Rabies can be prevented : be aware of its dangers.

28 September 2022 is #WorldRabiesDay. The theme for this year is “Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths”, emphasising the need for us all to work together to achieve the #ZeroBy30 goal. This article by Dr Claude Sabeta and Prof Jannie Crafford, both in the Faculty of Veterinary Science's Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases highlights the dangers of the disease, how it can be prevented and what must be done if someone was bitten by a potentially rabid animalNews article with colour photos about what's happening at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria.Originally published on the University of Pretoria's websiteab202

Aspects of the molecular epidemiology of rabies in Zimbabwe and South Africa

Rabies, one of the oldest recognized viral zoonotic diseases, is a fatal encephalomyelitis transmitted to man via contact with infected animals. Evan today, rabies still is a disease of public health concern with many potentially preventable deaths occurring mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Rabies and rabies-related viruses are members of the Lyssavirus genus, which comprises the rabies virus (genotype 1), Lagos bat virus (genotype 2), Mokola virus (genotype 3), Duvenhage virus (genotype 4), European bat lyssaviruses 1 and 2 (genotypes 5 and 6) and the Australian bat lyssavirus (genotype 7). Antigenic and genetic studies have shown that rabies virus strains circulating in particular host species tend to undergo genetic adaptation and evolve into distinct biotypes that differ in antigenicity and pathogenicity. Two biotypes of rabies virus are recognized in southern Africa. The first called the canid viruses, infect carnivores of the family Canidae (dogs, jackals and bat-eared foxes) and the second, the viverrid viruses, infect carnivores of the family Herpestidae (the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicil!ata and the slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea). In an endeavour to better understand the molecular epidemiology of lyssaviruses in Zimbabwe and South Africa, we analysed nucleotide sequences of the glycoprotein and the G-L intergenic region (rabies viruses) and the nucleoprotein gene (Mokola viruses). The main aim of the studies described in this thesis was to characterise lyssaviruses (genotypes I and 3) from Zimbabwe and compare them to those present in South Africa. In addition, we wanted to establish the role of the various rabies variants in rabies epizootics in the southern African subcontinent. It could be shown from this study that all the southern African canid viruses were closely related, with no general distinction between viruses from any of the canid species. Despite the general overall similarity between the canid viruses, certain phylogenetic groupings were apparent and by association with host species, geography and year of isolation, certain groups could be identified as particular epidemiological cycles. A high genetic diversity was evident amongst viverrid rabies viruses, the opposite of our observation for canid viruses. The viverrid virus groups corresponded to geographical pockets that were independent of host species. Mokola viruses from Zimbabwe were shown to be different from those from South Africa and phylogenetic relationships of these viruses were related to their geographical location of origin. This study has demonstrated the value of multinational surveillance and investigation in understanding the epidemiology of lyssaviruses in southern Africa and elsewhere in Africa. The results presented here will serve as basis for future studies on lyssaviruses in Africa and will contribute to the improved surveillance and control programs of rabies and Mokola viruses in the region.Thesis (PhD (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Microbiology and Plant Pathologyunrestricte

Antigenic characterisation of lyssaviruses in South Africa

There are at least six Lyssavirus species that have been isolated in Africa, which include classical rabies virus, Lagos bat virus, Mokola virus, Duvenhage virus, Shimoni bat virus and Ikoma lyssavirus. In this retrospective study, an analysis of the antigenic reactivity patterns of lyssaviruses in South Africa against a panel of 15 anti-nucleoprotein monoclonal antibodies was undertaken. A total of 624 brain specimens, collected between 2005 and 2009, confirmed as containing lyssavirus antigen by direct fluorescent antibody test, were subjected to antigenic differentiation. The lyssaviruses were differentiated into two species, namely rabies virus (99.5%) and Mokola virus (0.5%). Furthermore, rabies virus was further delineated into two common rabies biotypes in South Africa: canid and mongoose. Initially, it was found that the canid rabies biotype had two reactivity patterns; differential staining was observed with just one monoclonal antibody. This difference was likely to have been an artefact related to sample quality, as passage in cell culture restored staining. Mongoose rabies viruses were more heterogeneous, with seven antigenic reactivity patterns detected. Although Mokola viruses were identified in this study, prevalence and reservoir host species are yet to be established. These data demonstrate the usefulness of monoclonal antibody typing panels in lyssavirus surveillance with reference to emergence of new species or spread of rabies biotypes to new geographic zones

