Rabies diagnosis and serology in bats from the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: Bats are one of the most important reservoirs and vectors of the rabies virus in the world.

Methods: From 1988 to 2003, the Zoonosis Control Center in São Paulo City performed rabies diagnosis on 5,670 bats by direct immunofluorescent test and mouse inoculation test. Blood samples were collected from 1,618 bats and the sera were analyzed using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test to confirm rabies antibodies.