Isolation of rabies virus from dogs with suspected rabies of Shanghai districts in 2004

The analysis of virus isolation from dogs with suspected rabies of Shanghai districts in 2004 was performed for the use in the emergency incident management for those individuals bitten by dogs. All together, 126 brain samples of suspected rabies dogs were collected, and the virus antigens of rabies were detected by rapid ELISA assay.Virus isolation was performed by means of mouse infection method and isolated viruses were identified by immunofiuorescence assay (IF). Investigation was also undertaken on the district distribution and time of occurrence of the virus isolation in these dogs. It was found that the positive rate of virus isolation was 22.2% (28/126), and the type 1 rabies virus was identified for the viruses isolated in the brain samples of dogs. From June to September, it showed the highest level of positive rate of virus isolation, accounting for the 75% (21/28) of the whole year. The dogs from which the viruses were isolated distributed almost in Jiading, Baosan, Qinpu and Jinsan districts, the latter two districts appeared to be the newly discovered area. In comparison with last year, the incidence was somewhat increased. It is evident that the three methods for the detection of rabies viruses mentioned above can be used for rapid diagnosis, obtaining identified strains of viruses as well as for the control and prevention of strategy for rabies.