Non–rabies Lyssavirus human encephalitis from fruit bats: Australian bat Lyssavirus (pteropid Lyssavirus) infection

Abstract

A 39‐year‐old woman died of encephalitis a few weeks after being scratched by fruit bats. Autopsy disclosed meningoencephalomyelitis, and revealed neuronal intracytoplasmic inclusions which had similarities to Negri bodies of rabies. Laboratory investigations detected a Lyssavirus type previously identified only in fruit bats. This appears to be the first human case of encephalitis due to this Lyssavirus type.