Phylogeography of Rift Valley Fever Virus in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

Rift Valley Fever is an acute zoonotic viral disease caused by Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) that affects ruminants and humans in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. We used phylogenetic analyses to understand the demographic history of RVFV populations, using sequence data from the three minigenomic segments of the virus. We used phylogeographic approaches to infer RVFV historical movement patterns across its geographic range, and to reconstruct transitions among host species. Results revealed broad circulation of the virus in East Africa, with many lineages originating in Kenya. Arrival of RVFV in Madagascar resulted from three major waves of virus introduction: the first from Zimbabwe, and the second and third from Kenya. The two major outbreaks in Egypt since 1977 possibly resulted from a long-distance introduction from Zimbabwe during the 1970s, and a single introduction took RVFV from Kenya to Saudi Arabia. Movement of the virus between Kenya and Sudan, and CAR and Zimbabwe, was in both directions. Viral populations in West Africa appear to have resulted from a single introduction from Central African Republic. The overall picture of RVFV history is thus one of considerable mobility, and dynamic evolution and biogeography, emphasizing its invasive potential, potentially more broadly than its current distributional limits.

Terrestrial Bird Migration and West Nile Virus Circulation, United States

“…This method for evaluating migration, first described by Minin and Suchard ( 35 ), has been used to characterize migration of several major pathogens including rabies virus ( 36 ), dengue virus ( 37 ), HIV ( 38 ), influenza virus ( 39 , 40 ), and Rift Valley fever virus ( 41 ). …”

A Comprehensive Review of Common Bacterial, Parasitic and Viral Zoonoses at the Human-Animal Interface in Egypt

“…In the last 40 years, Egypt reported five large outbreaks: in 1977–1978, 1993–1994, 1997, 2000 and 2003 and the largest epizootic was in 1977–1978 [ 279 , 280 , 281 , 282 , 283 , 284 ]. The primary introduction of RVFV into livestock in these outbreaks in Egypt was mostly linked to importation of animals mainly camels from Africa [ 280 , 282 , 284 , 285 , 286 , 287 ]. The virus was isolated from various species of domestic animals (e.g., sheep, cows, buffaloes, camels, goats, horses, and rats) as well as humans [ 288 , 289 ].The epizootics of RVF in Egypt were reported every year round.…”

Systematic Review of Important Viral Diseases in Africa in Light of the ‘One Health’ Concept

“…These outbreaks have been reported to be linked to imported animals, mainly from other countries within the African continent. The virus has been isolated from humans and other animals, including camels, cows, sheep, buffaloes, goats, horses, and rats [202][203][204]. The largest reported RVF outbreak erupted in Egypt in 1977, infecting around 200,000 humans with 600 deaths [205].…”