Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the molecular characterization of nucleoprotein (N) gene segment of the rabies virus (RV) in Sultanate of Oman. A portion of nucleotide sequence of N gene was amplified from the brains of 4 rabid animals (two goats, one sheep, and one camel) collected during 2011 to 2012, through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The nucleotide sequences of the gene were subjected to molecular and phylogenic analysis. The phylogenic analysis was performed in relation to Omani isolates and other sequences from the neighboring countries available in the GenBank. Results indicated that one genetic group of virus appeared to be circulating in the Sultanate of Oman with 99% of homology. The study also indicated that the Omani rabies virus is closely related (> 97% homology) to viruses isolated from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. It is clear from the results that since its first diagnosis in 1990 the rabies virus has not gone through significant variations from the one isolated from first outbreaks. Since, there is no evidence of any other rabies virus variant in Oman, it seem that rabies is maintained endemically in Oman through wild foxes.

Key words: Rabies, Oman, molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, Oman.