Rabies surveillance in Senegal 2001 to 2015 uncovers first infection of a honey-badger.

Despite the establishment of Rabies surveillance in animals and humans since 2008, there is a lack of data on its circulation, dynamic of transmission and real burden in Senegal. To better understand the molecular epidemiology of rabies virus in Senegal, we investigated the genetic diversity of 18 new characterized Senegalese rabies virus sequences collected over 14 years, including a honey-badger-related isolate. Phylogeographic analyses demonstrated that the Senegalese isolates belong to a monophyletic cluster into the Africa-2 clade and supported two RABV introductions in Senegal from West-African neighbour countries, 36-40 years ago. Our study is noteworthy for reporting on the first characterization of an African honey-badger-related rabies virus that did not have the N-glycosylation site NKT at position 338-G of the glycoprotein. The identified amino acid polymorphisms found in the Senegalese rabies virus sequences are worthy of further investigation. Although a strong multidisciplinary stepwise cooperation is important for the successful elimination of Rabies in dog populations in Senegal by 2030, the establishment of surveillance in wildlife could be necessary to avoid future re-introductions into domestic hosts.

A Model for the Production of Regulatory Grade Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Exposure Stocks: From Field Surveillance to Advanced Characterization of SFTSV.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging human pathogen, endemic in areas of China, Japan, and the Korea (KOR). It is primarily transmitted through infected ticks and can cause a severe hemorrhagic fever disease with case fatality rates as high as 30%. Despite its high virulence and increasing prevalence, molecular and functional studies in situ are scarce due to the limited availability of high-titer SFTSV exposure stocks. During the course of field virologic surveillance in 2017, we detected SFTSV in ticks and in a symptomatic soldier in a KOR Army training area. SFTSV was isolated from the ticks producing a high-titer viral exposure stock. Through the use of advanced genomic tools, we present here a complete, in-depth characterization of this viral stock, including a comparison with both the virus in its arthropod source and in the human case, and an in vivo study of its pathogenicity. Thanks to this detailed characterization, this SFTSV viral exposure stock constitutes a quality biological tool for the study of this viral agent and for the development of medical countermeasures, fulfilling the requirements of the main regulatory agencies.