Identification of novel orthonairoviruses from rodents and shrews in Gabon, Central Africa

Abstract

In Africa, several emerging zoonotic viruses have been transmitted from small mammals such as rodents and shrews to humans. Although no clinical cases of small mammal-borne viral diseases have been reported in Central Africa, potential zoonotic viruses have been identified in rodents in the region. Therefore, we hypothesized that there may be unrecognized zoonotic viruses circulating in small mammals in Central Africa. Here, we investigated viruses that have been maintained among wild small mammals in Gabon to understand their potential risks to humans. We identified novel orthonairoviruses in 24.6 % of captured rodents and shrews from their kidney total RNA samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the novel viruses, Lamusara virus (LMSV) and Lamgora virus, were closely related to Erve virus, which was previously identified in shrews of the genus Crocidura and has been suspected to cause neuropathogenic diseases in humans. Moreover, we show that the LMSV ovarian tumour domain protease, one of the virulence determination factors of orthonairoviruses, suppressed interferon signalling in human cells, suggesting the possible human pathogenicity of this virus. Taken together, our study demonstrates the presence of novel orthonairoviruses that may pose unrecognized risks of viral disease transmission in Gabon.

Deep-mining of vertebrate genomes reveals an unexpected diversity of endogenous viral elements

“…(53,54). A number of recently discovered orthonairoviruses have also been isolated from shrews including: Wufeng orthonairovirus 1 from Crocidura attenuata in China, Lamusara and Lamgora viruses from Crocidura goliath in Gabon (55), and Cencurut virus from Suncus murinus in Singapore (56). These data indicate that shrews in the subfamily Crocidurinae are important natural reservoirs of orthonairoviruses in Europe, Africa and Asia.…”

Isolation of Batborne Neglected Zoonotic Agent Issyk-Kul Virus, Italy

“… Phylogenetic analysis of isolates from study of batborne neglected zoonotic agent Issyk-Kul virus, Italy A) Phylogeneny nairovirus protein sequences for Orthonairovirus large (L) segments, including the complete sequence obtained from Hypsugo savii bats, highlighted in yellow. Sequence colors were based on the genogroups proposed by Ozeki et al 2022 ( 12 ). B) Nucleotide alignment magnification of a short PCR-targeted region of the L segment, encompassing all sequences derived from bat surveillance conducted during 2017–2023 identified as Issyk-Kul virus IT-297348-34/2022.…”

Shrews (Soricidae) and Viruses Identified in Shrews

“…in Gabon, Central Africa, in 2022. Their pathogenicity to humans and animals is currently unknown [49].…”