservadas dentro das espécies ao longo do tempo e espaço.

INTRODUCTION: Rabies is an acute disease of the central nervous system and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of humans, wild animals and livestock, particularly cattle, as well as causing major economic losses. This study describes the genetic characterization of rabies virus variants that circulate in Desmodus rotundus populations and are transmitted to herbivores. METHODS: Fifty rabies virus isolates from bovines and equines in the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil, were genetically characterized and compared with sequences retrieved from GenBank. RESULTS: Two clusters (I and II) with mean nucleotide identities of 99.1 and 97.6% were found. The first of these contained nearly all the samples analyzed. Lineages from other Brazilian states grouped in cluster II. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the amino acid sequences of the N proteins revealed the existence of genetic markers that may indicate possible variations between geographic regions, although the biologically active regions are conserved within the species over space and time.

Identification of animals that are decomposing or have been run over or burnt and cannot be visually identified is a problem in the surveillance and control of infectious diseases. Many of these animals are wild and represent a valuable source of information for epidemiologic research as they may be carriers of an infectious agent. This article discusses the results obtained using a method for identifying mammals genetically by sequencing their mitochondrial DNA control region. Fourteen species were analyzed and identified. These included the main reservoirs and transmitters of rabies virus, namely, canids, chiroptera and primates. The results prove that this method of genetic identification is both efficient and simple and that it can be used in the surveillance of infectious diseases which includes mammals in their epidemiologic cycle, such as rabies.

This article reports on the identification of a group 2 coronavirus (BatCoV DR/2007) in a Desmodus rotundus vampire bat in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF1b revealed that BatCoV DR/2007 originates from a unique lineage in the archetypical group 2 coronaviruses, as described for bat species elsewhere with putative importance in Public Health.