Molecular Epidemiology of Rabies Virus Isolates in India

Abstract

In India, rabies is enzootic and is a serious public health and economic problem. India has a large population of stray dogs which, together with a lack of effective control strategies, might have led to the persistence of rabies virus (RV) in the canine population. Our objective was to study the molecular epidemiology of RV isolates in India based on nucleotide sequence analysis of 29 RV isolates originating from different species of animals in four states. Here we have analyzed two sets of sequence data based upon a 132-nucleotide region of the cytoplasmic domain (CD) of the G gene (G-CD) and a 549-nucleotide region (Psi-L) that combines the noncoding G-L intergenic region (Psi) and a fragment of the polymerase gene (L). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the RV isolates belong to genotype 1 and that they were related geographically but were not related according to host species. Five different genetic clusters distributed among three geographical regions were identified. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of G-CD between RV isolates revealed three amino acid changes (amino acid 462G [aa462G], aa465H, and aa468K) that distinguished the Indian RVs from RV isolates in other parts of the world. Analysis of the data indicated that the dog rabies virus variants are the major circulating viruses in India that transmit the disease to other domestic animals and humans as well.

Molecular characterization of Indian rabies virus isolates by partial sequencing of nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) genes

“…This study was undertaken to characterize the rabies virus isolates of Indian origin through nucleotide sequencing of partial N and P genes. As of now, a very limited number of studies have examined the molecular epidemiology of rabies viruses circulating in India by sequence analysis of the glycoprotein-cytoplasmic domain (G-CD) region, the noncoding G-L intergenic region, partial L sequence and the full length genome [6][7][8]. In this study, the genetic relatedness of rabies virus isolates from across India and between rabies viruses of other parts of the world have been studied.…”

Molecular characterization of the full-length genome of a rabies virus isolate from India

“…This has been explained by Denduangboripant et al [43] who suggested that transmission of rabies virus may be related to availability of transportation routes, human activity particularly human migration as well as human and animal population density. Genomic heterogeneity of nucleoprotein and glycoprotein among various rabies viruses isolated from different geographical regions and several sources including human, dog, cat, cattle, and sheep has been reported previously [13,14,26].…”

“…Very few studies have undertaken the molecular characterization of the rabies strains circulating in India. More recently, phylogenetic analyses based on the partial nucleoprotein gene sequences have been reported [13,14]. However, to date, no complete genome sequence analysis and characterization of an Indian rabies virus isolate has been undertaken.…”

Rabies virus strains circulating in Bhutan: implications for control

“…Lack of comprehensive rabies control programs and an inability to pay for post exposure treatments after dog bites are responsible for high incidences of rabies in Asian countries (Knobel et al, 2005;Wilde et al, 2007). Over the past decade many molecular epidemiological studies have been conducted in Asian countries, and have provided a better understanding of the RABV variants circulating in Asia and the transmission dynamics of the disease (Denduangboripant et al, 2005;Nanayakkara et al, 2003;Nagarajan et al, 2006;Susetya et al, 2008;Gong et al, 2010;Hyun et al, 2005). This information is needed for implementation of effective rabies control programs in the region.…”