A molecular epidemiological study of rabies epizootics in kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in Namibia

BACKGROUND: A panel of 37 rabies virus isolates were collected and studied, originating mainly from the northern and central regions of Namibia, between 1980 and 2003. RESULTS: These virus isolates demonstrated a high degree of genetic similarity with respect to a 400 bp region of the nucleoprotein gene, with the virus isolates originating from kudu antelope (n = 10) sharing 97.2–100% similarity with jackal isolates, and 97–100% similarity with those isolated from domestic dogs. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that these viruses were all of the canid rabies biotype of southern Africa. The viruses from kudu were closely associated with jackal isolates (n = 6), bat-eared fox isolates (n = 2) and domestic dog isolates (n = 2) at the genetic level and identical at the amino acid level, irrespective of the year of isolation. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that jackal and kudu may form part of the same epidemiological cycle of rabies in Namibian wildlife, and might demonstrate the close-relationship between rabies virus strains that circulate within Namibia and those that circulate between Namibia and its neighbouring countries such as Botswana and South Africa

Isolation of Lagos Bat Virus from Water Mongoose

One-sentence summary for table of contents: Lagos bat virus from water mongoose showed strong sequence homology with other Lagos bat virus isolates from South Africa

A case report on a human bite contact with a rabid honey badger Mellivora capensis (Kromdraai Area, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa)

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The nucleotide sequence data generated in this study can be found on Genbank.In South Africa, rabies cycles are sustained by both domestic and wildlife host species. Despite the fact that the majority of human rabies cases are associated with dog bite exposures, wildlife species can potentially transmit rabies virus (RABV) infection to humans. In July 2021, a honey badger (Mellivora capensis) from the Kromdraai area (Gauteng Province) bit a dog on a small farm. The following day the same honey badger attacked three adults in the area, with one of the victims requiring hospitalization for management of her injuries. The honey badger was subsequently shot and the carcass submitted to the Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR) for RABV diagnosis. A positive rabies diagnosis was confirmed and phylogenetic analysis of the amplified glycoprotein gene of the rabies virus demonstrated the virus to be of dog origin.The Rabies Diagnostic Project (P10000045) of the ARC-OVR and was partly funded by European Virus Archive global (EVAg), a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/tropicalmedam2023Veterinary Tropical DiseasesSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Lagos Bat Virus, South Africa

Three more isolates of Lagos bat virus were recently recovered from fruit bats in South Africa after an apparent absence of this virus for 13 years. The sporadic occurrence of cases is likely due to inadequate surveillance programs for lyssavirus infections among bat populations in Africa

Antigenic characterisation of lyssaviruses in South Africa

There are at least six Lyssavirus species that have been isolated in Africa, which include classical rabies virus, Lagos bat virus, Mokola virus, Duvenhage virus, Shimoni bat virus and Ikoma lyssavirus. In this retrospective study, an analysis of the antigenic reactivity patterns of lyssaviruses in South Africa against a panel of 15 anti-nucleoprotein monoclonal antibodies was undertaken. A total of 624 brain specimens, collected between 2005 and 2009, confirmed as containing lyssavirus antigen by direct fluorescent antibody test, were subjected to antigenic differentiation. The lyssaviruses were differentiated into two species, namely rabies virus (99.5%) and Mokola virus (0.5%). Furthermore, rabies virus was further delineated into two common rabies biotypes in South Africa: canid and mongoose. Initially, it was found that the canid rabies biotype had two reactivity patterns; differential staining was observed with just one monoclonal antibody. This difference was likely to have been an artefact related to sample quality, as passage in cell culture restored staining. Mongoose rabies viruses were more heterogeneous, with seven antigenic reactivity patterns detected. Although Mokola viruses were identified in this study, prevalence and reservoir host species are yet to be established. These data demonstrate the usefulness of monoclonal antibody typing panels in lyssavirus surveillance with reference to emergence of new species or spread of rabies biotypes to new geographic zones.This work was partly funded by the Rabies Diagnostic Project, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute (OVI 15/4/P001) and the European Virus Archive (EVA) (04/17/C215).http://www.ojvr.orgam201

