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Showing posts with the label rhabdovirus

Broad geographical #circulation of a novel #vesiculovirus in #bats in the #Mediterranean region

Abstract Bats are the natural reservoirs for a variety of emerging and re-emerging viruses. Among them, rabies virus (genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae) is one of the first and most emblematic described in these animals. Since its first description, several new bat lyssaviruses have been regularly identified. In addition to lyssaviruses, other bat rhabdoviruses have also been discovered, including members of the genera Vesiculovirus , Ledantevirus and, more recently, Alphanemrhavirus and Tupavirus . However, the family Rhabdoviridae is one of the most abundant and diverse viral families, with 434 officially recognized species , divided into 5 subfamilies and 56 different genera . The number of rhabdoviruses associated with bats is therefore probably higher than that currently available. In this study, we first developed and validated a combined nested RT-qPCR technique (pan-rhabdo RT-nqPCR) dedicated to the broad detection of animal rhabdoviruses. After validation, this technique ...

Genomic and #Clinical #Analysis of a #Fatal Human #Lyssavirus irkut Case: Evidence for a Natural Focus in the Russian Far East

Abstract In this report, we document and analyze a case in which the Irkut virus (IRKV) (Mononegavirales: Rhabdoviridae) caused a fatal human case following a bat bite in June 2021. Unfortunately, the available data did not permit a detailed taxonomic classification of the carrier bat ( Chiroptera ). The event occurred in the southwestern part of the Sikhote-Alin mountain region (Russian Far East) covered by the Ussuri taiga forest . The symptoms of the illness began with the following: fever ; pronounced psychomotor and motor agitation ; tremor of the lower jaw and tongue ; aphasia; dyslexia; and dysphagia . These rapidly developed, leading to a severe and fatal encephalitis . The patient was not vaccinated for rabies and did not receive rabies immunoglobulin. Using brain sections prepared from the deceased, molecular diagnostics were performed: immunofluorescence (polyclonal anti-rabies immunoglobulin) indicating the presence of the lyssavirus antigen ; and RT-PCR indicating traces o...