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.