title: Antigenic characterization of street rabies virus isolates from Nigeria using monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Twenty isolates of street rabies virus were recovered in mouse neutroblastoma cells from 84 rabies suspect brain specimens from Nigeria dogs and a cat. They were characterized with the Tübingen monoclonal antibody panels directed against nucleocapsid and glycoprotein antigens. Antigenic variations were detected both with antinucleocapsid (anti-NC) and antiglycoprotein (anti-GP) monoclonal antibodies (mabs). One isolate reacted positively with anti-NC mab P41 which hitherto has been known to react positively with polar rabies. Another isolate did not react with anti-NC mab 187.5; a reaction normally seen with ERA/SAD strains of rabies virus. With anti-GP mabs it was possible to group the isolates by their area of origin. Isolates from Plateau State were not neutralized by anti-GP mabs ERA 543 and P44.7.2. The isolates studied had glycoprotein antigenic patterns different from the pattern for low egg passage (LEP) Flury strain vaccine virus used in Nigeria for immunization of dogs.
authors.affiliation: Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Umoh
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D011818:Rabies / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral