Identifying different subgroups of rabies virus in Iran

Abstract: Background: Rabies has been reported in all provinces and cities of Iran, although there has been no molecular study regarding different groups and subgroups of rabies virus by phosphoprotein gene. In this study, firstly, 48 and then 85 recent rabies isolates recovered from cases reported throughout Iran identified the evolutionary origins by molecular method of phosphoprotein gene region. Materials and methods: All the suspected samples from all over the country have been tested by IF method, then all the positive cases have undergone grouping and sub-grouping by molecular tests of phosphoprotein gene. Results: Three groups (I, II, III) and subgroups have been shown in different parts of country by phylogenetic analysis. Khorassan province has the highest rate of diversity of groups and subgroups (all the 3 groups have been identified in this province), which might be the origin of infection in neighboring provinces and all over the country respectively. Conclusion: In this study, the results of different samples obtained from cities and provinces (which could be the complement of Canadian results) confirmed the emergence of 3 different groups of rabies virus. In addition, the widely dispersion of mentioned groups and sub-groups in all provinces could be shown.