Molecular epidemiology investigation of rabies virus nucleoprotein genes in China / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between the distribution of rabies virus and genetic variation, the genetic characterization and variation of rabies virus strains in China were analyzed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The downstream 720 nucleotides of Nucleoprotein (N) gene coding region of the rabies specimens from different areas and host animals were sequenced, and then homology and phylogenesis were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nucleotide similarities of 34 N gene sequences were 87.5%-100%, and the deduced amino acid similarities were 93.3%-99.6%. Most of the nucleotide variations were synonymous mutations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 34 rabies specimens all belong to genotype I and are of regional characteristic. The rabies viruses in high-incidence areas in China are of various origins and present the transmission tendency from high-incidence areas to surrounding regions. There may be cross-infection and mutual spread of rabies virus between wildlife and domestic animals as well as native and foreign animals.</p>

Study on the status of infection and distribution of rabies virus in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the status of infection and distribution of rabies virus (RV) in different epidemic areas in China. Methods Brain specimens from animals and suspected patients were collected at the districts of high-, medium- and low incidence rates of human rabies and detected by both direct Immunofluorescence assay (DFA) and RT-PCR. Results 254 of 3007 specimens of dog brains showed RV positive by DFA (positive rate of 8.4% ). Among these 254 samples, 78 showed positive (positive rate of 30.7% ) by RT-PCR. 93 specimens from dogs and cats that had attacked human beings, 63 of them showed positive by DFA (positive rate of 67.7%) and all of them were also positive by RT-PCR. In addition, RV could also be detected in Apodemus agrarius,ferret badger, and suspected patients specimens from the districts under survey. There was no statistical difference between the infection rates of RV in different provinces and regions with different incidence of rabies. Conclusion There might be a relatively high infection rate of RV among the domestic dogs/cats in the endemic areas in China. Wild animals might have been infected with RV in the districts under survey.

Study on the feasibility of a cell-culture inoculation test in the detection and isolation of street rabies virus / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective Feasibility of using MNA cell-culture inoculation test to detect and isolate the street rabies virus. Methods Using MNA cell-culture inoculation test, fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and sandwich ELISA with double-antibodies to detect 33 specimens of street rabies virus, 20 specimens of negative canine brains and 4 specimens of healthy mice brains. Results 33 specimens of street rabies virus were positive to the cell-culture inoculation test but the others were negative. The concordances of MNA cell-cultured inoculation test with FAT and sandwich ELISA with double-antibodies were both 100%. Conclusion MNA cell-culture inoculation test appeared to be both highly sensitive and specific in detecting the street rabies virus, and could be used in detection and isolation of the virus.