Diversity of Astroviruses Circulating in Humans, Bats, and Wild Birds in Egypt

Ahmed El Taweel,Omar Alfaroq Rabiee,Mohamed Ahmed Ali,Ghazi Kayali,Ahmed Barakat,Ahmed Kandeil

doi:10.3390/v12050485

Ahmed El Taweel, Omar Alfaroq Rabiee + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/v12050485

Copy DOI

Abstract

Astroviruses belong to Astroviridae family which includes two main genera: Mamastroviruses that infect mammals, and Avastroviruses that infect avian hosts. Bats and wild birds are considered among the natural reservoirs for astroviruses. Infections in humans are associated with severe gastroenteritis, especially among children. We conducted surveillance for astroviruses in bats, wild birds, and humans in Egypt. Our results indicated relatively high prevalence of astroviruses in those hosts. Phylogenetic analysis revealed diversity of these viruses within hosts. Detected human viruses showed similarity with classic and variant human astroviruses, as well as similarity with animal-origin viruses. Viruses in bats were dispersed, with similarities to other bat viruses as well as other mammalian, including human, viruses. Wild bird viruses varied and were related to other avastroviruses, as well as human astroviruses. Our results indicate that astroviruses are common in bats, wild birds, and humans in Egypt, with a wide gene pool. Potential cross-species transmission may be occurring but should be verified by further surveillance and molecular studies.

Highlights

Astroviruses are small icosahedral non-enveloped viruses with positive-sense, single-strandedRNA genome
Discussion in Egypt, and limited reports about children, we studied the diversity of astroviruses circulating in
Our resultsthe demonstrated the prevalence astrovirus in in Egypt, and limited about children, the diversity astroviruses circulating in children suffering fromreports gastroenteritis was 28%.we

Summary

Introduction

They are 6.4 to 7.3 kb long and consist of three open reading frames (ORF1a, ORF1b, and ORF2). Astroviruses were first detected in stool samples of humans in 1975, subsequently identified in a wide variety of mammalian and avian host species [1,2]. Astroviruses belong to the Astroviridae family that includes two main genera: Mamastroviruses that infect mammals, and Avastroviruses that infect avian hosts [3]. Astroviruses cause gastroenteritis, but some avian astroviruses have been associated with both intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms [5]. Human astroviruses are one of the causative agents of gastroenteritis in humans and other mammals [6]. The main transmission route of human astroviruses is the fecal-oral route

Methods

Results

Conclusion