Open Access
Research (Published online: 04-03-2019)
1. Molecular epidemiological analysis of wild animal rabies isolates from India
Gundallhalli Bayyappa Manjunatha Reddy, Rajendra Singh, Karam Pal Singh, Anil Kumar Sharma, Sobharani Vineetha, Mani Saminathan and Basavaraj Sajjanar
Veterinary World, 12(3): 352-357

Gundallhalli Bayyappa Manjunatha Reddy: Department of Veterinary Pathology, ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Rajendra Singh: Department of Veterinary Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Karam Pal Singh: Department of Veterinary Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anil Kumar Sharma: Department of Veterinary Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sobharani Vineetha: Department of Veterinary Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Mani Saminathan: Department of Veterinary Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Basavaraj Sajjanar: Department of Veterinary Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.352-357

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Article history: Received: 27-10-2018, Accepted: 18-01-2019, Published online: 04-03-2019

Corresponding author: Gundallhalli Bayyappa Manjunatha Reddy

E-mail: gbmpatho@gmail.com

Citation: Reddy GBM, Singh R, Singh KP, Sharma AK, Vineetha S, Saminathan M, Sajjanar B (2019) Molecular epidemiological analysis of wild animal rabies isolates from India, Veterinary World, 12(3): 352-357.
Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to know the genetic variability of rabies viruses (RVs) from wild animals in India.

Materials and Methods: A total of 20 rabies suspected brain samples of wild animals from different states of India were included in the study. The samples were subjected for direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The phylogenetic analysis of partial nucleoprotein gene sequences was performed.

Results: Of 20 samples, 11, 10, and 12 cases were found positive by dFAT, RT-PCR, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all Indian wild RVs isolates belonged to classical genotype 1 of Lyssavirus and were closely related to Arctic/Arctic-like single cluster indicating the possibility of a spillover of rabies among different species.

Conclusion: The results indicated the circulation of similar RVs in sylvatic and urban cycles in India. However, understanding the role of wild animals as reservoir host needs to be studied in India.

Keywords: India, nucleoprotein gene, phylogenetic analysis, rabies virus, wild animals.

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