Incidence of human rabies and characterization of rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs in Fujian Province, Southeast China, 2002–2012

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research Article

Zhi-Shan Zhang¹  Jian-Ming Zhang²  Yan-Qin Deng³  Wei Wang⁴  Yan-Sheng Yan⁵  Shou-Li Wu⁵ 

[1] Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Quanzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 248 East Street, 362002, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China;Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Quanzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 248 East Street, 362002, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China;School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, 350004, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China;Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 350001, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China;Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, 350001, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China;Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 117 Yangxiang, Meiyuan, 214064, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China;Key Laboratory of National Health and Family Planning Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, 214064, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China;Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasites and Vector Control Technology, 214064, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China;School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, 350004, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China;Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 350001, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China;Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, 350001, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China;

关键词: Rabies;    Epidemiological features;    Rabies virus;    Nucleoprotein gene;    Fujian Province;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-017-2698-9

 received in 2017-04-28, accepted in 2017-08-22,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRabies is a global fatal infectious viral disease that is characterized by a high mortality after onset of clinical symptoms. Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of rabies in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of human rabies and characterize the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs sampled from Fujian Province, Southeast China from 2002 to 2012.MethodsData pertaining to human rabies cases in Fujian Province during the period from 2002 through 2012 were collected, and the epidemiological profiles were described. The saliva and brain specimens were collected from dogs in Quanzhou, Longyan and Sanming cities of the province, and the rabies virus antigen was determined in the canine saliva specimens using an ELISA assay. Rabies virus RNA was extracted from canine brain specimens, and rabies virus nucleoprotein gene was amplified using a nested RT-PCR assay, followed by sequencing and genotyping.ResultsA total of 226 human rabies cases were reported in Fujian Province from 2002 to 2012, in which 197 cases were detected in three cities of Quanzhou, Longyan and Sanming. ELISA assay revealed positive rabies virus antigen in six of eight rabid dogs and 165 of 3492 seemingly healthy dogs. The full-length gene fragment of the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene was amplified from the brain specimens of seven rabid dogs and 12 seemingly healthy dogs. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these 19 rabies virus nucleoprotein genes all belonged to genotype I, and were classified into three genetic groups. Sequencing analysis showed a 99.7% to 100% intra-group and an 86.4% to 89.3% inter-group homology.ConclusionsThis study is the first description pertaining to the epidemiological characteristics of human rabies cases and characterization of the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs in Fujian Province, Southeast China. Our findings may provide valuable knowledge for the development of strategies targeting the prevention and control of rabies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017