Lucy Got Hold Of A Dead Bat!

[Kaffy Magee]

My dogs caught a live bat one night, a big bugger too. I think it had been fighting with another and fell out of the tree. It died of course, but I had a major panic because Hendra was all over the news at the time. Vets didnt think it was anything to be too concerned about. Upshot is all dogs are fine. I think I'd rather they had a dead one than grab a live one though

[zeebie]

http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/4790_15093.htm

The exact facts on Hendra and mode of transmission is any secreation contact from horse -> human.

Not related in any way to bat lyssavirus

And this is exact facts on Lyssavirus ->

http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/27_16070.htm

As suggessted only way to know for certain would have been to have bat tested, as it was seriously decayed likelihood of any viable secreation would be negligible and therefore should not pose any risk to dog involved. The one known dog who tested positive on the property in QLD that had several horses under quarrantine for hendra virus did not show any symptoms at all and it is unknown how transmission occurred other then possibly by contact with horse that had died, as it was an unknown variant the family had to have the dog euthanised and the body sent for testing to help with the data base regarding the disease.

Pets in highly bat populated area's should be prevented from coming in contact with any bat excrement, fruit droppings which will contain saliva and outside water containers should be covered at night.

[Alyosha]

Any and all Australian bats can carry ABL - micro and fruit bats. :)