Genetic Diversity and Expanded Host Range of J Paramyxovirus Detected in Wild Small Mammals in China

Abstract

J paramyxovirus (JPV) is a rodent-borne Jeilongvirus isolated from moribund mice (Mus musculus) with hemorrhagic lung lesions trapped in the 1972 in northern Queensland, Australia. The JPV antibodies have been detected in wild mice, wild rats, pigs, and human populations in Australia. Here, by next-generation sequencing (NGS), we detected JPV from M. musculus in Shandong Province of China. Molecular detection of JPV was performed to survey to survey the infection among 66 species of wild small mammals collected from six eco-climate regions in China by applying JPV specific RT-PCR and sequencing. Altogether, 21 out of 3070 (0.68%) wild small mammals of four species were positive for JPV, including 5.26% (1/19) of Microtus fortis, 3.76% (17/452) of M. musculus, 1.67% (1/60) of Apodemus peninsulae, and 0.48% (2/421) of Apodemus agrarius, which captured three eco-climate regions of China (northeastern China, northern China, and Inner Mongolia-Xinjiang). Sequence analysis revealed the currently identified JPV was clustered with other 14 Jeilongvirus members, and shared 80.2% and 89.2% identity with Australia’s JPV partial RNA polymerase (L) and glycoprotein (G) genes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the separation of three lineages of the current JPV sequences. Our results show three new hosts (A. agrarius, A. peninsulae, and M. fortis) for JPV, most of which were widely distributed in China, and highlight the potential zoonotic transmission of JPV in humans. The detection of JPV in wild small mammals in China broaden the viral diversity, geographical distribution, and reservoir types of JPV. Future studies should prioritize determining the epidemiological characteristics of JPV, so that potential risks can be mitigated.

Discovery and genetic characterization of novel paramyxoviruses from small mammals in Hubei Province, Central China

“…The family Paramyxoviridae contains several zoonotic viruses, such as Nipah virus and Hendra virus. In the past decade, the widespread use of next-generation sequencing has led to the identification of a large number of novel paramyxoviruses with (near-) complete genome sequences that exhibit a wide host range and geographical distribution [ 19 23 24 47 ]. However, little was previously known about the diversity, geographical distribution and evolution of paramyxoviruses in Hubei Province.…”

“…The genus Jeilongvirus was established by the ICTV in 2019, including six species after a thorough assessment. However, the genus has rapidly expanded in recent years, with many unclassified jeilongviruses being discovered [ 25 47 51 52 ]. In this study, 185 paramyxovirus sequences (97.4 %, 185/190) were confirmed to cluster within the genus Jeilongvirus .…”

Evolution and ecology of Jeilongvirus among wild rodents and shrews in Singapore

“…The Singapore Jeilongvirus falls within the small mammal subclade, grouping with unclassified Paramyxoviruses from small mammals sampled in islands of the Indian Ocean and in Africa. Previous studies indicate a geographical and host correlation of J-virus and BeiV in mainland China, specifying that well-defined lineages circulated widely within their taxonomical host groups [ 26 , 29 , 30 ].…”