Mokola virus

Mokola virus is one of four members of the lyssavirus genus found in Africa, the others being Duvenhage virus, Lagos bat virus and classic rabies virus. Mokola virus was first isolated from shrews (Crocidura species) from Mokola forest, Nigeria in 1968. It has caused two human deaths in Nigeria, in 1969 and 1971. It causes lethal encephalitis, and does not manifest the features of classic rabies.

Mokola virus has also been found in numerous other mammalian species in sub-Saharan Africa, including rodents, domestic cats in Zimbabwe and South Africa and a dog. Some of these cats had received rabies vaccine but remained susceptible to Mokola virus infection.

The reservoir for Mokola virus is unknown. Unlike other lyssaviruses, Mokola virus is able to infect and replicate in mosquito cells and so may be harboured by insects.