Complete genome sequence of a vampire bat-related rabies virus obtained by metagenomics from a patient with encephalitis of unknown etiology, French Guiana

Microbiol Resour Announc. 2024 Nov 12;13(11):e0051424. doi: 10.1128/mra.00514-24. Epub 2024 Oct 4.

Abstract

We report the complete genome sequence of a rabies virus obtained by direct metagenomics from the cerebellum of a gold panner who died of unknown encephalitis in French Guiana. Phylogenetic analysis exhibited a close genetic relationship with vampire bat-related isolates, confirming the second case of human rabies identified in this territory.

Keywords: French Guiana; Illumina; bat; complete genome; diagnosis; encephalitis; human; metagenomics; next generation sequencing; rabies.