Lyssaviruses in Insectivorous Bats, South Africa, 2003–2018

Abstract

We detected 3 lyssaviruses in insectivorous bats sampled in South Africa during 2003–2018. We used phylogenetic analysis to identify Duvenhage lyssavirus and a potentially new lyssavirus, provisionally named Matlo bat lyssavirus, that is related to West Caucasian bat virus. These new detections highlight that much about lyssaviruses remains unknown.

Keywords

• rabies
• lyssaviruses
• South Africa
• bats
• Duvenhage virus
• Matlo bat lyssavirus