MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF RABIES VIRUS IN SOUTH-AFRICA

Nucleic acid sequence analysis was used to determine the phylogenetic relationships amongst rabies viruses isolated from typical canid hosts such as bat-eared fox, jackal and dog in South Africa (SA). Geographi cal factors were taken into account in the selection of isolates and t hree different regions within the genomes of the isolates were compare d for their use as phylogenetic indicators. The three genome regions, being the cytoplasmic domain of the G-gene, the G-L intergenic pseudog ene and the antigenic domain II of the N-gene were found to differ in terms of the degree of nucleic acid conservation, but produced similar results when analyzed phylogenetically. The SA canid isolates were fo und to be closely related and could clearly be distinguished from all other rabies virus groups for which sequence data is available. In add ition four SA mongoose rabies isolates were studied which were shown t o be distant from the SA canid rabies virus group as well as from any other rabies viruses (or group) for which sequence data is available. Our results also indicate that spillover between the distinct canid an d viverrid host reservoirs may occur.