Ferret badger rabies in Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Taiwan, China

Arch Virol. 2019 Feb;164(2):579-584. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-4082-5. Epub 2018 Nov 11.

Abstract

Ferret badger (FB, Melogale moschata) rabies is an increasing public health threat to humans, with FBs being a major reservoir and vector of rabies in China. Based on 152 published nucleotide sequences of the FB rabies virus (RABV) nucleoprotein, phylogenetic analysis revealed them to be clustered into six FB-related lineages, FB-I to FB-VI. The genetic features of members of lineage FB-VI suggest that cross-species transmission occurs between FBs and dogs. Here, we describe the phylogenetic relationships between FB-RABVs, their geographic segregation, and their evolutionary dynamics in epizootic regions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • China
  • Dog Diseases / transmission
  • Dog Diseases / virology*
  • Dogs
  • Ferrets / virology*
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Rabies / veterinary*
  • Rabies / virology*
  • Rabies virus / classification
  • Rabies virus / genetics
  • Rabies virus / isolation & purification*
  • Rabies virus / physiology
  • Taiwan