Comparative phylogenetic analysis of Dobrava-Belgrade virus L and S genetic segments isolated from an animal reservoir in Serbia

Valentina Nikolic,N Jovanovic,Maja Stanojevic,P Marusic,Gorana Stamenkovic,J Mladenovic,Marina Siljic,R Cekanac,N Stajkovic,Milena Krstic,Ana Gligic

doi:10.2298/abs1402497n

Abstract

The Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) is a member of the Bunyaviridae family, genus Hantavirus, possessing a single-stranded RNA genome consisting of three segments, designated L (large), M (medium) and S (small). In this study, we present phylogenetic analysis of a newly detected DOBV strain isolated from Apodemus agrarius. Analysis was based on partial L and S segment sequences, in comparison to previously published DOBV sequences from Serbia and elsewhere. A phylogenetic tree based on partial S segment revealed local geographical clustering of DOBV sequences from Serbia, unrelated to host (rodent or human). The topology of the phylogenetic tree was confirmed with a high percent of completely or partially resolved quartets in likelihood-mapping analysis, whereas no evidence of possible recombination in the examined S segment data set was found.

Highlights

Hantaviruses are the causative agents of two human zoonotic disease: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) with mortality rates of up to 12%-18% (HFRS) and 60%, respectively (Kovacevic et al, 2008; Papa, 2012)
Detailed phylogenetic analysis of this sequence was further performed with the data set of six Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) L segment sequences of a corresponding region, existing in the GenBank database, together with hantavirus reference strains
Since its first detection in Serbia in 1992, the occurrence of this virus was demonstrated in almost all countries on the Balkan Peninsula (Gligic 1992; Papa, 2012)., The presence of DOBV Was reported in all republics of the former Yugoslavia, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro (Hukic et al, 1996; Avsic-Zupanc et al, 2000; Gledovic et al, 2008; Nemeth et al, 2011; Papa and Christova, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Hantaviruses are the causative agents of two human zoonotic disease: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) with mortality rates of up to 12%-18% (HFRS) and 60%, respectively (Kovacevic et al, 2008; Papa, 2012). These are enveloped viruses, members of the family Bunyaviridae, with a negative sense RNA genome consisting of three segments, large (L) (6.5-6.6kb), medium (M) (3.6-3.7kb) and small (S) (1.7-2.4kb), which encode a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, the G1 and G2 envelope glycoproteins and the nucleocapsid protein, respectively (Elliott et al, 1991). The results of new studies confirmed the presence of hantaviruses in VALENTINA NIKOLIC ET AL

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