title: Complete genome and molecular epidemiological data infer the maintenance of rabies among kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in Namibia.
abstract: Rabies in kudu is unique to Namibia and two major peaks in the epizootic have occurred since it was first noted in 1977. Due to the large numbers of kudu that were affected, it was suspected that horizontal transmission of rabies occurs among kudu and that rabies was being maintained independently within the Namibian kudu population - separate from canid cycles, despite geographic overlap. In this study, it was our aim to show, through phylogenetic analyses, that rabies was being maintained independently within the Namibian kudu population. We also tested, through complete genome sequencing of four rabies virus isolates from jackal and kudu, whether specific mutations occurred in the virus genome due to host adaptation. We found the separate grouping of all rabies isolates from kudu to those of any other canid species in Namibia, suggesting that rabies was being maintained independently in kudu. Additionally, we noted several mutations unique to isolates from kudu, suggesting that these mutations may be due to the adaptation of rabies to a new host. In conclusion, we show clear evidence that rabies is being maintained independently in the Namibian kudu population - a unique phenomenon with ecological and economic impacts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Terence P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Melina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khaiseb
authors.forename: Conrad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Freuling
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Höper
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Markotter
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Louis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Nel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D046030:Jackals / Q000821:virology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009154:Mutation; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012418:Ruminants / Q000821:virology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins