Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic characterization of rabies virus strains from Republic of Moldova and north-eastern Romania. Lyssavirus rabies

Nowadays, high throughput sequencing has become a powerful tool for the epidemiological studies of rabies virus. Considering the lack of information from the two geographic areas included in the present research, a collection of samples from 2012 to 2017 from both domestic and wild animals positive for rabies were used, in order to study the circulation of rabies virus variants and better understand their distribution in Republic of Moldova and north-eastern Romania, a neighboring country. A single phylogenetic group was identified, namely north-eastern Europe (NEE). High throughput sequencing on samples from both domestic and wild animals was performed for the first time for both countries, providing new insights of RABV evolution and epidemiology in areas less studied over the years, expanding our understanding on this disease.