A bat rabies isolate with an unusually short incubation period

Rabies viruses from two types of bats were inoculated intracerebrally into laboratory mice. The reactions of the mice differed markedly. Those inoculated with virus from a Mexican freetail bat, Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana, died a violent death after an incubation of 4 to 5 days. The pathology was marked, with much neuronal destruction noted. Those mice inoculated with virus from a vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, died after incubation periods similar to those noted after inoculation of common “street” viruses, i.e., 7 days or more. The pathology corresponded to the limited amount usually seen after death from “street” virus.