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Attenuated derivative rabies virus Ni-CE replicates in muscle cells less efficiently than does the parental pathogenic strain Nishigahara. To examine the mechanism underlying the less efficient replication of Ni-CE, we compared the activities of Ni-CE and Nishigahara phosphoproteins, viral interferon (IFN) antagonists, to suppress IFN-β promoter activity in muscle cells and we demonstrated a defect of Ni-CE phosphoprotein in this ability. Treatment with an IFN-β-neutralizing antibody improved the replication efficiency of Ni-CE in muscle cells, indicating that produced IFN inhibits Ni-CE replication. The results indicate the importance of IFN antagonism of rabies virus phosphoprotein for viral replication in muscle cells.

A total of 568 normal feces from calves on a beef farm in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, in 2011-2012 were examined by RT-semi-nested PCR for rotavirus A (RVA) VP4 genes. Through partial sequencing and BLAST analyses of 84 VP4-positive specimens, we identified an avian-like RVA strain, N2342, which shares highest nucleotide identity (80.0%) with known avian-like bovine strain 993/83, in one specimen. Phylogenetic analysis also revealed a close genetic relationship between N2342 and avian RVAs, suggesting bird-to-cattle transmission. We observed frequent contact of wild birds with calves in the farm, suggesting that these birds were the source of the virus.