Characterization of Fitzroy River Virus and Serologic Evidence of Human and Animal Infection.

Cheryl A Johansen,W Ian Lipkin,Roy A Hall,Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann,Glenys R Chidlow,Natalie A Prow,Shani Wong,Simon H Williams,Jay Nicholson,Rohini Sinha,David W Smith,David T Williams,Lorna F Melville

doi:10.3201/eid2308.161440

Abstract

In northern Western Australia in 2011 and 2012, surveillance detected a novel arbovirus in mosquitoes. Genetic and phenotypic analyses confirmed that the new flavivirus, named Fitzroy River virus, is related to Sepik virus and Wesselsbron virus, in the yellow fever virus group. Most (81%) isolates came from Aedes normanensis mosquitoes, providing circumstantial evidence of the probable vector. In cell culture, Fitzroy River virus replicated in mosquito (C6/36), mammalian (Vero, PSEK, and BSR), and avian (DF-1) cells. It also infected intraperitoneally inoculated weanling mice and caused mild clinical disease in 3 intracranially inoculated mice. Specific neutralizing antibodies were detected in sentinel horses (12.6%), cattle (6.6%), and chickens (0.5%) in the Northern Territory of Australia and in a subset of humans (0.8%) from northern Western Australia.

Highlights

IntroductionIsolated arboviruses include the flaviviruses Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) (and subtype Alfuy virus), KUNV, Kokobera virus (KOKV), and Edge Hill virus (EHV) and the alphaviruses River virus (RRV), Barmah Forest virus (BFV), and Sindbis virus [4,5]
The monoclonal antibody (mAb) binding profile differed from Edge Hill virus (EHV) and SEPV, and positive reactions to Fitzroy River virus (FRV) were detected with mAbs 4G2 and 4G4 only (Table 1)
The new flavivirus from northern Australia, for which we proposed the name Fitzroy River virus, was first isolated from Ae. normanensis mosquitoes collected near the Fitzroy River

Summary

Introduction

Isolated arboviruses include the flaviviruses MVEV (and subtype Alfuy virus), KUNV, Kokobera virus (KOKV), and Edge Hill virus (EHV) and the alphaviruses RRV, BFV, and Sindbis virus [4,5]. This system occasionally detects viruses that cannot be identified as known viruses, such as Stretch Lagoon virus, an orbivirus isolated in 2002 [6]. We describe the detection and characterization of a novel flavivirus named Fitzroy River virus (FRV), isolated from mosquitoes collected in northern Western Australia, and seroepidemiologic evidence of human or animal infection

Methods

Results

Conclusion