This study investigated the evolutionary dynamics of rabies virus (RABV) circulating in China by analyzing 55 complete glycoprotein (G) gene sequences collected over 40 years from 14 provinces. Using Bayesian coalescent analysis, researchers identified three main phylogenetic groups of RABV street viruses in China. The most recent common ancestor of current Chinese RABV strains was estimated to have emerged around 1412 (95% confidence interval: 1006–1736). The mean nucleotide substitution rate for the G gene was calculated at 3.96×10⁻⁴ substitutions per site per year, consistent with previous RABV estimates. Group I contained the majority of isolates and could be subdivided into at least seven subclades, mostly clustering by geographic region. Group II comprised strains from Ningxia and Chongqing, while Group III included samples from Guangxi, Henan, and Hunan. The analysis revealed substantial geographic mixing of RABV variants, particularly in Guangxi Province and Yunnan Province, likely reflecting extensive human-mediated animal movement across regions. These findings provide evolutionary context for understanding RABV epidemiology in China and suggest that multiple distinct viral lineages have been circulating in the country for several centuries.

Key findings

• Chinese RABV comprises three main phylogenetic groups with at least seven subclades identified within Group I, most clustering by geographic region
• The most recent common ancestor of Chinese RABV strains is estimated to date to approximately 1412 (595-year-old origin), consistent with global RABV origins ~1500 years ago
• Mean nucleotide substitution rate of 3.96×10⁻⁴ substitutions per site per year for the G gene aligns with previously published RABV rates worldwide
• Significant geographic mixing and movement of RABV variants occurs, particularly in Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, indicating extensive human and animal-mediated virus transmission across regions
• The G gene analysis revealed previously unidentified RABV subclades and confirms substantial diversity and circulation of multiple viral lineages in China over recent centuries