New isolations of the rabies-related Mokola virus from South Africa

BACKGROUND : Mokola virus (MOKV) is a rabies-related lyssavirus and appears to be exclusive to the African continent. Only 24 cases of MOKV, which includes two human cases, have been reported since its identification in 1968. MOKV has an unknown reservoir host and current commercial vaccines do not confer protection against MOKV. RESULTS : We describe three new isolations of MOKV from domestic cats in South Africa. Two cases were retrospectively identified from 2012 and an additional one in 2014. CONCLUSIONS : These cases emphasize the generally poor surveillance for rabies-related lyssaviruses and our inadequate comprehension of the epidemiology and ecology of Mokola lyssavirus per se.Additional file 1: Table S1. Primers and PCR conditions for amplification of the Nucleoprotein-, Phosphoprotein-, Matrix protein- and Glycoprotein genes of Mokola virus isolates.Additional file 2: Table S2. Details of sequences used for the Bayesian analysis of the rabies virus positive samples.Additional file 3: Table S3. Details of sequences used for the Bayesian analysis of the new Mokola virus isolates.Additional file 4: Figure S1. Bayesian analysis of the coding region of the Nucleoprotein gene (1353 bp) of all Mokola virus isolates (Additional file 3: Table S3) applying the general time reversible substitution model with invariable sites. Laboratory reference numbers are shown for all sequences, followed by the host species, country of origin (KZN SA: KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa; EC SA: Eastern Cape province South Africa; ZIM: Zimbabwe; CAR: Central African Republic; NIG: Nigeria) and year of isolation.Additional file 5: Figure S2. Bayesian analysis of the coding region of the Phosphoprotein gene (913 bp) applying the general time reversible substitution model with gamma distribution. Laboratory reference numbers are shown for all sequences, followed by the host species, country of origin (KZN SA: KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa; EC SA: Eastern Cape province South Africa; ZIM: Zimbabwe; CAR: Central African Republic; NIG: Nigeria) and year of isolation.Additional file 6: Figure S3. Bayesian analysis of the coding region of the Matrix protein gene (609 bp) applying the general time reversible substitution model with gamma distribution. Laboratory reference numbers are shown for all sequences, followed by the host species, country of origin (KZN SA: KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa; EC SA: Eastern Cape province South Africa; ZIM: Zimbabwe; CAR: Central African Republic; NIG: Nigeria) and year of isolation.Additional file 7: Figure S4. Bayesian analysis of the coding region of the Glycoprotein gene (1569 bp) applying the general time reversible substitution model with gamma distribution and invariable sites. Laboratory reference numbers are shown for all sequences, followed by the host species, country of origin (KZN SA: KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa; EC SA: Eastern Cape province South Africa; ZIM: Zimbabwe; CAR: Central African Republic; NIG: Nigeria) and year of isolation.Additional file 8: Table S4. Nucleotide identity of the Nucleoprotein gene of all Mokola virus isolates.Additional file 9: Table S5. Nucleotide identity of the Phosphoprotein gene of all Mokola virus isolates.Additional file 10: Table S6. Nucleotide identity of the Matrix protein gene of all Mokola virus isolates.Additional file 11: Table S7. Nucleotide identity of the Glycoprotein gene of all Mokola virus isolates.This work was partially funded by the National Research Foundation (Grant UID 92524 & RISP grant UID78566), the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (Grant no. 10/40, 12/14) and the Animal and Zoonotic Diseases Institutional Research Theme of the University of Pretoria.http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcvetresam2017Medical VirologyMicrobiology and Plant Patholog