Characteristics of rabies virus strains isolated in Poland.

摘要

An analysis of the genetic diversity in rabies virus genotype 1 in Poland was conducted using restriction analysis of a 400 bp fragment of the nucleoprotein rabies virus gene. This fragment demonstrates the greatest variability and therefore can be used to define the affinity of different rabies virus isolates. A geographic map presenting the arrangement of the same variants of rabies virus according to their place of isolation was constructed on the basis of the obtained results. It appears that this arrangement was not accidental. Variants occurred as distinct groups and were located in specific regions of Poland. The occurrence of the NEE variant was restricted to east of the Vistula river. Five isolates which occurred west of the Vistula but close to it were exceptions. However, the CE variant was isolated only in the west and southern part of the country in contrary to the NEE variant. The exception was one strain obtained from a pole cat which was isolated in the Mazury region. The We variant was found in west and south Poland and the occurrence of EE variants was restricted to the south-east region of Poland.