Complex epidemiology of a zoonotic disease in a culturally diverse region: phylogeography of rabies virus in the Middle East.

ABSTRACT: The Middle East is a culturally and politically diverse region at the gateway between Europe, Africa and Asia. Spatial dynamics of the fatal zoonotic disease rabies among countries of the Middle East and surrounding regions is poorly understood. An improved understanding of virus distribution is necessary to direct control methods. Previous studies have suggested regular trans-boundary movement, but have been unable to infer direction. Here we address these issues, by investigating the evolution of 183 rabies virus isolates collected from over 20 countries between 1972 and 2014. We have undertaken a discrete phylogeographic analysis on a subset of 139 samples to infer where and when movements of rabies have occurred. We provide evidence for four genetically distinct clades with separate or

SUBMITTER: Horton DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4374968 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature