1. Epidemiology and pathogenicity of African bat lyssaviruses
I will give a brief overview of rabies in Africa and then also a summary of the work I am involved in as part of my PhD degree
Wanda Markotter
University of Pretoria
South Africa

3. 1986
3 isolates from South Africa
1981
1970
2006
DUVV (GT 4)

4. DUVV (GT 4) 3 isolates from South Africa 1986 1981 1970 2006
Paweska et al., Fatal human infection with rabies-related Duvenhage virus, South Africa. Emerg Infect Dis.2006;12:
DUVV (GT 4)

5. LBV isolates

6. Several new LBV isolates in 2003-2006
from South Africa
4 isolates from fruit bats

7. Several new LBV isolates in 2003-2006
from South Africa
Markotter W, Randles J, Rupprecht CE, Sabeta CT, Wandeler AI, Taylor PJ, Nel LH.
Recent Lagos bat virus isolations from bats (suborder Megachiroptera) in South Africa. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:
4 isolates from fruit bats

8. Several new LBV isolates in 2003-2006 from South Africa
First isolation of LBV from terrestrial wildlife
1 isolate from a mongoose

9. Several new LBV isolates in 2003-2006 from South Africa
First isolation of LBV from terrestrial wildlife
Markotter W, Kuzmin I, Rupprecht CE, Randles J, Sabeta CT, Wandeler AI, Nel LH.
Isolation of Lagos bat virus from water mongoose. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:
1 isolate from a mongoose

10. Several new LBV isolates in 2003-2006 from South Africa
1 isolate from a dog

11. LBV
11 isolates from South Africa
Total: 18 isolates

12. N gene analysis
New genotype or not

13. LBV
New genotype or not

14. Intrinsic variation
99.3% %
New genotype or not

15. Between A and B,C 79.1-80.7% Between B and C 82.7-83.3%
New genotype or not

16. ? New genotype <80% nt identity Between A and B,C 79.1-80.7%
Between B and C %
New genotype or not

17. A value of < 1 indicates an overlap.

18. Pathogenicity
i.m. and i.c.
i.c.

19. Intracerebral (i.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) inoculation
1 x 102 LD50
1 x 103 LD50
1 x 106 LD50

20. Conclusions
Both DUVV and LBV is endemic in South Africa but not frequently reported due to lack of surveillance
Genetic diversity of LBV has been underestimated
Molecular phylogeny divided previously reported LBV isolates into three lineages independent of the gene used.
Two isolates previously classified as LBV fulfill the criteria to be a new lyssavirus genotype
Pathogenic profiles of phylogroup II isolates differ and some isolates indicate the same pathogenicity as a gt 1 representatives
Pathogenic characteristics of lyssavirus genotypes or phylogroups should not be decided based on one representative isolate

21. Acknowledgements Prof. Louis H. Nel (UP, South Africa)
Dr. Charles E. Rupprecht (CDC, USA)
Dr. Ivan Kuzmin (CDC, USA)
Dr. Claude T. Sabeta (OVI, South Africa)
Dr. Anthony R. Fooks (VLA, UK)
Dr. Florence Cliquet (AFFSA, France)
Dr. Janusz T Paweska (Special Pathogens, NICD, South Africa)
Dr. Robert Swanepoel (Special Pathogens, NICD, South Africa)
Miss. Charmaine Wilsenach (UP, South Africa)