To explore whether rabies viral variants co-localize with discrete bat host populations (sub-populations), both the host genome and rabies virus of Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bats), Myotis lucifugus (little brown bats) and other Myotis specimens, collected during 1989 to 2004 from diagnostic submissions from across the country, were genetically characterized.
Bat species population analysis was performed by nuclear DNA genotyping, scored by variation of several microsatellite loci, and through phylogenetic analysis of Cox-1 (cytochrome oxidase subunit I) gene sequences located on mitochondrial DNA. Microsatellites are relatively short DNA stretches consisting of tandem repeats of one to five nucleotides which exhibit high levels of allelic variation. Cox-1 gene sequence analysis provides accurate species level of identification for Myotis lucifugus specimens. Two hundred and ninety five DNA samples of Eptesicus fuscus were examined at 9 microsatellite loci, and 126 DNA samples of Myotis lucifugus were examined at 7 microsatellite loci, both datasets were analyzed by a series of genetic population analysis softwares. Phylogeny of Cox-1 gene sequences with 552 nucleotides by using 106 DNA samples of bats Myotis lucifugus was analyzed as an alternative strategy of the microsatellite gene marker for population structure determination of Myotis lucifugus . Consequently, two populations---East (group I) and West (group II) were determined for Eptesicus fuscus bats in Canada. No population structure was identified for Myotis lucifugus bats.
Rabies viral variants were identified by nucleotide sequencing of the central divergent portion of the P (phosphoprotein) gene---a region previously proved to be a sensitive target for molecular epidemiology analysis. Viral RNA, isolated from 231 samples of Eptesicus fuscus and Myotis species was sequenced over a 597 by region. Phylogenetic analysis of these data identified six rabies viral variants circulating in Eptesicus fuscus and one rabies viral variant circulating in Myotis species.
Based on the results of genetic characterization, the spatial distribution of the bat host subpopulations and their associated rabies virus variants were determined. Rabies variants I and II circulate in Eptesicus fuscus population I (East); rabies variants III, IV and V circulate in Eptesicus fuscus population II (West); and rabies variant VI circulates in both populations. A distinct rabies virus variant VII was associated with Myotis species. No population substructure would be identified for Myotis lucifugus bats.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/27243 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Feng, Yuqin |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 141 p. |
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