[Identification and sequential analysis on rabies virus isolated from a donkey].

OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze the genetic characteristics of nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes of rabies virus (RABV) isolated from a donkey in Wuhan. N gene and G gene of the virus were compared with other representative street strains isolated around Hubei areas as well as the vaccine strains used in China and abroad. METHODS: RABV in brain tissue of a donkey was detected by direct immunofluorescent method and then inoculated in suckling mice to observe the incidence of rabies. Brain samples of the donkey and infected suckling mice were detected by ELISA. The N gene and G gene fragment of the isolated RABV were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pMD18-T vector for sequencing and genetic analysis. RESULTS: RABVs were detected in both donkey brain and suckling mice brain samples. The N gene and G gene nucleotide homology of RABV isolated from the donkey with other representative street strains found around Hubei areas as well as vaccine strains used in China and abroad were 85.7% - 99.1% and 82.2% - 99.7%, and the deduced amino acid identity were 95.6% - 99.8% and 87.8% - 99.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Novel RABV was successfully identified and isolated from a donkey and showed close relationship to the representative street strains found around Hubei areas as well as vaccine strains used in China through genetic analysis.