Phylogenetic analysis of rabies virus strain of camel origin revealed cosmopolitan cluster in India

Abstract

Rabies is the oldest most feared zoonotic disease of the world, affecting animals and human beings, responsible for approximately 55,000 deaths annually worldwide. Rabies virus (RABV) belongs to the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae, under the order Mononegavirales. The transmission of RABV is mainly occurred through the bite of rabid animals and in 99% of cases dogs are responsible for the spread of the virus. The present study was conducted for the molecular characterization of the rabies virus from Indian camel (Camelus dromedarius). Molecular characterization of RABV based on the N gene was performed. The phylogenetic tree was constructed employing the Maximum-Likelihood (ML) method. It was concluded that the RABV strain in present study belonging to a cosmopolitan group which is genetically closer to the vaccine-adapted strains of the rabies virus, circulating in India and other parts of world.