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Chierato MER, Silveira VBV, Pavani DFP, Fahl WO, Iamamoto K, Asano KM, Batista HBCR, Scheffer KC, Maiorka PC, Mori E. Evaluation of LN34 Pan-Lyssavirus RT-qPCR assay for rabies diagnosis in Brazil. J Virol Methods 2024; 327:114948. [PMID: 38718900 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Rabies, a fatal zoonotic viral disease affecting mammals, including humans, remains a significant global health concern, particularly in low-income countries. The disease, primarily transmitted through infected animal saliva, prompts urgent diagnosis for timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The gold standard diagnostic test, direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT), while sensitive, suffers from limitations such as subjective interpretation and high costs. As a confirmatory technique, the LN34 Pan-Lyssavirus RT-qPCR assay has emerged as a promising tool for universal Lyssavirus detection. This study evaluated its performance using 130 rabies virus isolates representing eleven Brazilian variants and 303 clinical samples from surveillance operations. The LN34 assay demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity compared to dFAT. Additionally, it detected all samples, including those missed by dFAT, indicating superior sensitivity. The assay's specificity was confirmed through Sanger nucleotide sequencing, with only a minimal false-positive rate. Comparative analysis revealed higher accuracy and concordance with dFAT than traditional rabies tissue culture infection tests (RTCIT). False-negative RTCIT results were attributed to low viral load or suboptimal sampling. These findings underscore the LN34 assay's utility as a confirmatory technique, enhancing rabies surveillance and control in Brazil. Its widespread adoption could significantly improve diagnostic sensitivity, crucial for effective PEP and public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E R Chierato
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - V B V Silveira
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - D F P Pavani
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, Sao Paulo, SP 01311‑ 000, Brazil
| | - W O Fahl
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, Sao Paulo, SP 01311‑ 000, Brazil
| | - K Iamamoto
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, Sao Paulo, SP 01311‑ 000, Brazil
| | - K M Asano
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, Sao Paulo, SP 01311‑ 000, Brazil
| | - H B C R Batista
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, Sao Paulo, SP 01311‑ 000, Brazil
| | - K C Scheffer
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, Sao Paulo, SP 01311‑ 000, Brazil
| | - P C Maiorka
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - E Mori
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, Sao Paulo, SP 01311‑ 000, Brazil.
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2
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Antúnez MP, Marín Montesinos JC, Corduneanu A, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Tick-borne viruses and their risk to public health in the Caribbean: Spotlight on bats as reservoirs in Cuba. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26118. [PMID: 38375245 PMCID: PMC10875593 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have surged and expanded globally due to factors like changes in human activities, land use patterns, and climate change, and it have been associated with the emergence of zoonotic diseases. Cuba faces the impact of ticks on human health and the economy. Although Cuba has studied TBDs extensively for the past 50 years, focus on tick-borne viral pathogens affecting humans remains scant. Despite TBDs not currently being a major health concern in Cuba, factors like inadequate clinician awareness, climate conditions, global tick emergence, and evidence of zoonotic pathogens in ticks underscore the importance of enhanced TBD surveillance in the country. Here we revised the available information on ticks as vectors of pathogenic viruses to humans, spotlighting bats as potential reservoirs of tick-borne viruses (TBVs). Ticks on bats have gained interest as potential reservoirs of pathogenic viruses to humans in Cuba and worldwide. Understanding their role in maintaining viruses and their potential transmission to humans is crucial for the implementation of surveillance and control programs to reduce the risk of tick-borne viral diseases and public health management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritza Pupo Antúnez
- Laboratorio de Virología. Departamento de Microbiología y Virología. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, C.P. 10400, Plaza de la Revolución, Cuba
| | - José Carlos Marín Montesinos
- Laboratorio de Virología. Departamento de Microbiología y Virología. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, C.P. 10400, Plaza de la Revolución, Cuba
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Animal Breeding and Animal Production, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Sara Moutailler
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
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3
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Solorzano-Scott T, Aguilar-Vargas F, Cordero-Salas M, Conejo A, Rojas A, Baldi M. Case report: First documented case of cerebral angiostrongyliasis caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis in a free-ranging opossum. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1294484. [PMID: 38362296 PMCID: PMC10867154 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1294484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a metastrongyloid nematode that primarily infects the mesenteric arteries of wild rodents. This parasite is endemic in several regions of the American continent, and in humans, causes a disease known as abdominal angiostrongyliasis. Despite the important health implications of this nematode, there are limited studies investigating the involvement of wild animals in its life cycle. In this study, we present the clinical manifestations, pathologic findings, and molecular diagnosis, to the best of our current knowledge, of the first documented onset of cerebral angiostrongyliasis because of A. costaricensis infection in a juvenile free-ranging opossum (Didelphis marsupialis). Histopathological findings stress the presence of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with nematodes present within the lesions, and PCR was positive for cox1 and ITS1 reactions. The obtained sequences for a 279 bp fragment of ITS1 were 100% identical to A. costaricensis from Costa Rica. This case highlights the substantial difficulties in diagnosing neuroangiostrongyliasis, yet underscores the importance of considering A. costaricensis as a potential culprit behind neurological conditions in wild marsupials. It acts as an urgent call to action to improve surveillance programs tracking infectious and parasitic diseases causing mortality in wildlife populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Solorzano-Scott
- Tropical Diseases Research Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Servicio de Patología Diagnóstica LAPAVET-ESFA, Escuela de Medicina y Cirugía Veterinaria San Francisco de Asís, Universidad Veritas, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Fernando Aguilar-Vargas
- Tropical Diseases Research Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Martha Cordero-Salas
- Widlife Veterinary Clinic, Santuario y Centro de Rescate Las Pumas, Cañas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
| | - Amanda Conejo
- Laboratory of Helminthology, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Alicia Rojas
- Laboratory of Helminthology, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mario Baldi
- Tropical Diseases Research Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
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de Carvalho Ruthner Batista HB, Vieira LFP, Kawai JGC, de Oliveira Fahl W, Barboza CM, Achkar S, de Novaes Oliveira R, Brandão PE, Carnieli Junior P. Dispersion and diversification of Lyssavirus rabies transmitted from haematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus: a phylogeographical study. Virus Genes 2023; 59:817-822. [PMID: 37796410 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-023-02030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
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 São 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.
