Multiple DNA viruses identified in multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) populations from across regions of Sub-Saharan Africa

Calvignac-Spencer, S., Kouadio, L., Couacy-Hymann, E., Sogoba, N., Rosenke, K., Davison, A. J. , Leendertz, F., Jarvis, M. A., Feldmann, H. and Ehlers, B. (2020) Multiple DNA viruses identified in multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) populations from across regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Archives of Virology, 165, pp. 2291-2299. (doi: 10.1007/s00705-020-04738-9) (PMID:32754877) (PMCID:PMC7497350)

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Abstract

The multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis; M. natalensis) serves as the main reservoir for the zoonotic arenavirus Lassa virus (LASV), and this has led to considerable investigation into the distribution of LASV and other related arenaviruses in this host species. In contrast to the situation with arenaviruses, the presence of other viruses in M. natalensis remains largely unexplored. In this study, herpesviruses and polyomaviruses were identified and partially characterized by PCR methods, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. In tissues sampled from M. natalensis populations in Côte d'Ivoire and Mali, six new DNA viruses (four betaherpesviruses, one gammaherpesvirus and one polyomavirus) were identified. Phylogenetic analysis based on glycoprotein B amino acid sequences showed that the herpesviruses clustered with cytomegaloviruses and rhadinoviruses of multiple rodent species. The complete circular genome of the newly identified polyomavirus was amplified by PCR. Amino acid sequence analysis of the large T antigen or VP1 showed that this virus clustered with a known polyomavirus from a house mouse (species Mus musculus polyomavirus 1). These two polyomaviruses form a clade with other rodent polyomaviruses, and the newly identified virus represents the third known polyomavirus of M. natalensis. This study represents the first identification of herpesviruses and the discovery of a novel polyomavirus in M. natalensis. In contrast to arenaviruses, we anticipate that these newly identified viruses represent a low zoonotic risk due to the normally highly restricted specificity of members of these two DNA virus families to their individual mammalian host species.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Davison, Professor Andrew
Authors: Calvignac-Spencer, S., Kouadio, L., Couacy-Hymann, E., Sogoba, N., Rosenke, K., Davison, A. J., Leendertz, F., Jarvis, M. A., Feldmann, H., and Ehlers, B.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Archives of Virology
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0304-8608
ISSN (Online):1432-8798
Published Online:04 August 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s) 2020
First Published:First published in Archives of Virology 165:2291-2299
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
656321Genomics of human cytomegalovirusAndrew DavisonMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12014/3MVLS III - CENTRE FOR VIRUS RESEARCH