Sequencing and analysis of N gene of street rabies virus isolated from different hosts in Zhejiang province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To elucidate the characteristics of genetic variability and its relationship with prevalence, through sequencing and analysis of N gene among street rabies virus isolated from different hosts (homo sapiens, ferret badger, dog) in Zhejiang province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples were screened and confirmed by direct fluorescence assay and reverse transcript PCR. Sequences were analyzed using bio-information software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eighteen street rabies virus strains were identified, including 2 from homo sapiens, 5 from ferret badger, and 11 from dog. Similarities of N gene and N protein were calculated to be 89.7%-100.0% and 98.4%-100.0% respectively. Mutations occurred in N gene were almost non-sense mutations. In addition,Data from phylogenetic analysis showed that all these strains could be classified into traditional genotype 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of rabies viruses among different hosts in Zhejiang province had certain regional properties. Rabies viruses isolated from the same kind of host or from the same/adjacent county/counties had the closest relationship. However, the characteristics of rabies virus prevalent in homo sapiens were somewhat complicated. In summary, the transmission of street rabies virus in Zhejiang province was from dogs to ferret badgers and homo sapiens, and the virus could circulate and cross-regional transmit among dogs and ferret badgers.</p>

Molecular Characterization of Viral G Gene in Emerging and Re-emerging Areas of Rabies in China, 2007 to 2011 / 中国病毒学·英文版

In recent years (2007 to 2011),although the overall number of rabies cases in China has decreased,there is evidence of emerging or re-emerging cases in regions without previous rabies cases or with low incidence of rabies.To investigate the origin and the factors affecting the spread of rabies in China,specimens were collected from 2007 to 2011 from provinces with emerging and re-emerging cases and tested for the presence of the rabies virus.Positive specimens were combined with sequences from GenBank to perform comparisons of homology and functional sites,and to carry out phylogenetic analyses.Out of these regions,five provinces had 9positive specimens from canine and cattle,and 34 canine or human specimens were obtained from previously high-incidence provinces.Complete sequences of G gene were obtained for these samples.Homology of the sequences of these 43 specimens was 87％-100％ at the nucleotide level and 93.7％ -100％ at the amino acid level.These G gene sequences were combined with reference sequence from GenBank and used to construct a phylogenetic tree.The results showed that 43 specimens were all assigned to China clade I and clade Ⅱ,with all specimens from emerging and re-emerging areas placed within clade I.Specimens isolated from Shanxi and Inner Mongolia in 2011 were distinct from previously-isolated local strains and had closer homology to strains from Hebei,Beijing and Tianjin whereas new isolates from Shanghai were tightly clustered with strains isolated in the 1990s.Finally,Shaanxi isolates were clustered with strains from adjacent Sichuan.Our results suggest that the rabies cases in emerging and re-emerging areas in China in the last 5 years are a consequence of the epidemic spreading from of neighboring provinces and regions experiencing a serious epidemic of rabies.

Analysis on Factors Related to Rabies Epidemic in China from 2007-2011 / 中国病毒学·英文版

To analyze features of the rabies epidemic in China between 2007 and 2011,identify factors influencing the epidemic and to provide a scientific basis for further control and prevention of rabies,Descriptive epidemiological methods and statistical analysis was used on data collected from the National Disease Reporting Information System between 2007 to 2011 and the National Active Surveillance System between 2007 and 2010.Our analysis shows that while the number of human rabies cases decreased year by year,the number of districts reporting cases did not show significant change.The situations in Guangdong,Guangxi,Guizhou and Hunan provinces clearly improved over the period but they remain provinces with high-incidence,and consequently influence the epidemic situation of surrounding provinces and possibly the whole country.Summer and autumn were high-incidence seasons.Farmers,students and pre-school children represent the high-risk populations,and rates of cases in farmers increased,those for students decreased,and pre-school children remained unchanged.Provinces with active surveillance programs reported a total of 2346 individual cases,of which 88.53％ were associated with canines.Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) of rabies cases was not significantly improved,whereas PEP in post-exposure population was good.In rural regions of China,canine density was reduced somewhat,and the immunization rate increased slightly.Finally we show that while the epidemic decreased 2007 to 2011 in China,cases continued to be diffused in certain regions.Lack of standardization of PEP on rabies cases was the main reason of morbidity.The high density and low immunization of dog in rural areas and the defective situation of PEP are still continuous occurrences in China and remain a cause for concern.