A bevy of bats in recent weeks has the state Department of Livestock reminding Montanans about the dangers of rabies and benefits of vaccinating pets. Three incidents with bats last week show just how significant those dangers might be to your family and companion animals.

     In one of last week's cases, two household members are undergoing post-exposure treatment and a unvaccinated cat was placed under 180-day quarantine after several incidents with bats inside the house. In the second, an unvaccinated dog was potentially exposed by a bat and is now quarantined, per state law, for a 180 days. In another, an unvaccinated cat was euthanized.

     State veterinarian Dr. Marty Zaluski said that while pets are naturally attracted to wildlife and some pet-animal conflicts are unavoidable, vaccination can reduce the risk of rabies when exposures occur.

     "It's unfortunate any time a pet owner has to euthanize or quarantine a pet because of rabies," Zaluski said. "For the cost of vaccination, these types of situations can be avoided."

     Humans exposed to rabies must undergo a series of shots; there is no cure for infected animals, which must be euthanized. Boarding a pet in an approved facility, which in many cases is required when unvaccinated animals are exposed or potentially exposed to the disease, can be quite expensive. With boarding rates of $5-$20/day, a 180-day quarantine can cost more than $1,000. Additionally, quarantined pets must be isolated from contact with humans and other animals for the duration of the quarantine.

     "The potential consequences make vaccinations a good investment from both a human and animal health perspective," Zaluski said.

     Pet owners, he added, are encouraged to work with their veterinarian to develop an animal health plan that includes rabies and other vaccinations. Local veterinarians, he said, have a "wealth of information" about rabies.

     Bats are, on an annual basis, the most common carrier of the disease in Montana . So far this year, 63 of 203 samples (31 percent) submitted to the Montana Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory for testing have been bats.  Forty-five of the 63 bats submitted this year (71 percent) have come since July 1, with 25 tests performed just within the past week.

     Zaluski said the numbers sound high but normally peak during the summer months.

     "Bats, and other common carriers of the disease like skunks, are more active in the summer and are thus more likely to be encountered by humans or pets," he said. "It's the time of year when pet and livestock owners need to be vigilant and take proper precautions."

     One problem with bats, Zaluski said, is that many samples submitted for testing are "unsuitable," meaning a test cannot be performed. Testing for rabies requires a brain sample, which means the head of the infected bat or other animal needs to be as intact as possible. But, due to their small size and flighty nature – which also attracts the attention of pets – bats are often dispatched via a sharp blow to the head, resulting in a sample that cannot be tested.

     When attempting to capture or collect a bat for testing, Zaluski said, the first priority is making sure you do not expose yourself to the disease. Heavy, puncture-resistant gloves should be worn when collecting the bat (or any other animal suspected of having the disease), and the sample should be double bagged. The next priority is ensuring the sample is suitable for testing, which can be achieved by avoiding damage to the head. People observing a bat or other animal suspected of having rabies can also call local animal control officers.

     "We like to have samples so we can identify any risk that may exist for both humans and animals," Zaluski said. "But the first priority, always, is protecting yourself."

     Rabies is a deadly viral disease that causes swelling of the brain in mammals, including humans. It is spread through saliva, bites or scratches from an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal unless treated before symptoms appear, but remains a rare event in humans (rabies causes 1-2 deaths per year in the U.S. , according to the Centers for Disease Control, and globally accounts for more than 55,000 human deaths a year, mostly in Asia and Africa ).

     Abnormal behavior is the most consistent sign of the disease. Rabies can take on two forms in animals – dumb or furious. With the dumb form, animals become shy or hide, and are often unapproachable. They may also be sluggish and act depressed or confused. With the furious form, animals are excitable, irritable and act aggressively. These animals may attack suddenly when approached. Other signs of rabies include drooling; inability to eat, drink or swallow; frothing at the mouth; and staggering, weakness, convulsions and paralysis. Animals will normally become comatose prior to death.

     "Unusual behavior, such as poor motor skills (staggering, walking in circles, etc.), being out in daylight hours and showing no fear of humans, are classic signs of the disease and should always send up a red flag," Zaluski said.

     Nationally, most reported rabies cases occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. In Montana , bats and skunks accounted for more than 90 percent of the cases reported since 2000.

     Anyone who is bitten or scratched by an animal should thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water and seek medical attention for the wound. Animal bites should be reported to the county health department (or county sheriff's office after hours) as soon as possible.

     Rabies is a mandatory reportable disease in Montana , and all suspected cases must be immediately reported to the State Veterinarian at 406/444-2043

     For additional information on rabies, please consult your local public health department or see:

Montana Department of Livestock, http://liv.mt.gov/liv/ah/diseases/rabies/general.asp

Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, http://cdepi.hhs.mt.gov

USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/oral_rabies/

Centers for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/

American Veterinary Medical Association, http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/rabies/rabies_brochure.asp

Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention & Control, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5702a1.htm

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