Wild Animal Training :: Bats

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines:

“In situations in which a bat is physically present and the person cannot exclude the possibility of a bite (e.g. if the person was sleeping or the bat was found in a room with a previously unattended child or mentally disabled or intoxicated person), postexposure treatment should be considered unless prompt testing of the bat has ruled out rabies infection.”

Histoplasmosis and Salmonellosis were discussed in Wild Animal Training and these zoonoses are very relevant to bat excreta. 

RABIES has already been discussed in Wild Animal Training.  Since rabies is a potential zoonosis for anyone trapping bats, a rabies pre-exposure immunization series should be completed at least 3-4 weeks prior to wild mammal exposure.  The series consists of 3 painless (seriously) injections over a 3-4 week period.  For Clemson employees (including GRAs and GTAs) the series is a departmental expense; for students it will be a personal expense.  Not many facilities administer the pre-exposure series, so be sure to discuss this with your advisor or supervisor AND Clemson’s occupational health nurse at least 2 months prior to anticipated exposure in order to complete the series and obtain adequate protection prior to exposure.   

This page was updated on August 10, 2004, and is maintained by Sue Pedrick in the Joseph F. Sullivan Center of the College of Health, Education,and Human Development

© Medical Surveillance Program * Clemson University * Clemson, South Carolina, 29634