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de Souza DN, Oliveira RN, Asprino PF, Bettoni F, Macedo CI, Achkar SM, Fahl WO, Brandão PE, Castilho JG. Evolution and divergence of the genetic lineage Desmodus rotundus/Artibeus lituratus of rabies virus in São Paulo State. Arch Virol 2023; 168:266. [PMID: 37798456 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05864-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The last record of a rabies case caused by the dog-specific rabies virus (RABV) lineage in dogs or cats in São Paulo State was in 1998. From 2002 to 2021, 57 cases of rabies in these animals were reported, and the vast majority (51) were genetically characterized as belonging to the Desmodus rotundus/Artibeus lituratus RABV lineage. However, it is not currently possible to infer which of these bats is the source of infection by genome sequencing of RABV isolates. The aims of this study were (a) to characterize the Desmodus rotundus/Artibeus lituratus lineage to determine the relationships between the RABV lineages and each reservoir, (b) to assess the phylogeny and common ancestors of the RABV lineages found in D. rotundus and A. lituratus, and (c) to further understand the epidemiology and control of rabies. In this study, we genetically analyzed 70 RABV isolates from São Paulo State that were received by the Virology Laboratory of the Pasteur Institute of São Paulo between 2006 and 2015. Of these isolates, 33 were associated with the hematophagous bat D. rotundus and 37 with the fruit bat A. lituratus. A genomic approach using phylogenetic analysis and nucleotide sequence comparisons demonstrated that these isolates belonged to the same genetic lineage of RABV. We also found that, in São Paulo State, the D. rotundus/A. lituratus lineage could be subdivided into at least four phylogenetic sublineages: two associated with D. rotundus and two with A. lituratus. These results are of importance for the epidemiological surveillance of rabies in São Paulo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - P F Asprino
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - F Bettoni
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - C I Macedo
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - S M Achkar
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - W O Fahl
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - P E Brandão
- Departments of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Harding C, Larsen BB, Otto HW, Potticary AL, Kraberger S, Custer JM, Suazo C, Upham NS, Worobey M, Van Doorslaer K, Varsani A. Diverse DNA virus genomes identified in fecal samples of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) captured in Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Arizona (USA). Virology 2023; 580:98-111. [PMID: 36801670 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Bats (order Chiroptera) are some of the most abundant mammals on earth and their species ecology strongly influences zoonotic potential. While substantial research has been conducted on bat-associated viruses, particularly on those that can cause disease in humans and/or livestock, globally, limited research has focused on endemic bats in the USA. The southwest region of the US is of particular interest because of its high diversity of bat species. We identified 39 single-stranded DNA virus genomes in the feces of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) sampled in the Rucker Canyon (Chiricahua Mountains) of southeast Arizona (USA). Twenty-eight of these belong to the virus families Circoviridae (n = 6), Genomoviridae (n = 17), and Microviridae (n = 5). Eleven viruses cluster with other unclassified cressdnaviruses. Most of the viruses identified represent new species. Further research on identification of novel bat-associated cressdnaviruses and microviruses is needed to provide greater insights regarding their co-evolution and ecology relative to bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Harding
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Brendan B Larsen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Hans W Otto
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Ahva L Potticary
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; University of Georgia in the Department of Entomology, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Simona Kraberger
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Joy M Custer
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Crystal Suazo
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Nathan S Upham
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Michael Worobey
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Koenraad Van Doorslaer
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The BIO5 Institute, Department of Immunobiology, Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, UA Cancer Center, University of Arizona Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA; Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
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7
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Wallau GL, Barbier E, Tomazatos A, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Bernard E. The Virome of Bats Inhabiting Brazilian Biomes: Knowledge Gaps and Biases towards Zoonotic Viruses. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0407722. [PMID: 36625641 PMCID: PMC9927472 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04077-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Bats host a large variety of viruses, including some that may infect other vertebrates and humans. Research on bat-borne viruses attracted significant attention in recent years mainly due to epizootics caused by viruses having bats as hosts. The characterization of the viral communities of bats was then prioritized, but despite increasing efforts, there are large disparities in the geographical ranges covered and the methodologies employed around the world. As a result, large gaps remain in our current understanding of bat viromes and their role in disease emergence. This is particularly true for megadiverse regions in Latin America. This review aims to summarize the current understanding about bat viruses that inhabit Brazilian biomes, one of the most bat species-rich and diverse regions of the globe. Taking into account all known bat-associated viral families studied in Brazilian biomes, we found that almost half of all bat species (86/181 species) were not investigated for viruses at all. Moreover, only a small fraction of viral lineages or families have been studied more in depth, usually employing targeted methods with limited power to characterize a broad virus diversity. Additionally, these studies relied on limited spatiotemporal sampling and small sample sizes. Therefore, our current understanding of bat viral communities in the Brazilian biomes is limited and biased at different levels, limiting zoonotic risk assessments of bat-borne viruses. Considering these limitations, we propose strategies to bridge the existing gaps in the near future. IMPORTANCE Bat-borne viruses have attracted much attention due to zoonotic outbreaks with large consequences to humans. Because of that, virus characterization in bats has been prioritized in tropical regions of the globe. However, bat-virus research in Latin America and particularly in Brazil, which are among the most bat species-rich regions of the world, are highly biased toward zoonotic viruses and known bat reservoir species. These results have direct implication for virus studies in general but also for new zoonotic virus and spillover events characterization. The limited knowledge we currently have about the virome of Brazilian bats drastically limits any broad assessment of zoonotic viruses they carry and calls for coordinated and large-scale studies to fill this crucial knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Luz Wallau
- Departamento de Entomologia and Núcleo de Bioinformática, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães (IAM) - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Cidade Universitária, Recife, Brazil
- Department of Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, National Reference Center for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eder Barbier
- Laboratório de Ciência Aplicada à Conservação da Biodiversidade, Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Brazil
| | - Alexandru Tomazatos
- Department of Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, National Reference Center for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Department of Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, National Reference Center for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Enrico Bernard
- Laboratório de Ciência Aplicada à Conservação da Biodiversidade, Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Brazil
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Conselheiro JA, Barone GT, Miyagi SAT, de Souza Silva SO, Agostinho WC, Aguiar J, Brandão PE. Evolution of Rabies Virus Isolates: Virulence Signatures and Effects of Modulation by Neutralizing Antibodies. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121556. [PMID: 36558890 PMCID: PMC9782306 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyssavirus rabies (RABV) is an RNA virus and, therefore, is subject to mutations due to low RNA polymerase replication fidelity, forming a population structure known as a viral quasispecies, which is the core of RNA viruses' adaptive strategy. Under new microenvironmental conditions, the fittest populations are selected, and the study of this process on the molecular level can help determine molecular signatures related to virulence. Our aim was to survey gene signatures on nucleoprotein and glycoprotein genes that might be involved in virulence modulation during the in vitro evolution of RABV lineages after serial passages in a neuronal cell system with or without the presence of neutralizing antibodies based on replicative fitness, in vivo neurotropism and protein structure and dynamics. The experiments revealed that amino acids at positions 186 and 188 of the glycoprotein are virulence factors of Lyssavirus rabies, and site 186 specifically might allow the attachment to heparan as a secondary cell receptor, while polymorphism at position 333 might allow the selection of escape mutants under suboptimal neutralizing antibodies titers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Amorim Conselheiro
- Laboratory of Diagnostics of Zoonosis and Vector-borne Diseases (LabZoo), Zoonosis Surveillance Division, Health Surveillance Coordination, Municipal Health Department, São Paulo 02031-020, SP, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Gisely Toledo Barone
- Laboratory of Diagnostics of Zoonosis and Vector-borne Diseases (LabZoo), Zoonosis Surveillance Division, Health Surveillance Coordination, Municipal Health Department, São Paulo 02031-020, SP, Brazil
| | - Sueli Akemi Taniwaki Miyagi
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
| | - Sheila Oliveira de Souza Silva
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
| | - Washington Carlos Agostinho
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
| | - Joana Aguiar
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo Eduardo Brandão
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
