Phylogeography of rabies virus isolated from bats (Nyctinomops laticaudatus) in the São Paulo State, Brazil

• Grant number: 15/10258-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Adolorata Aparecida Bianco Carvalho
• Grantee: Adolorata Aparecida Bianco Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Paula Rodomilli Grisólio ; Luiz Fernando Pereira Vieira

Abstract

Rabies is a zoonosis and an acute infectious viral disease, which affects all species of mammals. In urban areas, dogs and bats, especially fruit bats and insectivorous, are seen as principal transmitter of the disease, and due to their interaction with humans, care must be intensified, given the risk of disease spreading. The advance in epidemiological studies based on molecular analysis of rabies virus in recent decades, allowed the identification of reservoirs and the geographic distribution of variants. Recognizing the importance of rabies in Brazil and the need for knowledge of the reality of the disease in bats in their territory, this project will undertake a phylogeographic study of virus isolated from insectivorous bats (Nyctinomops laticaudatus) in the São Paulo State, previous sent to Section of Rabies Diagnosis from Pasteur Institute in São Paulo/SP. Bioinformatics tools will be used to assist in the phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyzes that allow understanding the evolutionary relationships and the geographical distribution of the virus. At the end of the project, it will helps in control measures and prevention of rabies in urban centers, and provide subsidies for the Epidemiological Surveillance Services of the different municipalities and supporting the activities of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology from Pasteur Institute in São Paulo/SP, which is reference in diagnosis and rabies studies in Brazil. (AU)