Rabies viruses in specific wild fur animals in northern China, 2017-2019

In recent years, rabies virus (RABV) has been detected in numerous specific wild fur animals in northern China. Therefore, we performed an epidemiologic investigation of RABV in the main fur animal farming provinces during 2017-2019. The results showed that brain tissue samples from eight animals that presented with central nervous symptoms were positive for rabies virus according to direct fluorescent antibody assays and RT-PCR. The phylogenetic relationships and distributions of the viruses were determined, and the results indicated that they belonged to Cosmopolitan and Arctic-related lineages. Serological investigations revealed a RABV positivity rate of 2.78% (34/1,222) in fur animals. A total of 79 unimmunized breeders were negative for serum antibodies, and 9.62% of 52 immunized breeders (5/52) were not seroconverted. The results emphasize that specific wild fur animals are potential sources of RABV and that the current vaccination programme for animals and breeders is deficient, indicating the need for mandatory rabies vaccination to eliminate rabies transmission from dogs to farmed fur animals.