title: Antigenic and molecular characterization of rabies virus in Argentina.
abstract: The nucleoprotein genes of 54 human, domestic and wild animals rabies isolates obtained in Argentina between 1995 and 2002 were characterized using monoclonal antibodies and partial gene sequence analysis. The antigenic and genetic diversities of rabies virus in samples from bat and bat-related cases were studied, leading to the identification of five distinct genetic variants. Rabies viruses isolated from vampire bat related cases were very similar to each other, showing 98.9% overall similarity. Specific antigenic variants (AgV) were detected associated with different insectivorous bats species, in samples from Tadarida brasiliensis and Eumops patagonicus bats. In contrast, isolates from Myotis sp. and Histiotus sp. bats could not be matched to any antigenic type. Additionally, bat rabies cases were also detected in southern provinces previously considered rabies-free. Finally, two independent antigenic and genetic variants co-circulating in northern Argentina were found in isolates obtained from dogs and dog-related cases, suggesting two independent cycles of virus transmission. This is the first national coordinated study of antigenic as well as molecular epidemiology of rabies in Argentina. The information presented here will improve our knowledge about rabies epidemiology and therefore, will assist preventing fatal human cases.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurovirosis, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbran, Buenos Aires, Argentina. dcisterna@anlis.gov.ar
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cisterna
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonaventura
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caillou
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.forename: Maria Lidia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Andreau
authors.forename: Liliana Dalla
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Echegoyen
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Mattos
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Mattos
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Novaro
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elberger
authors.forename: María Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Freire
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001118:Argentina; D002417:Cattle; D002685:Chiroptera; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D011818:Rabies / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004279:DNA, Viral; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins