LYSSAVIRAL INFECTION AND LEAD-POISONING IN BLACK FLYING FOXES FROM QUEENSLAND

Pteropid lyssaviral infection, lead poisoning, and the difficulties in diagnosing pteropid lyssaviral infection using histopathological exam ination of tissues are described in wild black flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) from northern Queensland (Australia). An adult female P. alect o showed aggression before death in January 1995. Lead poisoning was d iagnosed due to the presence of intranuclear lead inclusion bodies in renal proximal convoluted tubular epithelium and high concentrations o f lead in renal and hepatic tissues. 370.03 +/- 7.35 ppm and 16.76 +/- 0.53 ppm, respectively. Renal inclusion bodies were composed of lead, calcium, phosphorus, and possibly sulphur; some inclusions had their granules arranged in concentric bands. This bat also had a moderate co ncentration (8.09 +/- 0.18 ppm) of cadmium in renal tissue. An adult m ale P. alecto presented with ascending paralysis before it died in May 1996. Pteropid lyssaviral infection was diagnosed subsequently in bot h bats in September 1996 by immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase ant ibody tests for rabies on brains and viral culture from brains. Neithe r bat had gross or microscopic lesions of the brain that suggested a l yssaviral infection, apart from occasional, subtle, eosinophilic cytop lasmic inclusions in the neurones of the brain stem of the female. The se cases illustrate the need for a specific test to detect pteropid ly ssavirus such as an immunofluorescent antibody test for lyssavirus rat her than histopathological examination of tissues.