A Novel Hepacivirus in Wild Rodents from South America

Author(s)

de Souza, William Marciel ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Fumagalli, Marcilio Jorge ^[3] ; Sabino-Santos, Jr., Gilberto ^[3] ; Motta Maia, Felipe Goncalves ^{[4, 3]} ; Modha, Sejal ^[1] ; Teixeira Nunes, Marcio Roberto ^[5] ; Murcia, Pablo Ramiro ^[1] ; Moraes Figueiredo, Luiz Tadeu ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Glasgow, MRC, Ctr Virus Res, Glasgow G61 1QH, Lanark - Scotland

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Genet Evolut & Bioagents, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Virol Res Ctr, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Minist Hlth, Evandro Chagas Inst, Ctr Technol Innovat, BR-67030000 Ananindeua, Para - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Viruses-Basel; v. 11, n. 3 MAR 24 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The Hepacivirus genus comprises single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses within the family Flaviviridae. Several hepaciviruses have been identified in different mammals, including multiple rodent species in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. To date, no rodent hepacivirus has been identified in the South American continent. Here, we describe an unknown hepacivirus discovered during a metagenomic screen in Akodon montensis, Calomys tener, Oligoryzomys nigripes, Necromys lasiurus, and Mus musculus from Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Molecular detection of this novel hepacivirus by RT-PCR showed a frequency of 11.11% (2/18) in Oligoryzomys nigripes. This is the first identification of hepavivirus in sigmondonine rodents and in rodents from South America. In sum, our results expand the host range, viral diversity, and geographical distribution of the Hepacivirus genus. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/24150-9 - Research of virus in wild rodents, mosquitoes and ticks
• Grantee: William Marciel de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/13981-0 - Characterization, genomics and diagnostic of viruses with importance for public health in Brazil by high throughput sequencing
• Grantee: William Marciel de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/01414-1 - Production of recombinant viral antigenic peptides and development of methods for serological diagnosis of infections by Chikungunya, Mayaro and Zika viruses
• Grantee: Marcilio Jorge Fumagalli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 13/14929-1 - Detection of arbovirus and other RNA viruses by real time RT-PCR and study of the viroma
• Grantee: Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/02568-2 - Research on hantavirus and other viruses in wild small mammals and their ectoparasites
• Grantee: Gilberto Sabino dos Santos Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 11/06810-9 - Detection and ecology of Hantavirus among wild small mammals and their ectoparasites
• Grantee: Gilberto Sabino dos Santos Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 08/06411-4 - Detection of Hantavirus in rodents and study of dynamics of rodent-reservoir populations in the region of Ribeirão Preto.
• Grantee: Gilberto Sabino dos Santos Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 11/22663-6 - Study of the occurence of arboviroses in wild animals and mosquitoes in Brazilian biomes and agroecosystems
• Grantee: Felipe Gonçalves Motta Maia
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/05778-5 - Bioinformatics analysis of data of viral metagenomic of animals from Brazil and Antarctica
• Grantee: William Marciel de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate