Molecular epidemiology and a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for diagnosis of infection with rabies virus in Zambia

► We inspected clinical specimens for rabies by RT-PCR in Zambia. ► 35 of 87 specimens were positive for rabies virus. ► Phylogenetic analysis revealed the Zambian strains belonged to Africa 1b clade. ► Nucleoprotein and glycoprotein genes showed poor diversity in the Africa 1b. ► We designed a primer set for RT-LAMP to support the diagnosis of rabies in Zambia.