Mammarenaviruses of Rodents, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Grobbelaar, Antoinette A.; Jardine, J.; Burt, Felicity J.; Shepherd, A. J.; Shepherd, S. P.; Leman, Patricia A.; Kemp, Alan C.; Braack, L.E.O.; Weyer, Jacqueline; Pawęska, Janusz T.; Swanepoel, Robert

doi:10.3201/eid2712.211088

Cited by 6 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…are known hosts of MOPV, LASV, GAIV, LUNV, and Merino-Walk viruses, none of the 73 fecal or 57 kidney samples (representing 23% of all samples tested) were shown positive for arenavirus RNA. This is in contrast with previous reports, which found Mastomys as the most regular host for Old World arenaviruses [ 8 , 41 ]. Surveillance of this species at the site will be continued as the sample sizes of Mastomys sp.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…minutoides/LP/RSA/2017 (and Lunk virus from Zambia) share the closest similarities to Rat arenavirus 1/YN2013/CHN, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), and Dandenong viruses with 83.7–85.3% amino acid identity within this nucleoprotein region. The results confirm that the identified arenaviruses are not identical to recently reported arenaviruses from South African rodent surveillance [ 8 ] and instead are most related to arenaviruses present in members of the same host species previously reported from other African countries (Namibia and Zambia) (see PASC plots as Figures S4–S8 for comparisons).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, the distribution of Micaelamys namaquensis , is throughout Southern Africa (including southern Angola, Western Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini and South Africa [ 42 ]). Other arenaviruses reported from the host, include Bitu, Okahandja, and Witsand viruses from Angola, Namibia, and South Africa [ 8 , 9 , 11 ], though group in a basal clade to Mariental and UP12291/M. namaquensis/LP/RSA/2017 ( Figure 3 and Figures S1–S3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biosurveillance studies in several African rodent species have identified a large diversity of mammarenaviruses (see [ 7 ]), such as Mobala (MOBV), Ippy, Mopeia (MOPV), Gairo (GAIV), Luna (LUNV), Lunk and Mariental viruses [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. These Old-World arenaviruses have mostly originated from genera within the Muridae family (e.g., Mastomys , Praomys , Mus , Grammomys , and Micaelamys ) from a wide geographical distribution (West, Central, East, and Southern Africa).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, since mammarenaviruses are also generally associated with specific rodent species, with speciation possibly affected by host-switching, recombination, and reassortment [ 7 ], investigating related species to identify the diversity of potentially zoonotic agents among non-volant small mammals is of increasing interest. The zoonotic potential of many mammarenaviruses has also not been determined, though serological findings suggest that exposures to widespread viruses such as MOPV from Southern Africa have occurred [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Host-Associated Distribution of Two Novel Mammarenaviruses in Rodents from Southern Africa

Geldenhuys

Weyer

Kearney

et al. 2022

Viruses

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Mammarenaviruses are hosted by several rodent species, a small number of which have been known to be zoonotic. Host surveillance among small mammals has identified a large diversity of previously undescribed mammarenaviruses. Intensified biosurveillance is warranted to better understand the diversity of these agents. Longitudinal host surveillance involving non-volant small mammals at a site in the Limpopo province, South Africa, was conducted. The study reports on the screening results of 563 samples for the presence of mammarenavirus RNA. PCR-positive samples were subjected to sequencing using Miseq amplicon sequencing. Sequences with close similarity to Mariental and Lunk viruses were identified from two rodent species, Micaelamys namaquensis and Mus minutoides. This represents the first description of these viruses from South Africa. The genomic sequences reported here partially satisfied the requirements put forward by the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses’ criteria for species delineation, suggesting that these may be new strains of existing species. The known distribution of these mammarenaviruses is thus expanded further south in Africa.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Host-Associated Distribution of Two Novel Mammarenaviruses in Rodents from Southern Africa

Geldenhuys

Weyer

Kearney

et al. 2022

Viruses

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Detection and genetic diversity of Mopeia virus in Mastomys natalensis from different habitats in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

Mapaco

Crespin

Rodrigues

et al. 2022

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

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Structural Drivers of Vulnerability at the Human-Rodent Interface in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

et al. 2023

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This socio-anthropological study investigates the relations between humans and rodents in an area adjacent to the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Designed as part of the larger researcher on mammarenaviruses, it explores the social dimensions of the rodent-human interface, considering its spatial and temporal variability. Its results contribute to our understanding of the socio-ecological context in which new pathogens or new routes of pathogen transmission could arise and potentially spread diseases. A vulnerability-based approach was used to assess human exposure, sensibility and capacity to adapt to rodents. This study revealed: (i) Local knowledge of the dynamic of rodent populations over the last few decades, with new invasive rodents displacing native species; (ii) the social-ecological factors thought to be behind this invasion: climate change, new infrastructure (e.g., construction of a dam), new agricultural practices (e.g., cultivation of sunflowers) and policies (human resettlement); (iii) the significant impact associated with new invasive rodents (e.g., crop losses, damage to belongings), the limited capacity for individual and collective interventions to mitigate damage, and the little concern shown for rodent-related diseases; (iv) women and girls’ high vulnerability to potential rodent-borne diseases due to frequent direct and indirect contact with rodents in the domestic space; and (v) the added-value of using a vulnerability-based methodology, over the more commonly used Knowledge-Attitudes-Practices (KAP) methodology, to map the structural factors shaping the human-rodent interface and its dynamic. Our findings suggest that the vulnerability-based approach could offer an opportunity to better respond to the One Health ambition by integrating social dimensions of health and grasping the complexity of the social and material context in which new pathogens could emerge and spread. One Health Statement The present socio-anthropological study of the human-rodent interface comes in complement to a previous eco-epidemiological survey focusing on the rodent-virus interface. It explores the cultural and social dimensions of the interactions between rodent-human, considering spatial and temporal variability. In doing so, it contributes to the understanding of the socio-ecological dynamic, in which new viral transmission can occur and disease spread. It exemplifies, based on local knowledge, how socio-ecological changes can create new routes for the emerging virus and highlights the vulnerability of the exposed human population to address the potential related health risks. This multidisciplinary and dynamic approach of how humans and rodents interact, and how these interactions are shaped by their changing environment is a contribution to a systemic approach to health, in line with the One health paradigm.

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Mammarenaviruses of Rodents, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Cited by 6 publications

References 31 publications

Host-Associated Distribution of Two Novel Mammarenaviruses in Rodents from Southern Africa

Host-Associated Distribution of Two Novel Mammarenaviruses in Rodents from Southern Africa

Detection and genetic diversity of Mopeia virus in Mastomys natalensis from different habitats in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

Structural Drivers of Vulnerability at the Human-Rodent Interface in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

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