Available online 14 October 2022, 115834

21 specimens submitted for human rabies diagnostic in Cameroon from 2014 to 2018

Low rate of molecular detection of rabies virus in suspected human rabies cases

Four new N gene sequences obtained from confirmed human rabies cases in Cameroon

Close identities between rabies viruses from Cameroon and Central African Republic

Despite the enzootic cycle of rabies in dog populations, laboratory confirmation of human rabies has been hardly reported in Cameroon. This study aimed to determine the rate of molecular detection and phylogenetic relatedness of Rabies Virus (RABV) isolates from suspected human rabies cases in Cameroon. From 2014 to 2018, 21 suspected human rabies cases were tested for RABV genomic RNA. Full-length sequence of the nucleoprotein (N) coding gene of RABV isolates detected were generated and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. As results, skin biopsies and/or saliva samples from 10 of the 21 suspected human rabies cases were positive for genomic RABV RNA. Four new N gene sequences were generated from confirmed cases. The studied RABV isolates fell into the Cosmopolitan clades, sub-clades Africa-1a and 1b. This study showed a low rate of molecular detection of RABV in suspected human rabies cases; thus, underscoring the interest of systematic laboratory confirmation.

Human rabies

molecular detection

nucleoprotein

characterization

Cameroon

© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.