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9
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Motta GH, Guimarães LP, Fernandes ER, Guedes F, de Sá LRM, Dos Ramos Silva S, Ribeiro OG, Katz ISS. Rabies virus isolated from insectivorous bats induces different inflammatory responses in experimental model. J Neuroimmunol 2022; 373:577974. [PMID: 36270078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Rabies virus (RABV) is a neurotropic virus that causes fatal neuroinflammation in mammals. The insectivorous bat RABV strains are less pathogenic for mice than strains associated with other reservoirs. We characterized the tissue inflammatory response in the CNS of RABV isolated from insectivorous bats. Eptesicus furinalis (EPBRV)-infected mice had a robust inflammatory response and a greater amount of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, while Myotis nigricans (MNBRV)-infected mice showed a higher expression of IL-17 and greater activation of IFN-β. New approaches to understand the inflammatory response to different mechanisms of action may provide insights for the development of novel therapies for rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fernanda Guedes
- Pasteur Institute, Av. Paulista 393, São Paulo CEP 01311-000, Brazil
| | | | | | - Orlando Garcia Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo CEP 05503-900, Brazil
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10
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Embregts CWE, Farag EABA, Bansal D, Boter M, van der Linden A, Vaes VP, van Middelkoop-van den Berg I, IJpelaar J, Ziglam H, Coyle PV, Ibrahim I, Mohran KA, Alrajhi MMS, Islam MM, Abdeen R, Al-Zeyara AA, Younis NM, Al-Romaihi HE, AlThani MHJ, Sikkema RS, Koopmans MPG, Oude Munnink BB, GeurtsvanKessel CH. Rabies Virus Populations in Humans and Mice Show Minor Inter-Host Variability within Various Central Nervous System Regions and Peripheral Tissues. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122661. [PMID: 36560665 PMCID: PMC9781572 DOI: 10.3390/v14122661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies virus (RABV) has a broad host range and infects multiple cell types throughout the infection cycle. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and minor variant analysis are powerful tools for studying virus populations within specific hosts and tissues, leading to novel insights into the mechanisms of host-switching and key factors for infecting specific cell types. In this study we investigated RABV populations and minor variants in both original (non-passaged) samples and in vitro-passaged isolates of various CNS regions (hippocampus, medulla oblongata and spinal cord) of a fatal human rabies case, and of multiple CNS and non-CNS tissues of experimentally infected mice. No differences in virus populations were detected between the human CNS regions, and only one non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was detected in the fifth in vitro passage of virus isolated from the spinal cord. However, the appearance of this SNP shows the importance of sequencing newly passaged virus stocks before further use. Similarly, we did not detect apparent differences in virus populations isolated from different CNS and non-CNS tissues of experimentally infected mice. Sequencing of viruses obtained from pharyngeal swab and salivary gland proved difficult, and we propose methods for improving sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen W. E. Embregts
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
| | | | | | - Marjan Boter
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne van der Linden
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent P. Vaes
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jeroen. IJpelaar
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hisham Ziglam
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | | | - Imad Ibrahim
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
- Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Khaled A. Mohran
- Department of Animal Resources, Ministry of Municipality, Doha P.O. Box 35081, Qatar
- Biotechnology Departments ERC, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki 12611, Egypt
| | | | - Md. Mazharul Islam
- Department of Animal Resources, Ministry of Municipality, Doha P.O. Box 35081, Qatar
| | - Randa Abdeen
- Department of Animal Resources, Ministry of Municipality, Doha P.O. Box 35081, Qatar
| | - Abdul Aziz Al-Zeyara
- Department of Animal Resources, Ministry of Municipality, Doha P.O. Box 35081, Qatar
| | - Nidal Mahmoud Younis
- Department of Animal Resources, Ministry of Municipality, Doha P.O. Box 35081, Qatar
| | | | | | - Reina S. Sikkema
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marion P. G. Koopmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas B. Oude Munnink
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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11
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Passive epidemiological surveillance in wildlife in Costa Rica identifies pathogens of zoonotic and conservation importance. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262063. [PMID: 36155648 PMCID: PMC9512195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological surveillance systems for pathogens in wild species have been proposed as a preventive measure for epidemic events. These systems can minimize the detrimental effects of an outbreak, but most importantly, passive surveillance systems are the best adapted to countries with limited resources. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the technical and infrastructural feasibility of establishing this type of scheme in Costa Rica by implementing a pilot program targeting the detection of pathogens of zoonotic and conservation importance in wildlife. Between 2018 and 2020, 85 carcasses of free-ranging vertebrates were admitted for post-mortem and microbiology analysis. However, we encountered obstacles mainly related to the initial identification of cases and limited local logistics capacity. Nevertheless, this epidemiological surveillance scheme allowed us to estimate the general state of health of the country’s wildlife by establishing the causes of death according to pathological findings. For instance, 60% (51/85) of the deaths were not directly associated with an infectious agent. Though in 37.6% (32/85) of these cases an infectious agent associated or not with disease was detected. In 27.1% (23/85) of the cases, death was directly related to infectious agents. Furthermore, 12.9% (11/85), the cause of death was not determined. Likewise, this wildlife health monitoring program allowed the detection of relevant pathogens such as Canine Distemper Virus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Angiostrongylus spp., Baylisascaris spp., among others. Our research demonstrated that this passive surveillance scheme is cost-effective and feasible in countries with limited resources. This passive surveillance can be adapted to the infrastructure dedicated to monitoring diseases in productive animals according to the scope and objectives of monitoring wildlife specific to each region. The information generated from the experience of the initial establishment of a WHMP is critical to meeting the challenges involved in developing this type of scheme in regions with limited resources and established as hotspots for emerging infectious diseases.
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12
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcione B. De Oliveira
- Graduate Program in Zoology, National Museum, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil
| | - Cibele R. Bonvicino
- Graduate Program in Zoology, National Museum, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil
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13
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Oliveira RN, Freire CC, Iamarino A, Zanotto PM, Pessoa R, Sanabani SS, Souza SPD, Castilho JG, Batista HBCR, Carnieli P, Macedo CI, Watanabe JT, Brandão PE. Rabies virus diversification in aerial and terrestrial mammals. Genet Mol Biol 2020; 43:e20190370. [PMID: 32745160 PMCID: PMC7416755 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2019-0370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a fatal zoonotic infection of the central nervous system of mammals and has been known to humans for millennia. The etiological agent, is a neurotropic RNA virus in the order Mononegavirales, family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus. There are currently accepted to be two cycles for rabies transmission: the urban cycle and the sylvatic cycle. The fact that both cycles originated from a common RABV or lyssavirus ancestor and the adaptive divergence that occurred since then as this ancestor virus adapted to a wide range of fitness landscapes represented by reservoir species in the orders Carnivora and Chiroptera led to the emergence of the diverse RABV lineages currently found in the sylvatic and urban cycles. Here we study full genome phylogenies and the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of the RABVs in the sylvatic and urban cycles. Results show that there were differences between the nucleotide substitution rates per site per year for the same RABV genes maintained independently in the urban and sylvatic cycles. The results identify the most suitable gene for phylogenetic analysis, heterotachy among RABV genes and the TMRCA for the two cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael N Oliveira
- Instituto Pasteur, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Caio C Freire
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB-II), Departamento de Microbiologia, Laboratório de Evolução Molecular e Bioinformática, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Atila Iamarino
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB-II), Departamento de Microbiologia, Laboratório de Evolução Molecular e Bioinformática, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paolo M Zanotto
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB-II), Departamento de Microbiologia, Laboratório de Evolução Molecular e Bioinformática, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Pessoa
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Departamento de Virologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sabri S Sanabani
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Departamento de Virologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana G Castilho
- Instituto Pasteur, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Pedro Carnieli
- Instituto Pasteur, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carla I Macedo
- Instituto Pasteur, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline T Watanabe
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Departamento de Virologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo E Brandão
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnica, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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14
