Abstract
This study describes the preparation of cell cultures and brain smears as substrates for the analysis of Mab reaction patterns. Using Lagos bat, Mokola, Duvenhage, Denmark bat and Finman viruses as immunogens, a panel of 36 anti-nucleoprotein Mabs was generated. The panel was used to examine 64 rabies-related and 118 rabies viruses from southern Africa, the Soviet Union and Germany where rabies -related and classical rabies viruses are known to co-exist. Additionally, over 1000 British bats were examined for the presence of these viruses. Twenty nine reaction patterns, some of which were identical but from viruses of different geographical regions, were identified. The original distinctions between the rabies-related virus groups recognized by specific hyperimmune sera were maintained in the Mabs analyses. In addition, twelve reaction patterns (of seven Lagos bat, eight Mokola, three Duvenhage (Africa), forty two "serotine" bat, one Finman and three Myotis dasycneme bat viruses) within these virus groups were also defined. The results showed that the Duvenhage viruses of Africa and the "Duvenhage-like" viruses of European bats are clearly distinguishable. They also revealed the presence of a second bio-type in European bats and a relationship between the Finman virus, the virus from Myotis dasycneme bats of Holland and the Mokola viruses from Africa. No rabies or rabies-related virus was detected in British bats. The results also showed that a distinction can be made between the "wildlife" viruses of southern Africa and Asian regions of the Soviet Union and the "canine" viruses of southern Africa and other regions of the Soviet Union. Both of these "virus types" were found in foxes of Germany. In conclusion, anti-nucleoprotein Mabs prepared from rabies-related viruses proved to be a very useful tool in the typing of rabies and rabies-related viruses and suggest that sub-types of rabies viruses additional to those already defined may exist.