A Molecular Epidemiological Study on Feline Rabies Virus in Greater Bangkok (สายพันธุ์ไวรัสโรคพิษสุนัขบ้าที่พบในแมวเขตกรุงเทพมหานคร และปริมณฑล)

A molecular epidemiology of rabies viruses that are prevalent among cats in greater Bangkok was studied. Rabies virus nucleoprotein (N) gene of 13 brain isolates was amplified by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The diversity of N gene was revealed ~y restriction fragment length polymorphism method. These rabies virus isolates could be distinguished into 4 types, designated as I, II, III and IV. Type I was encountered more frequently than others. The rabies virus strains found in cats were genetically related to those found in dogs. Thus, it seems likely that there had been viral transmission between the dogs and the cats.