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Fernandes MES, Carnieli P, Gregório ANF, Kawai JGC, Oliveira RN, Almeida LL, Rosa JCA, Ferreira JC, Traverso SD, Roehe PM, Batista HBCR. Phylogenetic analysis of rabies viruses isolated from cattle in southern Brazil. Virus Genes 2020; 56:209-216. [PMID: 31955384 PMCID: PMC7223090 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-020-01730-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Bats and dogs are the main reservoirs of rabies virus (RABV) in Latin America and are responsible for the maintenance of different cycles of infection. In the two neighbour and most southern Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC), rabies in dogs has been successfully controlled for more than 30 years. However, rabies associated to the rural cycle remains endemic, with a significant, though oscillating-annual incidence of rabies in cattle. Despite the plethora of studies on genetic analyses of Brazilian RABV, isolates from southern Brazil have only scarcely been investigated. This work was performed to identify the genetic lineages of RABVs circulating in states of RS and SC. Fifty-nine RABV cattle isolates from RS and SC were selected and submitted to reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by sequencing of the nucleoprotein gene. In RS, the circulation of two sublineages (1A and 1B) of RABV was detected, both with characteristics of lineages usually detected in vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus). In SC, only one sublineage of RABV (1B) was detected. Nevertheless, the findings reported here are expected to contribute to the understanding of the biology of the virus in the region and its interactions with the natural host D. rotundus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Laura L Almeida
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - Julio C A Rosa
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - José C Ferreira
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - Sandra D Traverso
- Laboratório de Patologia Animal, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (LAPA/UDESC), Lages, SC, Brazil
| | - Paulo M Roehe
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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15
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Menozzi BD, da Paz GS, Paiz LM, Garces HG, Adorno BMV, Almeida-Silva F, Zancope Oliveira RM, Richini-Pereira VB, Chechi JL, Bagagli E, Bosco SDMG, Langoni H. Rabies virus and Histoplasma suramericanum coinfection in a bat from southeastern Brazil. Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 67:138-147. [PMID: 31750629 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Bats are essential to the global ecosystem, but their ability to harbour a range of pathogens has been widely discussed, as well as their role in the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases. This paper describes the first report of coinfection by two zoonotic agents, rabies virus (RABV) and the fungus Histoplasma suramericanum in a bat. The bat was from the Molossus molossus species, and it was found during the daytime in the hallway of a public psychiatric hospital in a municipality in São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. RABV infection was diagnosed by the direct fluorescent antibody test and mouse inoculation test. The fungus was isolated by in vitro culture. Both diagnoses were confirmed by molecular techniques. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the fungus isolate had proximity to H. suramericanum in the Lam B clade, while the RABV isolate was characterized in the Lasiurus cinereus lineage. Since the M. molossus bat was found in a peri-urban transition area (urban/peri-urban), the possibility of cross-species transmission of this RABV lineage becomes more plausible, considering that this scenario may provide shelter for both M. molossus and L. cinereus. These are relevant findings since there has been an increase in bat populations in urban and peri-urban areas, particularly due to environmental modifications and anthropogenic impacts on their habitat. Thus, the detection of two zoonotic agents in a bat found in a public hospital should raise awareness regarding the importance of systematic surveillance actions directed towards bats in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giselle Souza da Paz
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
- Municipal Health Department, Botucatu, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Helio Langoni
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
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16
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Streicker DG, Fallas González SL, Luconi G, Barrientos RG, Leon B. Phylodynamics reveals extinction-recolonization dynamics underpin apparently endemic vampire bat rabies in Costa Rica. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191527. [PMID: 31594511 PMCID: PMC6790760 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in disease incidence in wildlife is often assumed to reflect environmental or demographic changes acting on an endemic pathogen. However, apparent endemicity might instead arise from spatial processes that are challenging to identify from traditional data sources including time series and field studies. Here, we analysed longitudinal sequence data collected from rabies virus outbreaks over 14 years in Costa Rica, a Central American country that has recorded continuous vampire bat-transmitted rabies outbreaks in humans and livestock since 1985. We identified five phylogenetically distinct lineages which shared most recent common ancestors with viruses from North and South America. Bayesian phylogeographic reconstructions supported bidirectional viral dispersals involving countries to the north and south of Costa Rica at different time points. Within Costa Rica, viruses showed little contemporaneous spatial overlap and no lineage was detected across all years of surveillance. Statistical models suggested that lineage disappearances were more likely to be explained by viral extinctions than undetected viral circulation. Our results highlight the importance of international viral dispersal for shaping the burden of rabies in Costa Rica, suggest a Central American corridor of rabies virus invasions between continents, and show that apparent disease endemicity may arise through recurrent pathogen extinctions and reinvasions which can be readily detected in relatively small datasets by joining phylodynamic and modelling approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G. Streicker
- MRC—University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - Rocío González Barrientos
- Laboratorio de Bioseguridad, Laboratorio Nacional de Servicios Veterinarios, Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Bernal Leon
- Laboratorio de Bioseguridad, Laboratorio Nacional de Servicios Veterinarios, Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, Heredia, Costa Rica
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17
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Nyctinomops laticaudatus bat-associated Rabies virus causes disease with a shorter clinical period and has lower pathogenic potential than strains isolated from wild canids. Arch Virol 2019; 164:2469-2477. [PMID: 31297587 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04335-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Rabies is a lethal viral disease that can affect a wide range of mammals. Currently, Rabies virus (RABV) in some European and American countries is maintained primarily in wild species. The regulation of viral replication is one of the critical mechanisms involved in RABV pathogenesis. However, the relationship between replication and the pathogenesis of RABV isolated from wild animals remains poorly understood. In the present study, we evaluated the pathogenicity of the street viruses Nyctinomops laticaudatus bat-associated RABV (NYBRV) and Cerdocyon thous canid-associated RABV (CECRV). Infection of mice with NYBRV led to 33% mortality with rapid disease evolution and marked histopathological changes in the CNS. In contrast, infection with CECRV led to 67% mortality and caused mild neuropathological lesions. The proportion of RABV antigen was significantly higher in the cytoplasm of neuronal cells of the cerebral cortex and in the meninges of mice infected with CECRV and NYBRV, respectively. Moreover, the replication rate of NYBRV was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of CECRV in neuroblastoma cells. However, CECRV replicated to a significantly higher titer in epithelial cells. Our results indicate that NYBRV infection results in rapid disease progression accompanied by frequent and intense histopathological alterations in the CNS in mice, and in a high replication rate in neuroblastoma cells. Although, CECRV is more pathogenic in mice, it caused milder histopathological changes in the CNS and replicated more efficiently in epithelial cells. Our data point to a correlation between clinical aspects of disease and the replication of RABV in different cell lines.
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18
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Calderón A, Guzmán C, Mattar S, Rodríguez V, Acosta A, Martínez C. Frugivorous bats in the Colombian Caribbean region are reservoirs of the rabies virus. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2019; 18:11. [PMID: 30890183 PMCID: PMC6423830 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-019-0308-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bats are an important ecological group within ecosystems. The rabies virus is a Lyssavirus, and haematophagous bats are the principal reservoir; however, the virus has also been detected in non-haematophagous bats. The objective was to determine the rabies virus in non-haematophagous bats in the Colombian Caribbean region. METHODS In 2017, a cross-sectional study was carried out with a base-risk sampling in twelve geographic zones of the Colombian Caribbean area that included the main ecosystems of two departments. 286 bats were captured, which were euthanized with a pharmacological treatment following the ethical protocols of animal experimentation. The taxonomic identification was done with dichotomous keys. The necropsy was carried out at the capture site, and brain samples were kept in liquid nitrogen. The extraction of the RNA was carried out from the frozen brains with Trizol™; a fragment of 914 bp of the glycoprotein G of the rabies virus was amplified with RT-PCR. The amplicons were sequenced with the Sanger method. RESULTS Twenty-three genera of bats were identified, and, in two frugivorous, Artibeus lituratus and Artibeus planirostris, amplicons were obtained and sequenced as the rabies virus. CONCLUSIONS This is the first evidence of natural infection of the rabies virus in frugivorous bats in the Colombian Caribbean area; this result is important for the surveillance and control of rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Calderón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico (IIBT), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Doctorado en Medicina Tropical, Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 No 76-103., Monteria, Córdoba Colombia
| | - Camilo Guzmán
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico (IIBT), Programa Regencia en Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Doctorado en Medicina Tropical, Universidad de Córdoba, Monteria, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico (IIBT), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Doctorado en Medicina Tropical, Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 No 76-103., Monteria, Córdoba Colombia
