Dog rabies has commonly been associated with the eastern and southern border areas in Mpumalanga province, and the Nkomazi district in the east has been most affected. In other parts of the province, canid rabies has been under control for many years; however, in 2008, dog rabies spread to other parts of the province and resulted in a widespread outbreak. The objective of this study was to genetically characterize rabies viruses in an attempt to determine the source of this recent outbreak. Fifty-five rabies viruses were recovered from domestic dogs between 2000 and 2008 from Mpumalanga province and bordering areas. The viruses were characterized through nucleotide sequencing of the cytoplasmic domain of the glycoprotein gene and the G-L intergenic region. Phylogenetic analysis of these viruses and those previously characterized from Mpumalanga province and neighboring countries and provinces clearly supported the placement of the viruses from the current outbreak and those from Nkomazi district in one lineage. This demonstrated that the recent emergence of rabies in Mpumalanga province resulted from the spread of rabies from Nkomazi district. A comparative analysis demonstrated close genetic relationships among rabies viruses from Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, Swaziland, and Mozambique. Findings from this investigation have shown that rabies continues to pose a definite public health threat in South Africa, a situation similar to other African countries.

Rabies is a prevalent and re-emerging disease in South Africa particularly in rural areas with high human densities. Outbreaks are frequently reported in the north and eastern parts of this country, probably an indication of inadequacy in the control of the disease. Following the 2005/2006 outbreak in Limpopo, we undertook an analysis of case surveillance data and genetically characterized 18 rabies viruses, all recovered from domestic dogs. Although rabies prevalence gradually declined annually from 2007, dog rabies still remains a public and veterinary health hazard in this region. Sylvatic rabies cycles are maintained by the black-backed jackal species in specific ecological conditions in the northwest of the province (Waterberg area), unlike in the north and east (Vhembe and Mopani districts, respectively), where spillover of infection between dogs and jackals is likely to predominate. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the rabies virus strain currently circulating within dog populations in Limpopo province is the same variant responsible for the 2005/2006 rabies outbreak. However, residual foci probably exist hence the observed sporadic outbreaks. These data further underline the value of continuous and sustainable dog immunization in controlling rabies.