NASBR - Resolution regarding bats and rabies

Rabies testing at the SDSU ADRDL

Rabies testing of animals in South Dakota is authorized at two laboratories:

SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory
Dept of Veterinary Science, Box 2175, North Campus Dr.,
South Dakota StateUniversity, Brookings, SD 57007-1396.
Phone: 605-688-5171

South Dakota Department of Health
615 East 4th Street, Pierre, South Dakota 57501
Phone: 605-773-3737 (1-800-592-1861), afterhours 1-800-592-1861

1. CALL: 800-592-1861/605-773-3368 -OR- 605-280-4810 after hours, weekends, holidays.
2. Do not damage the head of the animal by gunshot or crushing.
3. Do not freeze the body! Instead, wrap the head/body carefully in an insulated container cooled with ice.

Animals suspected of having rabies that have exposed a human should be euthanized and tested as soon as possible, and staff at the ADRDL is qualified to perform the needed rabies FA test. Since the FA test is so quick and reliable, after hours testing is rarely required anymore; however, ANY AFTER HOURS, WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY EMERGENCY RABIES TEST should be directed to the South Dakota Public Health Laboratory, 615 East 4th St, Pierre, SD 57501. (See below)

HOW TO SUBMIT RABIES-SUSPECT CASES TO ADRDL - To meet CDC guidelines for rabies testing, the ENTIRE BRAIN WITH BRAINSTEM must be submitted FRESH to the laboratory. This will allow for testing of both sides of the brain and brainstem as per CDC guidelines. ADRDL staff will fix the brain from domestic animals and some wild animals in formalin for histopathology examination after rabies testing has been completed.

1. Package the brain in a sterile plastic bag placed inside a crush-proof container. Submit to the lab in an appropriate leak-proof, insulated shipping container with adequate ice packs to keep specimen chilled during shipping. DO NOT FREEZE the fresh brain.

2. As always, the laboratory WILL NOT ACCEPT LIVE ANIMALS for rabies testing. Whole bodies, complete heads, or removed brains are all acceptable specimens for submission. ADRDL staff will remove brains upon arrival, at no additional charge.

3. Fill out the standard ADRDL submission form with complete information, including the rabies section at the bottom. Clearly identify as a rabies suspect and clearly indicate if human exposure has occurred with the route of exposure and date included. A referring veterinarian must be listed on the form. The submission form can be downloaded from http://vetsci.sdstate.edu

4. Samples arriving to the laboratory before 12 PM (noon) will have results available the same day. Samples arriving after 12 PM (noon) will be tested the next business day.

5. Additional tests, if requested, will not be performed on a rabies suspect case until the rabies FA has been completed and is negative. (See NEUROLOGIC DISEASES for submission recommendations.)

6. The ADRDL is open 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. A SPECIMEN DROP-OFF COOLER is accessible to the public 24 hours a day, so samples can be delivered to the lab on nights or weekends and left in this cooler for testing the next business day. The cooler is adjacent to the loading dock on the east side of the building. The on-call diagnostician can be reached at (605) 690-1576 if problems or questions arise.

7. Testing after hours, weekends or holidays IS NOT AVAILABLE at the ADRDL.

FEE POLICY - DOMESTIC ANIMALS - The fee is $42 for South Dakota clients and $48 for out-of-state clients. This fee includes not only the rabies FA test, but also routine histopathology and additional laboratory testing (such as virology and/or bacteriology) if requested or found necessary to determine the cause of the animal's death. A $10 necropsy fee is added if a necropsy is requested for the purpose of further diagnostics. If needed, toxicology testing fees are extra. WILD ANIMALS - Wild animals that originated in South Dakota and have caused a "significant risk to human health" (see definition below), will be accepted for rabies testing at NO CHARGE to the submitter. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department pays for the testing under these circumstances and only the rabies FA test is completed (no additional testing). Wild animals that have not caused a risk to human health can be submitted for rabies testing, but the submitter will be charged the same fee as for domestic animals. If adult bats are submitted with bat pups (baby bats), only the adults will be tested.

HUMAN HEALTH RISK DEFINITION - The exposure of a human or domestic animal to saliva from the suspect animal either through a bite, exposure of mucous membranes, exposure of an open wound, or scratches. OR The exposure of a human or domestic animal to central nervous system tissue from the suspect animal either through exposure of mucous membranes or exposure of an open wound.

RESULTS AND REPORTING

1. Laboratory results are reported by telephone as soon as they are available to the referring veterinary clinic listed on the submission form.

2. Test results are reported as "no test" when ANY part of the brain required for testing (per CDC guidelines) is missing for any reason (including autolysis, trauma and/or only half of brain submitted fresh) and the FA result is negative.

3. Test results are also reported as "no test" when brain tissue cannot be identified for any reason (most often due to marked autolysis and/or severe brain trauma) and the FA test is not performed.

4. In addition to the referring veterinary clinic, all POSITIVE rabies FA results from domesticated animals will also be reported to the State Health Department and Animal Industry Board in the state where the animal resided.

5. All POSITIVE rabies FA results from wild, non-domesticated animals will be reported to the State Health Department, the Animal Industry Board and Game, Fish and Parks Department in the state where the animal resided; additionally, the referring veterinary clinic (if one is listed) will also be notified.

SDSU Veterinary Science Department, Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laborator
605 688 5172 0ffice, 605 688 6003