Download Micro Bat Handling - University of Queensland

Dead Micro Bat Handling Guidelines
SAFS – Standard Operative Procedure
Purpose
To collect deceased micro bats from several agencies and sites and house at the University’s
Gatton Campus. Dissect and measure the skulls. Arrange for CT scans of the prepared skulls
at the Vet Medical Clinic.
Risks
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Australia has 2 suborders of bats, micro bats and mega bats.
Both have the potential to carry and transmit infectious diseases including lyssavirus
(a variant of rabies) and Hendra virus.
Both viruses have the potential to cause disease in humans although direct
transmission from bats to humans has not been demonstrated in the case of Hendra
virus.
In the case of lyssavirus affected bats may show neurological and other signs of being
unwell, however, this is not necessarily the case (infected animals can appear
relatively healthy).
Lyssavirus is thought to be transmitted primarily through bites or scratches from
infected animals, however, exposure via contact with bat saliva at the mucous
membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) also poses a risk
The pre-exposure rabies vaccinations provide some protection against lyssavirus with
further post exposure medical treatments.
Procedure
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Deceased micro bats are frozen and held for collection by Carly Wilson at several
Queensland locations by several agencies.
Micro bats that have died by disease will not be used in this project.
All personnel handling the micro bats will have rabies antibody titres measured every
2 years. If the titre is reported as inadequate, they should have a booster dose.
Alternatively, a booster dose may be offered every 2 years without determining the
antibody titre. However in case of a staff member with impaired immunity, post
immunisation antibody titre testing is required.
Micro bats stored in the freezer will be clearly marked – DO NOT TOUCH.
A History sheet created with the following information:
The date collected,
The date the animal was frozen,
Suburb and area where the animal was found and any history,
How the animal died and contact details.
Revision
1.0
2.0
3.0
Date
05.2012
06.2012
03/2013
Author/s
Robert Doneley
Melissa Lindert
Marshall Butterworth
Amendments
First Issue
Updated / Revised
Updated / Revised for SAFS
1
Dead Micro Bat Handling Guidelines
SAFS – Standard Operative Procedure
Risk Mitigation
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Bats are ONLY to be handled by personnel that are inducted and vaccinated
appropriately
Personal protective equipment, puncture-proof gloves, long-sleeves, safety glasses
and masks should be worn when handling the micro bats to reduce the risk of
exposure.
CT scans only to be performed by trained and certified x-ray operators.
Post-Exposure
 If a bite or scratch occurs or if there is mucous membrane contact with bat saliva the
area should be thoroughly washed with soap and water for 5 minutes (not scrubbed)
 After checking that the person is not allergic to iodine the wound should be cleansed
with povidine-iodine, or alternatively alcohol or other antiseptic solution.
Decontamination can assist to reduce the risk of infection if a bite or scratch occurs
 Following decontamination the affected person should then contact either their
medical practitioner or the University Health Service 336 54883 / 336 56210 who
will make a decision on the appropriate further treatment. Qld Health must then be
contacted on 30009148 / 32749151.
 If a bat does bite or scratch a human the bat MUST be euthanased and place it in a
Styrofoam container wrapped in a cloth on ice marked ‘Public Health Diagnostic
Specimen’. The DPI should then be contacted on 0488228134 for post-mortem
 Details of the incident should be recorded including the name, address and phone
number of the person bitten or scratched. The Injury site is available on
https://www.risk.admin.uq.edu.au/uq-injury/forms/default_content.asp
Further information
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http://www.uq.edu.au/ohs/pdfs/lyssavirus.pdf
http://www.uq.edu.au/ohs/pdfs/batfirstaid.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5703a1.htm
Revision
1.0
2.0
3.0
Date
05.2012
06.2012
03/2013
Author/s
Robert Doneley
Melissa Lindert
Marshall Butterworth
Amendments
First Issue
Updated / Revised
Updated / Revised for SAFS
2
Dead Micro Bat Handling Guidelines
SAFS – Standard Operative Procedure
Important Numbers
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Biosecurity Queensland
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Population Health Units
13 25 23 (business hours)
1800 675 888 (any time)
BRISBANE NORTHSIDE
Spring Hill 3624 1111
Redcliffe 3142 1800
BRISBANE SOUTHSIDE
Coopers Plains 3000 9148
GOLD COAST
Gold Coast 5509 7222
WEST MORETON
Ipswich 3810 1500
SOUTH WEST
Charleville 4656 8100
DARLING DOWNS
Toowoomba 4631 9888
SUNSHINE COAST
Maroochydore 5409 6600
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
Rockhampton 4920 6989
CENTRAL AREA HEALTH SERVICES
Hervey Bay 4120 6000
Bundaberg 4150 2780
CENTRAL WEST
Longreach 4658 0859
NORTH QUEENSLAND
Cairns 4050 6300
Mackay 4968 6611
Mt Isa (Gulf) 4744 4846
Townsville 4753 9000
Communicable diseases branch
3328 9724 or 3328 9728
Revision
1.0
2.0
3.0
Date
05.2012
06.2012
03/2013
Author/s
Robert Doneley
Melissa Lindert
Marshall Butterworth
Amendments
First Issue
Updated / Revised
Updated / Revised for SAFS
3