Abstract:
We report the genetic characterization of two potentially novel rabies-related lyssaviruses
identified from bats in Limpopo province, South Africa. Matlo bat lyssavirus (MBLV) was identified
in two Miniopterus natalensis (Natal long-fingered) bats in 2015 and 2016, and Phala bat lyssavirus
(PBLV) was identified in a Nycticeinops schlieffeni (Schlieffen’s) bat in 2021. The distribution of both of
these bat species is largely confined to parts of Africa, with limited reports from the Arabian Peninsula.
MBLV and PBLV were demonstrated to group with the unassigned and phylogroup I lyssaviruses,
respectively. MBLV was most closely related to Lyssavirus caucasicus (WCBV), whereas PBLV was
most closely related to Lyssavirus formosa (TWBLV-1) and Taiwan bat lyssavirus 2 (TWBLV-2), based on
analysis of the N and G genes, the concatenated N + P +M+ G + L coding sequence, and the complete
genome sequence. Based on our analysis, MBLV and WCBV appeared to constitute a phylogroup
separate from Lyssavirus lleida (LLEBV) and Lyssavirus ikoma (IKOV). Analysis of the antigenic sites
suggests that PBLV will likely be serologically distinguishable from established lyssaviruses in virusneutralization
tests, whereas MBLV appeared to be antigenically highly similar to WCBV. Taken
together, the findings suggested that, while PBLV is likely a new lyssavirus species, MBLV is likely
related to WCBV.
