Rabies in the African Civet: An Incidental Host for Lyssaviruses?

Abstract

In South Africa, canid rabies virus (RABV) infection is maintained in domestic and wildlife species. The identification of rabies in African civets raised the question of whether this wildlife carnivore is a potential reservoir host of RABVs of direct and ancestral dog origin (dog-maintained and dog-derived origins) with an independent cycle of transmission. Genetic analyses of African civet nucleoprotein sequences for 23 African civet RABVs and historically published sequences demonstrated that RABVs from African civets have two origins related to dog and mongoose rabies enzootics. The data support observations of the interaction of civets with domestic dogs and wildlife mongooses, mostly in Northern South Africa and North-East Zimbabwe. Within each host species clade, African civet RABVs group exclusively together, implying intra-species virus transfer occurs readily. The canid RABV clade appears to support virus transfer more readily between hosts than mongoose RABVs. Furthermore, these data probably indicate short transmission chains with conspecifics that may be related to transient rabies maintenance in African civets. Hence, it is important to continue monitoring the emergence of lyssaviruses in this host. Observations from this study are supported by ongoing and independent similar cases, in which bat-eared foxes and black-backed jackal species maintain independent rabies cycles of what were once dog-maintained RABVs.

Viral receptor profiles of masked palm civet revealed by single-cell transcriptomics

“…For example, the canine parvoviruses were reported to cause diarrhea and deaths in civets and the viral DNA can be detected in the brain, liver, heart, spleen and small intestine 3 , which is consistent with the wide distribution of its receptor TFRC in the civet organs. Lyssaviruses usually cause fatal encephalitic diseases in a wide range of mammals with civet infections reported in Africa and Asia 5,6 . Our results showed an obvious enrichment of a related receptor, NCAM1 , in multiple cell types of the civet frontal lobe, which may contribute to the neurovirulence of these viruses.…”

Epidemiological Interface of Sylvatic and Dog Rabies in the North West Province of South Africa

“…Clade C indicated that there was genetic homology between the RABV sequences collected from civet species in the western parts of Zimbabwe, jackal species in the southern parts of Botswana, and a genet in the northern parts of the NW Province. During a previous investigation of the molecular epidemiology of rabies in Zimbabwe, the researchers found strong evidence that a sylvatic cycle of rabies was being maintained by the civet populations in Zimbabwe [33]. During that study, the authors noted that the RABV cycle within the civet populations was related to an outbreak of mongoose rabies circulating within the slender mongoose (Galerella sanguinea) [33].…”

“…Over recent years, rabies has become an increasing concern in the NW province of South Africa, given the apparent expanding involvement of wildlife in the country [9,14,33]. However, very little is known about the epidemiological drivers nor the interplay between dog and wildlife rabies.…”

“…During a previous investigation of the molecular epidemiology of rabies in Zimbabwe, the researchers found strong evidence that a sylvatic cycle of rabies was being maintained by the civet populations in Zimbabwe [33]. During that study, the authors noted that the RABV cycle within the civet populations was related to an outbreak of mongoose rabies circulating within the slender mongoose (Galerella sanguinea) [33]. This is consistent with our finding as the civet, genet, and jackal samples in the phylogenetic analyses were distantly related to the canid variant of RABV circulating within the other samples included for study in our analyses.…”

The Importance of Accurate Host Species Identification in the Framework of Rabies Surveillance, Control and Elimination

“…RABV circulation in wildlife not only poses a significant threat for conservation of endangered mammals but also a latent risk for the re-establishment of rabies’ cycles in unvaccinated domestic animals, which renders rabies as an authentic priority health concern [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Based on a literature review, rabies is reported in about 200 mammals, and of those, sixteen are classified as endangered [ 17 ].…”