Molecular epidemiological characteristics of canine rabies virus in Shanghai, 2010–2022

Objective To understand the molecular epidemiological characteristics of canine rabies virus in Shanghai.

Methods A total of 44 dog brain samples collected in Shanghai during 2010−2022 were detected by using RABV direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA). The N gene of the positive samples were sequenced, and the results were used for phylogenetic analysis.

Results The positive rate of rabies virus (RABV) was 92.00% (23/25) in passive surveillance samples, and 94.44% (17/18) in samples from the cases bitten by same dog. The 23 strains of RABV isolated from Shanghai all belonged to China Group I, being divided into four branches and distributing in northern and central Shanghai, The strain in different branches circulated in different time.

Conclusion Active surveillance for dog bite event can effectively find rabies virus positive cases. The transmission of canine rabies in Shanghai from 2010 to 2022 resulted from the spread of China group I.