Rabies virus strains circulating in Bhutan: implications for control.
We report a molecular epidemiological study of rabies virus (RABV) strains circulating in animal populations in Bhutan, and investigate potential origins of these viruses. Twenty-three RABV isolates originating from dogs and other domestic animals were characterized by sequencing the partial nucleoprotein (N) gene (395 bp). Phylogenetic analysis was conducted and the Bhutanese isolates were compared with rabies viruses originating from other parts of the world. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Bhutanese isolates were highly similar and were closely related to Indian strains and South Asian Arctic-like-1 viruses. Our study suggests that the rabies viruses spreading in southern parts of Bhutan have originated from a common ancestor, perhaps from the Indian virus strain.
Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia.
Tenzin
S
S
Wacharapluesadee
J
J
Denduangboripant
N K
NK
Dhand
R
R
Dorji
D
D
Tshering
K
K
Rinzin
V
V
Raika
N
N
Dahal
M P
MP
Ward
D000818:Animals; D001631:Bhutan / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004285:Dogs; D005838:Genotype; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; C099601:nucleocapsid protein, Rabies virus