A novel hepacivirus inwild rodents from South America

William Marciel de Souza, Marcílio Jorge Fumagalli, Gilberto Sabino-Santos, Felipe Gonçalves Motta Maia, Sejal Modha, Márcio Roberto Teixeira Nunes, Pablo Ramiro Murcia, Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

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 São 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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number297
JournalViruses
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Flaviviridae
  • Hepacivirus
  • Viral hepatitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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