Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
School of Biological Sciences
Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology
Lyssaviruses
To date, seven different genotypes have been identified within the lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdovirus family of bullet shaped negative ssRNA viruses. Classical rabies viruses (including the rabies vaccine strains) are grouped in the lyssavirus genotype 1 (RABV, gt1), whereas the remaining six genotypes (2 to 7) are known as the rabies-related lyssaviruses. Lagos bat virus (LBV, gt2), Mokola virus (MOKV, gt3) and Duvenhage virus (DUVV, gt4) have only been encountered on the African continent. Duvenhage virus (gt 4) have been isolated from human fatalities and insectivorous bats, Mokola virus (gt 3) has been isolated irregularly, mostly from cats but the reservoir species is unknown and Lagos bat virus (gt 2) is continually isolated from fruit bats and from incidental terrestrial mammals. There is very little active surveillance for these rabies-related viruses in Africa and their true incidences are unknown. Two variants of rabies virus (gt 1) occur in southern Africa: viz. the canid and the mongoose variants and these variants have distinct epidemiology and pathogenicity characteristics. Our research focuses on aspects of lyssavirus pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology, diagnostics and vaccine development. Specific projects include the following:
A. Surveillance and molecular phylogeny of the canid variant of rabies virus (RABV)
Epidemiology of human rabies in South Africa over a 30-year period
Spread of canid rabies into the Free State province of South Africa
Molecular epidemiology of wildlife rabies in KwaZulu Natal
B. Molecular phylogeny and the origin of the mongoose variant of rabies virus (gt 1) in Africa
C. Surveillance and molecular phylogeny of rabies-related lyssaviruses
Molecular phylogeny of Duvenhage viruses
Molecular phylogeny of Mokola virus
Epidemiology of lyssaviruses in fruit bat species in KwaZulu Natal
Epidemiology of lyssaviruses in insectivorous bat species in Swaziland
Epidemiology of lyssaviruses in bat species in the North West Province
Epidemiology of lyssaviruses in other African countries including Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda
D. Development of new diagnostic tools for lyssavirus surveillance
Development of a real-time PCR-method for identification and quantification of African lyssaviruses
Development of a competitive ELISA for the detection of African lyssavirus antibodies
E. Pathogenesis of lyssaviruses
Pathogenesis of African lyssaviruses in a murine model
Pathogenesis of Lagos bat virus in an experimental fruit bat colony
F. Development of new vaccines for lyssaviruses
G. Evaluation of a rapid diagnostic immunoassay for use in the detection of lyssaviruses in an African setting.
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