Phylogenetic analysis of the rabies virus in domestic and wild mammals in the State of São Paulo - Brazil

Authors

  • Diana Carolina Martínez Martínez Universidade de Ciências Aplicadas e Ambientais, Programa de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias
  • Nelson Fernando Santana-Clavijo Universidade de Ciências Aplicadas e Ambientais, Programa de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias
  • Paulo Eduardo Brandão Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Bárbara Antonieta Ribeiro Pilão Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres, Núcleo da Floresta
  • Guido Alberto König Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal , Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuária

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2026.238722

Keywords:

Rabies virus, Zoonosis, Molecular diagnostics, Bats, Molecular epidemiology, RT-PCR

Abstract

Rabies virus (RABV) causes a lethal zoonosis with a significant impact on public and veterinary health. In Brazil, bats, especially Desmodus rotundus, are the main reservoirs in rural areas. This study analyzed four samples: goat (Capra hircus, 2), horse (Equus caballus, 1), and tapir (Tapirus terrestris, 1), confirming the presence of the virus by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and RT-PCR, which amplified a 264 bp fragment of the nucleoprotein gene. Phylogenetic analysis identified three main clades. The samples were grouped into Cluster A, with sequences from Desmodus rotundus, Artibeus lituratus, and Eptesicus furinalis, associated with the AgV3 variant (bootstrap >90%) and samples from infected dogs. Clade B included historical isolates from dogs with AgV2, which has now been eliminated in Brazil. Clade C grouped primates (Callithrix jacchus) and human cases in Ceará. Nucleoprotein alignment showed conserved regions and variations in the N-P intergenic region. The results confirm that bats remain the main reservoirs of RABV in São Paulo, with AgV3 as the predominant variant, highlighting the need for continued epidemiological surveillance.

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Published

2026-05-19

Issue

Vol. 63 (2026)

Section

FULL ARTICLE

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How to Cite

1.
Martínez Martínez DC, Santana-Clavijo NF, Brandão PE, Pilão BAR, König GA. Phylogenetic analysis of the rabies virus in domestic and wild mammals in the State of São Paulo - Brazil. Braz. J. Vet. Res. Anim. Sci. [Internet]. 2026 May 19 [cited 2026 Sep. 11];63:e238722. Available from: https://revistas.usp.br/bjvras/article/view/238722