MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY STUDIES ON RABIES-RELATED VIRUSES

Rabies and rabies-related viruses are divided into four serotypes, alt hough it has been suggested that the inclusion of European bat lyssavi ruses results in six genotypes. Sixty-four rabies-related viruses were tested against a panel of 36 anti-nucleocapsid monoclonal antibodies prepared from the immunization of Balb/c mice with five prototypic rab ies-related viruses. Reaction patterns obtained confirmed the original distinction between serotype 1-4 viruses and revealed multiple varian ts of Lagos bat and Mokola viruses. In addition, two biotypes of Europ ean bat lyssavirus were identified and a clear distinction was shown b etween these biotypes and Duvenhage virus of Africa. The origins and i mportance of the rabies-related viruses are discussed.