Molecular Survey of Rabies Virus Variants in Domestic Dogs in Sokoto Metropolis

Canine rabies remains endemic in Nigeria, with domestic dogs serving as the primary reservoir and vector for human exposure. The Northwest geopolitical zone has reported some of the highest human rabies exposure incidents nationally, yet the molecular diversity of circulating rabies virus variants is poorly characterized in this region. This study conducted a molecular survey of rabies virus nucleoprotein gene sequences from brain tissue specimens of stray and domesticated dogs in Sokoto Metropolis. Brain tissue was obtained post-mortem from 40 dogs following aggressive behavior leading to suspected rabies. RNA was extracted and reverse transcriptase PCR performed using conserved nucleoprotein (N) gene primers. Amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference. Rabies virus was confirmed in 57.5% of sampled dogs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed all confirmed sequences clustered within the African dog lineage 2, with sub-grouping suggesting local transmission cycles distinct from previously characterized Sokoto isolates. No wildlife-associated variants were detected. These findings confirm the persistence of canine rabies transmission cycles in Sokoto and support the expansion of mass dog vaccination campaigns as the primary control strategy. Keywords: rabies virus, nucleoprotein gene, domestic dogs, phylogenetics, Sokoto State.