Antigenic typing of brazilian rabies virus samples isolated from animals and humans, 1989-2000

Abstract

SUMMARYAnimal and human rabies samples isolated between 1989 and 2000 were typified by means of a monoclonal antibody panel against the viral nucleoprotein. The panel had been previously established to study the molecular epidemiology of rabies virus in the Americas. Samples were isolated in the Diagnostic Laboratory of the Pasteur Institute and in other rabies diagnostic centers in Brazil. In addition to the fixed virus samples CVS-31/96-IP, preserved in mouse brain, and PV-BHK/97, preserved in cell culture, a total of 330 rabies virus samples were isolated from dogs, cats, cattle, horses, bats, sheep, goat, swine, foxes, marmosets, coati and humans. Six antigenic variants that were compatible with the pre-established monoclonal antibodies panel were defined: numbers 2 (dog), 3 (Desmodus rotundus), 4 (Tadarida brasiliensis), 5 (vampire bat from Venezuela), 6 (Lasiurus cinereus) and Lab (reacted to all used antibodies). Six unknown profiles, not compatible with the panel, were also found. Samples isolated from insectivore bats showed the greatest variability and the most commonly isolated variant was variant-3 (Desmodus rotundus). These findings may be related to the existence of multiple independent transmission cycles, involving different bat species.

Molecular characterization of rabies virus isolated from non-haematophagous bats in Brazil

“…The monoclonal antibodies technique allows the characterization of rabies antigenic variants and possible reservoirs of the virus 12 . Among the 27 samples submitted for antigenic analysis, three antigenic variants were identified, all belonging to profiles from the existent panel and previously identified in Latin America by several authors 12,[20][21][22] .…”

“…Among the 27 samples submitted for antigenic analysis, three antigenic variants were identified, all belonging to profiles from the existent panel and previously identified in Latin America by several authors 12,[20][21][22] . These variants represent rabies virus reservoirs from Latin America maintained by Desmodus rotundus (AgV-3), Tadarida brasiliensis (AgV-4), and Lasiurus cinereus (AgV-6) bat populations.…”

“…Aggression by Desmodus rotundus is currently the main cause of human rabies in Brazil, and a great number of rabies cases on nonhaematophagous bat species have been diagnosed, although with no human cases 5 . Bat rabies, combined with recent aggression by wild canines (Cerdocyon thous) and marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) [12][13] , points out to the importance of a continuous vigilance in wild animals; to understand the epidemiology of the disease in those species and to establish adequate strategies of prevention and control.…”

Bat-transmitted Human Rabies Outbreaks, Brazilian Amazon

“…All rabies virus strains isolated were antigenically typed by indirect IFA by using a panel of 8 monoclonal antibodies prepared against the viral nucleoprotein (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA) ( 9 , 16 ). Six original CNS samples (3066M, 3067M, 3068M, 3072M, and 3522M from Portel and 5214 from Viseu) were tested in a reverse transcription–PCR that amplifies a 1,352-bp fragment of the nucleoprotein gene with sense primer N1 5´-ATGGATGCCGACAAGATT 3´and anti-sense primer N2 5´-TTATGAGTCACTCGAATA 3´ as described by Carnieli et al ( 17 ) by using Superscript II Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen, São Paulo, Brazil) and Taq DNA Polymerase (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions.…”

Monoclonal antibodies for characterization of rabies virus isolated from non-hematophagous bats in Brazil

“…Six other profiles were identified that were incompatible with the panel utilized. The greatest variability was observed among the samples isolated from insectivorous bats, and the most common variant found was variant 3 of D. rotundus [17].…”