# First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in Argentina

## TL;DR

This paper reports the first case of paralytic rabies in a lowland tapir in Argentina, emphasizing the need for expanded wildlife surveillance to manage rabies in changing environments.

## Contribution

The study documents the first confirmed case of paralytic rabies in a lowland tapir, expanding the known host range of the rabies virus.

## Key findings

- Rabies virus was confirmed in a lowland tapir using immunofluorescence, cell culture, and molecular diagnostics.
- Antigenic variant 3, linked to vampire bats, was identified in the infected tapir.
- Histopathological analysis showed typical rabies lesions, including encephalitis and inclusion bodies.

## Abstract

As a significant zoonotic disease, rabies poses substantial economic challenges for the livestock sector, highlighting the need for effective wildlife monitoring as part of a One Health approach. This study documents the first case of paralytic rabies in a lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) at the Guaycolec Wildlife Station in Formosa, Argentina. The 12-year-old male tapir exhibited neurological symptoms, including limb paralysis and dysphagia, leading to its death. The rabies virus was confirmed through direct immunofluorescence, virus isolation in BHK-21 cells, and molecular diagnostics via real-time RT-PCR and conventional PCR. Antigenic variant 3, associated with Desmodus rotundus, was identified. Histopathological examination revealed non-suppurative encephalitis with lymphocytic perivascular cuffs, neuronal vacuolization, and acidophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the grey matter. This case underscores the importance of expanded surveillance for non-traditional hosts, as it demonstrates the potential for rabies transmission in changing environments. The findings highlight the need to maintain epidemiological surveillance systems at the wildlife–livestock–human interface and to develop targeted control strategies to mitigate the spread of rabies, particularly in areas where vampire bat populations are subject to anthropogenic pressures. Comprehensive monitoring and early detection are essential for effective rabies management in both wildlife and urban contexts.