title: Complex genetic structure of the rabies virus in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces, Thailand: implications for canine rabies control.
abstract: Dog vaccination and population management have been suggested as priorities in attempts at disease control in canine rabies-endemic countries. Budget limitations and the complexity of social, cultural and religious variables have complicated progress in the developing world. In Bangkok, Thailand, an intensive canine vaccination and sterilization programme has been in place since November 2002. Our objective was to determine if the rabies virus could be mapped according to its genetic variations and geographical location on the small localized scale of Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. Phylogenetic characterization of 69 samples from Bangkok and five neighbouring and two remote provinces, by limited sequence analysis of the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene, distinguished six different clades. Rabies viruses of four clades were intermixed in Bangkok and in the surrounding highly populated regions whereas the other two clades were confined to rural and less populated provinces. Such a complex pattern of gene flow, particularly in Bangkok, may affect the outcome of canine control programmes.
authors.affiliation: Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Boonlert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lumlertdacha
authors.forename: Supaporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wacharapluesadee
authors.forename: Jessada
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denduangboripant
authors.forename: Nipada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruankaew
authors.forename: Wirongrong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoonsuwan
authors.forename: Apirom
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puanghat
authors.forename: Plyyonk
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sakarasaeranee
authors.forename: Deborrah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Thiravat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hemachudha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D045969:Mustelidae; D011818:Rabies / Q000662:veterinary*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D013785:Thailand