Mokola virus infection: description of recent South African cases and a review of the virus epidemiology.

Five cases of Mokola virus, a lyssavirus related to rabies, are described. The cases occurred in cats from the East London, Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg areas of South Africa from February 1996 to February 1998. Each of the cats was suspected of being rabid and their brains were submitted for laboratory confirmation. Four of the cases were positive, but with atypical fluorescence, and 1 was negative. Mokola virus infection was identified by anti-lyssavirus nucleocapsid monoclonal antibody typing. As in rabies cases, the predominant clinical signs were of unusual behaviour. Aggression was present, but only during handling. Four of the 5 cats had been vaccinated for rabies, which is consistent with other studies that show that rabies vaccination does not appear to protect against Mokola virus. Since Mokola may be confused with rabies, the incidence of Mokola virus may be more common in Africa than is currently reported. As human infections may be fatal, the emergence of this virus is a potential threat to public health.

Non-bite transmission of rabies in kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros).

The titres of rabies virus in the saliva of kudu are higher than those of the salivary glands. The high titres are an indication of active excretion and multiplication in tissues other than the salivary glands. Two out of 4 kudu died of rabies after experimental infection by the instillation of infected saliva onto their buccal and nasal mucosae. Mice and 2 cattle resisted a similar exposure. Kudu also developed antibodies against rabies after instillation of HEP Flury virus onto their nasal and buccal mucosae. Cattle did not react when they were treated in the same way. These results suggest a high susceptibility of kudu to rabies when the virus is applied to their mucous membranes.

Neurological symptoms in a cat following vaccination with high egg passage Flury rabies vaccine of chicken embryo origin.

The development of neurological symptoms in a cat following vaccination with the high egg passage Flury rabies vaccine and the subsequent isolation of a virus with characteristics consistent with the criteria for distinguishing the high egg passage Flury strain of rabies virus are described.