Johnson N, Freuling C, Vos A, Un H, Valtchovski R, Turcitu M, Dumistrescu F, Vuta V, Velic R, Sandrac V, Aylan O, Müller T, Fooks A R
Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, UK.
Dev Biol (Basel). 2008;131:189-98.
Rabies remains endemic within a number of countries in Southeast Europe including Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. With the probable expansion of the European Union eastwards, it is likely that rabies elimination programs will be increased to reduce the burden of disease in new accession countries. A clear understanding of the epidemiology of the virus in this area of Europe is vital before such programs are introduced. With the exception of Turkey, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the principal disease reservoir in Southeastern Europe. However, cases of rabies in the dog (Canis familiaris) are regularly reported. In contrast to Northern Europe, the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) does not appear to be a vector in the south. This study summarises the current rabies situation in Southeast Europe and demonstrates the phylogenetic relationships between the viruses in a number of the countries within the region. Rabies virus RNA was extracted from original samples and a fragment of the nucleoprotein gene amplified by reverse-transcriptase PCR. Automated sequencing was used to derive nucleoprotein gene sequences and these were used to prepare a molecular phylogeny of rabies viruses in Southeast Europe. In Bulgaria, the dog is the main vector bringing rabies into contact with humans and livestock. However, other species may also act as reservoirs for the disease, complicating the development of elimination strategies. The fox is the principal reservoir species for rabies in Romania although cases in dogs are regularly reported. Despite a gradual decline in dog rabies, urban pockets of the disease remain in many regions of Turkey. Furthermore, there is some evidence that the fox has been a significant vectorfor rabies and may be responsible for increases in rabies in cattle in the Aegean region of the country. Throughout the region there is evidence for cross-border movement of rabies by both wildlife and canine vectors.
狂犬病在包括罗马尼亚、保加利亚和土耳其在内的东南欧一些国家仍然流行。随着欧盟可能向东扩张，很可能会增加狂犬病消除计划，以减轻新加入国家的疾病负担。在引入此类计划之前，清楚了解欧洲这一地区病毒的流行病学至关重要。除土耳其外，赤狐（Vulpes vulpes）是东南欧主要的疾病储存宿主。然而，犬（Canis familiaris）狂犬病病例也时有报道。与北欧不同，貉（Nyctereutes procyonoides）在南方似乎不是传播媒介。本研究总结了东南欧目前的狂犬病情况，并展示了该地区一些国家病毒之间的系统发育关系。从原始样本中提取狂犬病病毒RNA，通过逆转录聚合酶链反应扩增核蛋白基因片段。使用自动测序获得核蛋白基因序列，并用于构建东南欧狂犬病病毒的分子系统发育树。在保加利亚，犬是使狂犬病与人类和家畜接触的主要传播媒介。然而，其他物种也可能是该疾病的储存宿主，这使得消除策略的制定变得复杂。在罗马尼亚，狐狸是狂犬病的主要储存宿主物种，尽管犬类病例也时有报道。尽管犬狂犬病逐渐减少，但土耳其许多地区仍存在城市狂犬病疫点。此外，有证据表明狐狸是狂犬病的重要传播媒介，可能是该国爱琴海地区牛狂犬病增加的原因。在整个地区，有证据表明野生动物和犬类传播媒介都存在狂犬病跨境传播的情况。