| | - Virginia Rodríguez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba (GIMBIC). Programa de Bacteriología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Córdoba, Monteria, Colombia
| | - Arles Acosta
- Producción Animal Tropical Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Monteria, Colombia
| | - Caty Martínez
- Producción Animal Tropical Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Monteria, Colombia
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19
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Kotait I, Oliveira RDN, Carrieri ML, Castilho JG, Macedo CI, Pereira PMC, Boere V, Montebello L, Rupprecht CE. Non-human primates as a reservoir for rabies virus in Brazil. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 66:47-59. [DOI: 10.1111/zph.12527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Vanner Boere
- Faculty of Medicine; Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro; University of Brasília; Brasília Brazil
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20
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Mesquita LP, Gamon THM, Cuevas SEC, Asano KM, Fahl WDO, Iamamoto K, Scheffer KC, Achkar SM, Zanatto DA, Mori CMC, Maiorka PC, Mori E. A rabies virus vampire bat variant shows increased neuroinvasiveness in mice when compared to a carnivore variant. Arch Virol 2017; 162:3671-3679. [PMID: 28831620 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-017-3530-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Rabies is one of the most important zoonotic diseases and is caused by several rabies virus (RABV) variants. These variants can exhibit differences in neurovirulence, and few studies have attempted to evaluate the neuroinvasiveness of variants derived from vampire bats and wild carnivores. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuropathogenesis of infection with two Brazilian RABV street variants (variant 3 and crab-eating fox) in mice. BALB/c mice were inoculated with RABV through the footpad, with the 50% mouse lethal dose (LD50) determined by intracranial inoculation. The morbidity of rabies in mice infected with variant 3 and the crab-eating fox strain was 100% and 50%, respectively, with an incubation period of 7 and 6 days post-inoculation (dpi), respectively. The clinical disease in mice was similar with both strains, and it was characterized initially by weight loss, ruffled fur, hunched posture, and hind limb paralysis progressing to quadriplegia and recumbency at 9 to 12 dpi. Histological lesions within the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis with neuronal degeneration and necrosis were observed in mice infected with variant 3 and those infected with the crab-eating fox variant. However, lesions and the presence of RABV antigen, were more widespread within the CNS of variant-3-infected mice, whereas in crab-eating fox-variant-infected mice, RABV antigens were more restricted to caudal areas of the CNS, such as the spinal cord and brainstem. In conclusion, the results shown here demonstrate that the RABV vampire bat strain (variant 3) has a higher potential for neuroinvasiveness than the carnivore variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Pereira Mesquita
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thais Helena Martins Gamon
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia Elena Campusano Cuevas
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Karen Miyuki Asano
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, São Paulo, SP, 01311-000, Brazil
| | | | - Keila Iamamoto
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, São Paulo, SP, 01311-000, Brazil
| | - Karin Correa Scheffer
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, São Paulo, SP, 01311-000, Brazil
| | - Samira Maria Achkar
- Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, São Paulo, SP, 01311-000, Brazil
| | - Dennis Albert Zanatto
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Madalena Cabrera Mori
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo César Maiorka
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Enio Mori
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. .,Instituto Pasteur de Sao Paulo, Avenida Paulista 393, São Paulo, SP, 01311-000, Brazil.
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21
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Bárcenas-Reyes I, Loza-Rubio E, Cantó-Alarcón GJ, Luna-Cozar J, Enríquez-Vázquez A, Barrón-Rodríguez RJ, Milián-Suazo F. Whole genome sequence phylogenetic analysis of four Mexican rabies viruses isolated from cattle. Res Vet Sci 2017; 113:21-24. [PMID: 28818750 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic analysis of the rabies virus in molecular epidemiology has been traditionally performed on partial sequences of the genome, such as the N, G, and P genes; however, that approach raises concerns about the discriminatory power compared to whole genome sequencing. In this study we characterized four strains of the rabies virus isolated from cattle in Querétaro, Mexico by comparing the whole genome sequence to that of strains from the American, European and Asian continents. Four cattle brain samples positive to rabies and characterized as AgV11, genotype 1, were used in the study. A cDNA sequence was generated by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) using oligo dT. cDNA samples were sequenced in an Illumina NextSeq 500 platform. The phylogenetic analysis was performed with MEGA 6.0. Minimum evolution phylogenetic trees were constructed with the Neighbor-Joining method and bootstrapped with 1000 replicates. Three large and seven small clusters were formed with the 26 sequences used. The largest cluster grouped strains from different species in South America: Brazil, and the French Guyana. The second cluster grouped five strains from Mexico. A Mexican strain reported in a different study was highly related to our four strains, suggesting common source of infection. The phylogenetic analysis shows that the type of host is different for the different regions in the American Continent; rabies is more related to bats. It was concluded that the rabies virus in central Mexico is genetically stable and that it is transmitted by the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Bárcenas-Reyes
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla, Delegación Santa Rosa Jáuregui, C. P. 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
| | - E Loza-Rubio
- CENID-M-INIFAP, Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carretera México-Toluca, km 15.5, C.P. 05110 Mexico D.F., Mexico
| | - G J Cantó-Alarcón
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla, Delegación Santa Rosa Jáuregui, C. P. 76230 Querétaro, Mexico.
| | - J Luna-Cozar
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla, Delegación Santa Rosa Jáuregui, C. P. 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
| | - A Enríquez-Vázquez
- LPAC - Laboratorio de Patología Animal Calamanda, el Marques, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - R J Barrón-Rodríguez
- CENID-M-INIFAP, Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carretera México-Toluca, km 15.5, C.P. 05110 Mexico D.F., Mexico
| | - F Milián-Suazo
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla, Delegación Santa Rosa Jáuregui, C. P. 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
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22
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The phylogeography of Myotis bat-associated rabies viruses across Canada. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005541. [PMID: 28542160 PMCID: PMC5453604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
As rabies in carnivores is increasingly controlled throughout much of the Americas, bats are emerging as a significant source of rabies virus infection of humans and domestic animals. Knowledge of the bat species that maintain rabies is a crucial first step in reducing this public health problem. In North America, several bat species are known to be rabies virus reservoirs but the role of bats of the Myotis genus has been unclear due to the scarcity of laboratory confirmed cases and the challenges encountered in species identification of poorly preserved diagnostic submissions by morphological traits alone. This study has employed a collection of rabid bat specimens collected across Canada over a 25 year period to clearly define the role of particular Myotis species as rabies virus reservoirs. The virus was characterised by partial genome sequencing and host genetic barcoding, used to confirm species assignment of specimens, proved crucial to the identification of certain bat species as disease reservoirs. Several variants were associated with Myotis species limited in their Canadian range to the westernmost province of British Columbia while others were harboured by Myotis species that circulate across much of eastern and central Canada. All of these Myotis-associated viral variants, except for one, clustered as a monophyletic MYCAN clade, which has emerged from a lineage more broadly distributed across North America; in contrast one distinct variant, associated with the long-legged bat in Canada, represents a relatively recent host jump from a big brown bat reservoir. Together with evidence from South America, these findings demonstrate that rabies virus has emerged in the Myotis genus independently on multiple occasions and highlights the potential for emergence of new viral-host associations within this genus. Reducing the public health burden of rabies is most effectively achieved by elimination of the disease from its hosts. While the role of dogs and many wild carnivore species in maintaining and transmitting rabies virus is well established, our understanding of the role of many bat species in this regard is still incomplete. Several North American bat species are known to be rabies virus reservoirs, but the role of bats of the Myotis genus has been unclear due to the very limited number of laboratory confirmed rabies cases detected in these bats and the challenge in assigning species to poorly preserved bat carcasses. Our study utilised a collection of rabid bats collected across Canada over 25 years to address this issue. Genetic barcoding was used to identify the specimens to species and the virus was characterised by partial genome sequencing. Host barcoding proved to be crucial for correct species assignment to many specimens and allowed the identification of certain Myotis species as reservoirs for several genetically distinct variants of the rabies virus. The geographical distribution of these viral variants, and its correlation with the ecological and taxonomic properties of the hosts, are described. While most of these variants belong to a single rabies virus lineage, one variant associated with the long-legged bat appears to have emerged relatively recently following transmission from a big brown bat reservoir. Consistent with this observation, comparison of the rabies viruses associated with Myotis bats in North and South America clearly shows that rabies has emerged in members of this genus on several separate occasions.
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Antigenic and genotypic characterization of rabies virus isolated from bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from municipalities in São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil. Arch Virol 2017; 162:1201-1209. [PMID: 28108804 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-017-3220-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Bats have aroused growing attention in the public health sphere because they are considered the main reservoir of rabies virus (RABV) in the Americas, in places where canine rabies is under control. Antigenic and genetic studies of RABV isolates have been used to describe the epidemiological profile of rabies and to identify possible hosts/reservoirs for different epidemiological cycles. This study describes the antigenic and genotypic characterization of 19 RABV isolates from central nervous system samples of non-hematophagous bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera). These bats were diagnosed as RABV positive by direct fluorescent antibody and mouse inoculation tests. Antigenic characterization using a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies revealed that 7 of 19 RABV isolates from these bats belonged to variant 3, for which the hematophagous bat species Desmodus rotundus is the main reservoir, and 1 of 19 RABV isolates from an insectivorous bat belonged to variant 4, which is characteristic of these bats. The remaining 11 RABV samples were divided into six non-compatible profiles. The isolates were subjected to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for the N gene and partially sequenced. Genetic characterization of these isolates was performed by grouping the sequences obtained with known RABV lineages. The sequences were grouped in clusters by the phylogenetic inference neighbor-joining method, together with another 89 homologous sequences obtained from GenBank. This analysis grouped the isolates into four known lineages: Nyctinomops Brazil, Myotis Brazil, Eptesicus Brazil and D. rotundus Brazil, as well as another cluster that may define a RABV lineage not yet characterized, here named Myotis Brazil II, for which bats of the genus Myotis apparently act as reservoirs. This assumption of a new lineage is also based on the observation of amino acid substitutions, with an average intraspecific identity of 99.8%, varying from 99.6 to 100.0% for nucleotides and 100.0% for amino acids.
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Castilho JG, de Souza DN, Oliveira RN, Carnieli P, Batista HBCR, Pereira PMC, Achkar SM, Macedo CI. The Epidemiological Importance of Bats in the Transmission of Rabies to Dogs and Cats in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, Between 2005 and 2014. Zoonoses Public Health 2016; 64:423-430. [PMID: 27863049 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In Brazil, rabies control in dogs and cats was pioneered by the state of São Paulo with the adoption of the Pan American Health Organization recommendations for prophylaxis and control, which led to a reduction in rabies cases from 1994 onwards. As a result of these measures, the rabies virus (RABV) genetic lineage associated with dogs has not been found in the state since 1998, and all the cases in domestic animals reported since then have been caused by bat-associated lineages of RABV. In the light of this, this study sought to investigate rabies cases in dogs and cats in the state of São Paulo between 2005 and 2014 and identify the associated transmission cycles by characterizing the RABV lineages responsible for these cases. Nine samples from dogs (n = 5) and from cats (n = 4) were collected between 2005 and 2014. The tenth animal, a rabid cat, was analysed by a different laboratory. The N gene nucleotide sequences obtained were analysed with the neighbor-joining algorithm and Kimura 2-parameter model using the MEGA 6 program. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genetic lineages identified in all the samples were those circulating in Brazilian bats. The findings of this study demonstrate that bats play an important role in the transmission of rabies to domestic animals in São Paulo state and that emphasis should be placed on the implementation of public policies to support surveillance of chiropterans for rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - P Carnieli
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - S M Achkar
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - C I Macedo
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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de Thoisy B, Bourhy H, Delaval M, Pontier D, Dacheux L, Darcissac E, Donato D, Guidez A, Larrous F, Lavenir R, Salmier A, Lacoste V, Lavergne A. Bioecological Drivers of Rabies Virus Circulation in a Neotropical Bat Community. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004378. [PMID: 26808820 PMCID: PMC4726525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In addition to the commonly accepted importance of the vampire bat in the maintenance and transmission of the rabies virus (RABV) in South America, RABV infection of other species is widely evidenced, challenging their role in the viral cycle. METHODOLOGY / PRINCIPLES FINDINGS To identify the bioecological drivers of RABV circulation in neotropical bat communities, we conducted a molecular and serological survey on almost 1,000 bats from 30 species, and a 4-year longitudinal survey in two colonies of vampire bats in French Guiana. RABV was molecularly detected in a common vampire and in a frugivorous bat. The sequences corresponded to haematophagous bat-related strains and were close to viruses circulating in the Brazilian Amazon region. Species' seroprevalence ranged from 0 to 20%, and the risk of seropositivity was higher in bats with a haematophagous diet, living in monospecific colonies and in dense forests. The longitudinal survey showed substantial temporal fluctuations, with individual waves of seroconversions and waning immunity. The high prevalences observed in bat communities, in most habitats and in species that do not share the same microhabitats and bioecological patterns, the temporal variations, and a rather short period of detectable antibodies as observed in recaptured vampires suggest (i) frequent exposure of animals, (ii) an ability of the infected host to control and eliminate the virus, (iii) more relaxed modes of exposure between bats than the commonly assumed infection via direct contact with saliva of infected animals, all of which should be further investigated. CONCLUSIONS / SIGNIFICANCE We hypothesize that RABV circulation in French Guiana is mainly maintained in the pristine forest habitats that may provide sufficient food resources to allow vampire bats, the main prevalent species, to survive and RABV to be propagated. However, on the forest edge and in disturbed areas, human activities may induce more insidious effects such as defaunation. One of the ecological consequences is the disappearance of resources for tertiary or secondary consumers. Populations of vampires may then shift to alternative resources such as cattle, domestic animals and humans. Therefore, a good forest status, allowing both a dilution effect in highly rich bat communities and the maintenance of large populations of medium-sized and large mammals used as prey by vampires, should prevent their migration to anthropized areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit de Thoisy
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Hervé Bourhy
- Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host adaptation Unit, National Reference Centre for Rabies, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Dominique Pontier
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie évolutive, UMR CNRS 5558, Université Lyon 1 / CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurent Dacheux
- Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host adaptation Unit, National Reference Centre for Rabies, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Edith Darcissac
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Damien Donato
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Amandine Guidez
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Florence Larrous
- Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host adaptation Unit, National Reference Centre for Rabies, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Rachel Lavenir
- Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host adaptation Unit, National Reference Centre for Rabies, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Arielle Salmier
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Vincent Lacoste
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Anne Lavergne
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
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Lyssaviruses and bats: emergence and zoonotic threat. Viruses 2014; 6:2974-90. [PMID: 25093425 PMCID: PMC4147683 DOI: 10.3390/v6082974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The continued detection of zoonotic viral infections in bats has led to the microbial fauna of these mammals being studied at a greater level than ever before. Whilst numerous pathogens have been discovered in bat species, infection with lyssaviruses is of particular significance from a zoonotic perspective as, where human infection has been reported, it is invariably fatal. Here we review the detection of lyssaviruses within different bat species and overview what is understood regarding their maintenance and transmission following both experimental and natural infection. We discuss the relevance of these pathogens as zoonotic agents and the threat of newly discovered viruses to human populations.
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Seetahal JFR, Velasco-Villa A, Allicock OM, Adesiyun AA, Bissessar J, Amour K, Phillip-Hosein A, Marston DA, McElhinney LM, Shi M, Wharwood CA, Fooks AR, Carrington CVF. Evolutionary history and phylogeography of rabies viruses associated with outbreaks in Trinidad. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2365. [PMID: 23991230 PMCID: PMC3749974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bat rabies is an emerging disease of public health significance in the Americas. The Caribbean island of Trinidad experiences periodic outbreaks within the livestock population. We performed molecular characterisation of Trinidad rabies virus (RABV) and used a Bayesian phylogeographic approach to investigate the extent to which outbreaks are a result of in situ evolution versus importation of virus from the nearby South American mainland. Trinidadian RABV sequences were confirmed as bat variant and clustered with Desmodus rotundus (vampire bat) related sequences. They fell into two largely temporally defined lineages designated Trinidad I and II. The Trinidad I lineage which included sequences from 1997-2000 (all but two of which were from the northeast of the island) was most closely related to RABV from Ecuador (2005, 2007), French Guiana (1990) and Venezuela (1993, 1994). Trinidad II comprised sequences from the southwest of the island, which clustered into two groups: Trinidad IIa, which included one sequence each from 2000 and 2007, and Trinidad IIb including all 2010 sequences. The Trinidad II sequences were most closely related to sequences from Brazil (1999, 2004) and Uruguay (2007, 2008). Phylogeographic analyses support three separate RABV introductions from the mainland from which each of the three Trinidadian lineages arose. The estimated dates for the introductions and subsequent lineage expansions suggest periods of in situ evolution within Trinidad following each introduction. These data also indicate co-circulation of Trinidad lineage I and IIa during 2000. In light of these findings and the likely vampire bat origin of Trinidadian RABV, further studies should be conducted to investigate the relationship between RABV spatiotemporal dynamics and vampire bat population ecology, in particular any movement between the mainland and Trinidad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine F. R. Seetahal
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ministry of Food Production, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Andres Velasco-Villa
- Rabies Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Orchid M. Allicock
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Abiodun A. Adesiyun
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Joseph Bissessar
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ministry of Food Production, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Kirk Amour
- National Animal Disease Centre, Centeno, Trinidad and Tobago
| | | | - Denise A. Marston
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Lorraine M. McElhinney
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Mang Shi
- Rabies Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Christine V. F. Carrington
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
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Carnieli P, Ruthner Batista HBC, de Novaes Oliveira R, Castilho JG, Vieira LFP. Phylogeographic dispersion and diversification of rabies virus lineages associated with dogs and crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) in Brazil. Arch Virol 2013; 158:2307-13. [PMID: 23749047 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-013-1755-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Genetic lineages of dog-associated RABV still circulate in some areas of the North and Northeast of Brazil. In parallel, another RABV lineage circulates among wild canids in the Northeast, particularly the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous). Although previous studies and phylogenetic analyses have been carried out, the way in which these lineages are dispersed temporally and spatially remained to be elucidated. In this study, RABV N gene sequences isolated from canids in North and Northeast Brazil were analyzed by the Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo Method, and the results were then used in a phylogeographic study. It was inferred from the findings that the most recent common ancestor became established at the end of the nineteenth century on the border of the Brazilian states of Paraíba and Pernambuco and diversified into the lineages associated with dogs and C. thous. Around 1910, the original C. thous lineage diversified into two main sublineages in the same area, one of which migrated to the south and the other to the north. The dog-associated lineage diversified around 1945 and moved toward the north and south. From the phylogeographic analysis it was possible to infer not only the movement of the virus lineages but also the probable location where dispersion and diversification occurred. The methodology used here enabled the phylogeographic history of RABV in the region to be reconstructed, and the dispersion pattern of the virus can be used to predict its movements, making it easier to stop the advance of a rabies epidemic.
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Silva SR, Katz ISS, Mori E, Carnieli P, Vieira LFP, Batista HBCR, Chaves LB, Scheffer KC. Biotechnology advances: a perspective on the diagnosis and research of Rabies Virus. Biologicals 2013; 41:217-23. [PMID: 23683880 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a widespread zoonotic disease responsible for approximately 55,000 human deaths/year. The direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) and the mouse inoculation test (MIT) used for rabies diagnosis, have high sensitivity and specificity, but are expensive and time-consuming. These disadvantages and the identification of new strains of the virus encourage the use of new techniques that are rapid, sensitive, specific and economical for the detection and research of the Rabies Virus (RABV). Real-time RT-PCR, phylogeographic analysis, proteomic assays and DNA recombinant technology have been used in research laboratories. Together, these techniques are effective on samples with low virus titers in the study of molecular epidemiology or in the identification of new disease markers, thus improving the performance of biological assays. In this context, modern advances in molecular technology are now beginning to complement more traditional approaches and promise to revolutionize the diagnosis of rabies. This brief review presents some of the recent molecular tools used for RABV analysis, with emphasis on rabies diagnosis and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Silva
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Guarino H, Castilho JG, Souto J, Oliveira RDN, Carrieri ML, Kotait I. Antigenic and genetic characterization of rabies virus isolates from Uruguay. Virus Res 2013; 173:415-20. [PMID: 23318595 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2012.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
After 25 years without any reported cases of rabies in Uruguay, the northern region of the country experienced an epizootic of bovine paralytic rabies in October 2007. The outbreak affected bovines and equines, and the main source of infection was the bat Desmodus rotundus, the only hematophagous species in the country. From October 2007 to July 2008, 42 bovine, 3 equine and 120 chiropteran samples were submitted to the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for rabies testing. A total of 12 samples (7 bovine, 2 equine and 3 from D. rotundus) were positive by the fluorescent antibody test, and viruses were isolated by the mouse inoculation test. The objective of this study was to compare the antigenic and genetic characteristics of these isolates and three isolates from insectivorous bats from other regions. Antigenic typing using a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies identified all 12 viruses as variant 3 (AgV3), a variant associated with D. rotundus. Two isolates from insectivorous bats (Tadarida brasiliensis and Molossus sp.) were characterized as antigenic variant 4 (AgV4) while the third, from Myotis sp., could not be characterized using this panel as its reactivity pattern did not match that of any of the known antigenic variants. Partial N-gene sequences (nt 149-1420) of these isolates were aligned with homologous sequences derived from GenBank by the CLUSTAL/W method and used to build a neighbor-joining distance tree with the Kimura 2-parameter model. All 12 isolates were genetically grouped into the D. rotundus cluster as they shared 100% identity. In the phylogenetic analysis, the three isolates from insectivorous bats segregated into three clusters: one related to T. brasiliensis, one to Myotis sp. and the other to Lasiurus sp., although the isolate associated with the latter came from a Molossus sp. specimen. These results indicate that AgV3 was associated with the outbreak of bovine paralytic rabies in Uruguay. This is the first report of rabies virus having been detected in non-hematophagous bats in this country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Guarino
- National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, M.C. Rubino, Ruta 8 km 17.500, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Abstract
The lyssaviruses are a diverse group of viruses capable of causing rabies, which is an invariably fatal encephalitic disease in both humans and animals. Currently, the lyssavirus genus consists of 12 species with 11 of these distinct species having been isolated from bats. The basis for the apparent geographical segregation of bat lyssavirus infection between the Old and New World is poorly understood. In the New World species of insectivorous, frugivorous, and hematophagous bats, all represent important reservoirs of rabies virus. In contrast, rabies virus has never been detected in Old World bat populations, despite being endemic in terrestrial mammals. Instead, both insectivorous and frugivorous bat species across the Old World appear to act as reservoirs for the non-rabies lyssaviruses. In this chapter, we describe the association of the different lyssaviruses with different bat species across the world, classifying bat species by their feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley C. Banyard
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Diseases Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - David T.S. Hayman
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Diseases Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK,Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK,Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Conrad M. Freuling
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, D-17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, D-17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Diseases Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK,National Consortium for Zoonosis Research, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Diseases Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
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Phylogeography of rabies virus isolated from herbivores and bats in the Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Virus Genes 2012; 46:330-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s11262-012-0866-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/08/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Fahl WO, Carnieli P, Castilho JG, Carrieri ML, Kotait I, Iamamoto K, Oliveira RN, Brandão PE. Desmodus rotundus and Artibeus spp. bats might present distinct rabies virus lineages. Braz J Infect Dis 2012; 16:545-51. [PMID: 23146155 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazil, bats have been assigned an increasing importance in public health as they are important rabies reservoirs. Phylogenetic studies have shown that rabies virus (RABV) strains from frugivorous bats Artibeus spp. are closely associated to those from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus, but little is known about the molecular diversity of RABV in Artibeus spp. The N and G genes of RABV isolated from Artibeus spp. and cattle infected by D. rotundus were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The N gene nucleotides tree showed three clusters: one for D. rotundus and two for Artibeus spp. Regarding putative N amino acid-trees, two clusters were formed, one for D. rotundus and another for Artibeus spp. RABV G gene phylogeny supported the distinction between D. rotundus and Artibeus spp. strains. These results show the intricate host relationship of RABV's evolutionary history, and are invaluable for the determination of RABV infection sources.
