Chiroptera are the natural reservoirs of lyssaviruses and play an important role in the transmission of animal and human rabies.In this present study,the prevalence of serum antibodies against rabies virus (RABV) in bats was investigated in China.A total of 685 bats belonging to 8 species in 4 families collected from 10 sites of 4 southern provinces were tested by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (iFAT) using FITC-conjugated protein A/G mixture and viral neutralization test.The total positive rate of serum antibodies against RABV was 2.2% (15/685),involving 3 of the 8 species detected.This is the first report showing the seroprevalence of rabies virus in Chinese bats and the results obtained suggest that bats may play a role in the ecology of lyssaviruses in China and further surveillance for the presence of lyssaviruses in bats should be undertaken throughout China.