Emerg Infect DiseidEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control89692492639915Research ArticleEncephalitis caused by a Lyssavirus in fruit bats in Australia.FraserG. C.HooperP. T.LuntR. A.GouldA. R.GleesonL. J.HyattA. D.RussellG. M.KattenbeltJ. A.NSW Department of Agriculture, Wollongbar, Australia.Oct-Dec199624327331

This report describes the first pathologic and immunohistochemical recognition in Australia of a rabies-like disease in a native mammal, a fruit bat, the black flying fox (Pteropus alecto). A virus with close serologic and genetic relationships to members of the Lyssavirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae was isolated in mice from the tissue homogenates of a sick juvenile animal.