Molecular methods to distinguish between classical rabies and the rabies-related European bat lyssaviruses

A rapid and sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-P CR) assay for the detection of classical rabies virus (genotype 1) and the rabies related European bat lyssaviruses (EBLs) (genotypes 5 and 6) was dev eloped. When combined with specific oligonucleotide probes and a PCR-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA), genotype 5 and 6 viruses can be di stinguished from each other and from genotype 1 viruses. Ninety-two isolate s from the six established genotypes of rabies and rabies-related viruses w ere screened by RT-PCR and PCR-ELISA to determine the specificity of the as says. All genotype 1, 5 and 6 viruses were detected by RT-PCR while none of the genotype 2, 3 and 4 viruses were detected. All the genotype 5 and 6 vi ruses were detected by the two PCR-ELISA probes when used in combination wh ile none of the genotype 1-4 viruses were detected. When used individually, the PCR-ELISA probes also distinguished between the genotype 5 and 6 virus es. This new discriminatory test should allow the rapid genotyping of all l yssaviruses likely to be encountered in Europe and as such could provide us eful epidemiological information in the event of an outbreak. (C) 2000 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.