Godmanchester

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A case of bat rabies has been confirmed in Godmanchester.

A client called the Ormstown Veterinary Hospital (OVH) to report having found a sick bat on their property in Godmanchester during the first week of June. Concerned their cat may have been in contact with the bat, the owners brought their pet to the OVH for a rabies vaccination booster. After the veterinary hospital communicated with the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ), the bat, which had since died, was safely collected and sent to a laboratory in Ottawa for testing.

Dr Judith Léger and animal health technician Bianca Gregory handled the case. They confirmed that a positive result for rabies was returned from the laboratory within a day. Both report it has been a long time since they have seen a case of rabies in the area.

There have been 28 cases identified this year in the Montérégie and Estrie regions in the racoon population, but none so far in the Haut-Saint-Laurent area. “It is well known that with racoons and other wildlife, rabies comes in waves. There are little epidemics,” said Léger, noting these tend to occur in seven- or eight-year cycles. “But bats are always considered carriers of rabies, even when there isn’t a wave,” she explained.

According to the MAPAQ, bats are classified separately from other animals who may be susceptible to rabies. Bat rabies is the most common variant in Quebec and is present in all regions and in all bat species. “They are automatically considered rabid,” said Gregory, noting how important it is that the population take precautions when it comes to bats.

Gregory explained that in the event someone comes across a weak, sick, or dead bat, the first step is to contact the MAPAQ for detailed instructions. “You can’t bring a dead wild animal to the vet,” she said, noting the government agency may suggest that a veterinarian become involved if a pet has been in contact with a wild animal.

With rabies on the rise in neighbouring regions, Gregory said vaccination is becoming even more important. In the current case, the cat’s vaccinations were up to date, and all that was required was a booster.

The protocol for an unvaccinated animal that is potentially exposed to rabies is quite different as a series of vaccinations are required. “This means a much higher cost for the client and a much higher potential for rabies infection,” she explained, noting an unvaccinated pet exposed to rabies must also be kept in quarantine with no human contact for at least 45 days.

The OVH recommends that people avoid handling wild animals, especially racoons, bats, skunks, and foxes. Contact a veterinarian immediately if a pet has been in contact with a wild animal and watch for symptoms of rabies such as sudden behavior changes, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, paralysis or staggering, and aggression or unusual tameness in wild animals.

Any suspected sightings or contact with a wild animal that may have rabies should be reported to the MAPAQ by calling 1-877-346-6763.