Introduction
Rabies is considered one of the most lethal diseases affecting both
domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. Despite efficient vaccine
and prophylactic treatment, the disease still poses as a major public
health concern (OIE, 2018; WHO, 2018). The Rabies lyssavirus,
(Rhabdoviridae family) is the etiological agent of the disease, a
negative sense, linear RNA virus, with about 12 Kb genome, coding five
proteins (ICTV, 2019).
In addition to its natural reservoirs, in Brazil this virus was also
found in two wild canid species: Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating
fox) and Pseudalopex vetulus (hoary fox) (Carnieli et al, 2008).
In the present study, we found new RABV variants in samples from the
central nervous system (CNS) of two crab-eating foxes, that presented
neurological distress behaviour, including lack of coordination and
balance, compulsive and accentuated head movement, apparent muscular
weakness, and caused traffic accidents in the Northeastern part of
Brazil.