biostudies-literatureUnknown10Liu Y<h4>Background</h4>Rabies is a highly fatal disease. Once symptoms develop, death usually occurs within days. Survivors were occasionally reported in the literatures. Ante-mortem diagnosis remains a challenge in most rabies endemic countries. A novel, accurate diagnostic assay is highly desirable.<h4>Methods</h4>We used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to examine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of a 49-year-old patient with rabies and validated the results by TaqMan PCR and RT-PCR/Sanger sequencing.<h4>Results</h4>Metagenomic next-generation sequencing identified sequence reads uniquely aligned to the rabies virus (RABV). PCR confirmed the presence of the partial RABV N gene in the CSF. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the RABV grouped as an Asian clade, which is the most broadly distributed clade in China.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Metagenomic next-generation sequencing may be a useful screening tool for the etiological diagnosis of rabies, especially in the absence of timely rabies laboratory testing or in patients with no exposure history.Frontiers in medicine982290https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9947348biostudies-literatureMetagenomic next-generation sequencing for the etiological diagnosis of rabies virus in cerebrospinal fluid.PMC9947348Tian JLiu YLi XWilloughby REFeng YWeng XGao JWang YMo XPeng JfalseMetagenomic next-generation sequencing for the etiological diagnosis of rabies virus in cerebrospinal fluid.<h4>Background</h4>Rabies is a highly fatal disease. Once symptoms develop, death usually occurs within days. Survivors were occasionally reported in the literatures. Ante-mortem diagnosis remains a challenge in most rabies endemic countries. A novel, accurate diagnostic assay is highly desirable.<h4>Methods</h4>We used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to examine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of a 49-year-old patient with rabies and validated the results by TaqMan PCR and RT-PCR/Sanger sequencing.<h4>Results</h4>Metagenomic next-generation sequencing identified sequence reads uniquely aligned to the rabies virus (RABV). PCR confirmed the presence of the partial RABV N gene in the CSF. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the RABV grouped as an Asian clade, which is the most broadly distributed clade in China.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Metagenomic next-generation sequencing may be a useful screening tool for the etiological diagnosis of rabies, especially in the absence of timely rabies laboratory testing or in patients with no exposure history.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232026-06-25T03:24:52.352Z2025-04-06T19:39:06.41ZS-EPMC99473483684422610.3389/fmed.2023.982290