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Albas A, Campos ACDA, Araujo DB, Rodrigues CS, Sodré MM, Durigon EL, Favoretto SR. Molecular characterization of rabies virus isolated from non-haematophagous bats in Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2012; 44:678-83. [PMID: 22231241 DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822011000600006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2011] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rabies is an important zoonosis that causes thousands of deaths worldwide each year. Although the terrestrial cycle, mainly transmitted by dogs, is controlled in Brazil, the aerial cycle remains a serious public health issue, besides the economic problem. In the aerial cycle, the haematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus is the main source of infection, where several different species of non-haematophagous bats can be infected and can transmit the virus. METHODS The aim of this work was to study the epidemiological pattern of rabies using antigenic characterization with monoclonal antibodies and genetic characterization by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of non-haematophagous bats' and herbivorous animals' central nervous system samples from the western region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS From 27 samples, 3 antigenic variants were identified: AgV-3, AgV-4, and AgV-6; and from 29 samples, 5 different clusters were identified, all belonging to the rabies virus species. CONCLUSIONS Although only non-haematophagous bats were evaluated in the studied region, the majority of samples were from antigenic and genetic variants related to haematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus. Samples from the same antigenic variant were segregated in more than one genetic cluster. This study demonstrated the diversity of rabies virus genetic lineages presented and circulating in non-haematophagous bats in the studied region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avelino Albas
- Pólo da Alta Sorocabana, Agência Paulista de Tecnologia de Agronegócios Presidente Prudente, SP, Brasil
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Gilbert AT, Petersen BW, Recuenco S, Niezgoda M, Gómez J, Laguna-Torres VA, Rupprecht C. Evidence of rabies virus exposure among humans in the Peruvian Amazon. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 87:206-215. [PMID: 22855749 PMCID: PMC3414554 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In May of 2010, two communities (Truenococha and Santa Marta) reported to be at risk of vampire bat depredation were surveyed in the Province Datem del Marañón in the Loreto Department of Perú. Risk factors for bat exposure included age less than or equal to 25 years and owning animals that had been bitten by bats. Rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (rVNAs) were detected in 11% (7 of 63) of human sera tested. Rabies virus ribonucleoprotein (RNP) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were detected in the sera of three individuals, two of whom were also seropositive for rVNA. Rabies virus RNP IgM antibodies were detected in one respondent with no evidence of rVNA or RNP IgG antibodies. Because one respondent with positive rVNA results reported prior vaccination and 86% (six of seven) of rVNA-positive respondents reported being bitten by bats, these data suggest nonfatal exposure of persons to rabies virus, which is likely associated with vampire bat depredation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy T. Gilbert
- *Address correspondence to Amy Gilbert, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, Mailstop G33, Atlanta, GA 30333. E-mail:
| | - Brett W. Petersen
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Dirección General de Epidemiología, Ministerio de Salud, Lima, Perú; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Virology Department, US Naval Medical Research Unit 6, Lima, Perú
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Carnieli P, de Novaes Oliveira R, de Oliveira Fahl W, de Carvalho Ruthner Batista HB, Scheffer KC, Iamamoto K, Castilho JG. Phylogenetic analysis of partial RNA-polymerase blocks II and III of Rabies virus isolated from the main rabies reservoirs in Brazil. Virus Genes 2012; 45:76-83. [PMID: 22528640 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-012-0743-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
This study describes the results of the sequencing and analysis of segments of Blocks II and III of the RNA polymerase L gene of Rabies virus isolates from different reservoir species of Brazil. The phylogenetic relations of the virus were determined and a variety of species-specific nucleotides were found in the analyzed areas, but the majority of these mutations were found to be synonymous. However, an analysis of the putative amino acid sequences were shown to have some characteristic mutations between some reservoir species of Brazil, indicating that there was positive selection in the RNA polymerase L gene of Rabies virus. On comparing the putative viral sequences obtained from the Brazilian isolates and other Lyssavirus, it was determined that amino acid mutations occurred in low-restriction areas. This study of the L gene of Rabies virus is the first to be conducted with samples of virus isolates from Brazil, and the results obtained will help in the determination of the phylogenetic relations of the virus.
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Allendorf SD, Cortez A, Heinemann MB, Harary CMA, Antunes JMAP, Peres MG, Vicente AF, Sodré MM, da Rosa AR, Megid J. Rabies virus distribution in tissues and molecular characterization of strains from naturally infected non-hematophagous bats. Virus Res 2012; 165:119-25. [PMID: 22349147 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2012.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2011] [Revised: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Bats are main reservoirs for Lyssavirus worldwide, which is an important public health issue because it constitutes one of the big challenges in rabies control. Yet, little is known about how the virus is maintained among bats, and the epidemiological relationships remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of the rabies virus (RABV) in bat tissues and organs and to genetically characterize virus isolates from naturally infected non-hematophagous bats. The heminested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (hnRT-PCR) and sequencing using primers to the nucleoprotein coding gene were performed. The results showed a dissemination of the RABV in different tissues and organs, particularly in the salivary glands, tongue, lungs, kidneys, bladder, intestine and feces, suggesting other possible forms of RABV elimination and the possibility of transmission among these animals. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed that different variants of RABV are maintained by non-hematophagous bats in nature and have similar tissue distribution irrespective of bat species and phylogenetic characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Dora Allendorf
- UNESP, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
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Queiroz LH, Favoretto SR, Cunha EMS, Campos ACA, Lopes MC, de Carvalho C, Iamamoto K, Araújo DB, Venditti LLR, Ribeiro ES, Pedro WA, Durigon EL. Rabies in southeast Brazil: a change in the epidemiological pattern. Arch Virol 2011; 157:93-105. [DOI: 10.1007/s00705-011-1146-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 10/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Nadin-Davis SA, Real LA. Molecular phylogenetics of the lyssaviruses--insights from a coalescent approach. Adv Virus Res 2011; 79:203-38. [PMID: 21601049 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-387040-7.00011-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Technical improvements over the past 2 decades have enormously facilitated the generation of nucleotide sequence data for lyssavirus collections. These databases are amenable to methods of phylogenetic analysis, which attempt to define the taxonomic structure of this genus and predict the evolutionary relationships of current circulating strains. Coupled with a range of mathematical tools to explore the appropriateness of nucleotide substitution models and test for positive selection, the evolutionary process is being explored in detail. Despite the potential for high viral mutation levels, the operation of purifying selection appears to effectively constrain lyssavirus evolution. The recent development of coalescent theory has provided additional approaches to data analysis whereby the time frame of emergence of viral lineages can be most reliably estimated. Such studies suggest that all currently circulating rabies viruses have emerged within the past 1500 years. Moreover, through the capability of analyzing viral population dynamics and determining patterns of population size variation, coalescent approaches can provide insight into the demographics of viral outbreaks. Whereas human-assisted movement of reservoir host species has clearly facilitated transfer of rabies between continents, topographical landscape features significantly influence the rate and extent of contiguous disease spread. Together with empirical studies on virus diversity, the application of coalescent approaches will help to better understand lyssavirus emergence, evolution, and spread. In particular, such methods are presently facilitating exploration of the factors operating to limit the ability of lyssaviruses to establish new persistent virus-host associations and ultimately control the emergence of new species of this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A Nadin-Davis
- Centre of Expertise for Rabies, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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