Transmission dynamics of rabies virus in Thailand: implications for disease control.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Thailand, rabies remains a neglected disease with authorities continuing to rely on human death statistics while ignoring the financial burden resulting from an enormous increase in post-exposure prophylaxis. Past attempts to conduct a mass dog vaccination and sterilization program have been limited to Bangkok city and have not been successful. We have used molecular epidemiology to define geographic localization of rabies virus phylogroups and their pattern of spread in Thailand.

Methods

We analyzed 239 nucleoprotein gene sequences from animal and human brain samples collected from all over Thailand between 1998 and 2002. We then reconstructed a phylogenetic tree correlating these data with geographical information.

Results

All sequences formed a monoph

SUBMITTER: Denduangboripant J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1184074 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature