Dispersion and diversification of Lyssavirus rabies transmitted from haematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus: a phylogeographycal study

Author(s)

Batista, Helena Beatriz de Carvalho Ruthner ; Vieira, Luiz Fernando Pereira ; Kawai, Juliana Galera Castilho ; Fahl, Willian de Oliveira ; Barboza, Camila Mosca ; Achkar, Samira ; Oliveira, Rafael de Novaes ; Brandao, Paulo Eduardo ; Carnieli Jr, Pedro

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VIRUS GENES; v. N/A, p. 6-pg., 2023-10-05.

Abstract

Rabies is worldwide zoonosis caused by Lyssavirus rabies (RABV) a RNA negative sense virus with low level of fidelity during replication cycle. Nucleoprotein of RABV is the most conserved between all five proteins of the virus and is the most used gene for phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies. Despite of rabies been very important in Public Health concern, it demands continuous prophylactic care for herbivores with economic interest, such as cattle and horses. The main transmitter of RABV for these animals in Brazil is the hematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus. The aim of this study was to determine the dispersion over time and space of RABV transmitted by D. rotundus. Samples of RABV from the State of Sao Paulo (SP), Southeast Brazil isolated from the central nervous system (CNS) of cattle, were submitted to RNA extraction, RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogeographic analyzes with BEAST (Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees) v 2.5 software. Was possible to identify high rate of diversification in starts sublineages of RABV what are correlated with a behavior of D. rotundus, the main transmitter of rabies to cattle. This study also highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of genetic lineages of RABV in Brazil. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/06089-4 - Phylogeography of rabies virus isolated from cattle and horses transmitted by haematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus in the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Pedro Carnieli Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants