Search

Twenty isolates of street rabies virus were recovered in mouse neutroblastoma cells from 84 rabies suspect brain specimens from Nigeria dogs and a cat. They were characterized with the Tübingen monoclonal antibody panels directed against nucleocapsid and glycoprotein antigens. Antigenic variations were detected both with antinucleocapsid (anti-NC) and antiglycoprotein (anti-GP) monoclonal antibodies (mabs). One isolate reacted positively with anti-NC mab P41 which hitherto has been known to react positively with polar rabies. Another isolate did not react with anti-NC mab 187.5; a reaction normally seen with ERA/SAD strains of rabies virus. With anti-GP mabs it was possible to group the isolates by their area of origin. Isolates from Plateau State were not neutralized by anti-GP mabs ERA 543 and P44.7.2. The isolates studied had glycoprotein antigenic patterns different from the pattern for low egg passage (LEP) Flury strain vaccine virus used in Nigeria for immunization of dogs.

Hybridomas were prepared by fusion of spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with dog rabies isolates from Nigeria with P3x63Ag8 myeloma cells. More than 69 hybridomas secreted antinucleocapsid (antiNC) antibodies when tested with homologous viruses by indirect immunofluorescence. One hybridoma (Z144-88) was found which secreted antiNC antibody that reacted negatively with fox rabies isolates from the Federal Republic of Germany, Switzerland and France and with rabies-related viruses and European bat isolates. It reacted positively with other strains/isolates of rabies virus. It is possible to use this antiNC monoclonal antibody (mab) for the investigation of fox rabies outbreaks in Europe.