The phylodynamics of the rabies virus in the Russian Federation.

Near complete rabies virus N gene sequences (1,110 nt) were determined for 82 isolates obtained from different regions of Russia between 2008 and 2016. These sequences were analyzed together with 108 representative GenBank sequences from 1977-2016 using the Bayesian coalescent approach. The timing of the major evolutionary events was estimated.

Complete genome sequences of four virulent rabies virus strains isolated from rabid animals in Russia.

Rabies virus (RABV) strains Rus(Lipetsk)-8052f, Rus(Lipetsk)-8053c, Rus(Lipetsk)-8054f, and Rus(Lipetsk)-8057f were isolated from foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and a cat (Felis catus) in the Lipetsk region of Russia in 2011. Close relationships between these strains and the members of the "Cosmopolitan" group from Russia (98% homology) and from Europe (95% homology) were estimated.

Molecular epidemiology of terrestrial rabies in the former Soviet Union.

Fifty-five rabies virus isolates originating from different regions of the former Soviet Union (FSU) were compared with isolates originating from Eurasia, Africa, and North America according to complete or partial nucleoprotein (N) gene sequences. The FSU isolates formed five distinct groups. Group A represented viruses originating from the Arctic, which were similar to viruses from Alaska and Canada.

An arctic fox rabies virus strain as the cause of human rabies in Russian Siberia.

A case of human rabies in the arctic zone of Siberia is described. The victim was bitten by a wolf, but characterization of the isolate by monoclonal antibodies showed that it was an arctic fox virus strain. This discovery reaffirmed the value of strain typing rabies virus isolates in regions where this has not been done already: such characterization pertains to the identification of the reservoir host, to the natural history of the virus in the reservoir, and to future surveillance, post-exposure treatment, and public education in the region.