Genetic analysis of four human rabies cases reported in Turkey between 2002 and 2006

Rabies remains endemic in many regions of Turkey. As a consequence, humans are at risk of this fatal disease through encounters with rabid animals. The present study describes four recent cases of rabies in humans. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of the rabies virus isolates obtained from each case demonstrates the distinct geographical distribution of rabies virus variants within Turkey. The study suggests that rabies virus translocation has occurred across Turkey and might be the source of the emergence of a genetically similar variant in the Golan Heights region on the Israeli/Syrian border in 2004.