To have a better understanding of the prevalence of rabies virus (RABV) in the dog trading markets in Plateau State of Nigeria, a total of 532 brain samples collected between 2010 and 2011 were subjected to rabies virus antigen detection and molecular characterization. RABV antigen was detected in 92 out of 532 (17.3%) brain samples from two major commercial dog markets in Plateau State of Nigeria by direct fluorescence antibody assay, indicating the possibility of a high prevalence of RABV in the dog trading markets. The complete genomic sequence was obtained from one of these RABV positive samples. The overall organization of this virus (DRV-NG11) was typical of all the other wild-type RABV. Phylogenetic analysis using either the complete or partial genomic sequence of DRV-NG11 demonstrates that this isolate is most closely related to viruses previously shown to circulate in Nigeria, belonging to the Africa 2 Clade. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characterization of the complete genome of RABV from trade dogs, which provides a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis and rabies control in this country.Keywords: Genome, Nigeria, Rabies virus, Street strain, Trade dogs
CITATION STYLE
Kia, G. S. N., Huang, Y., Zhou, M., Zhou, Z., Gnanadurai, C. W., Leysona, C. M., … Fu, Z. F. (2018). Molecular characterization of a rabies virus isolated from trade dogs in Plateau State, Nigeria. Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 16(2), 54. https://doi.org/10.4314/sokjvs.v16i2.8
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