Iquitos Virus: A Novel Reassortant Orthobunyavirus Associated with Human Illness in Peru

Manuel Cespedes,Joel M. Montgomery,Alan D. Barrett,Michael J. Turell,Carolina Guevara,Luis Suarez,Julia S. Ampuero,Patricia V. Aguilar,Mohammad F. Saeed,Tadeusz J. Kochel,Eric S. Halsey,Kevin Russell,Douglas M. Watts

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001315

Manuel Cespedes, Joel M. Montgomery + Show 11 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001315

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Abstract

Oropouche (ORO) virus, a member of the Simbu serogroup, is one of the few human pathogens in the Orthobunyavirus genus in the family Bunyaviridae. Genetic analyses of ORO-like strains from Iquitos, Peru, identified a novel reassortant containing the S and L segments of ORO virus and the M segment of a novel Simbu serogroup virus. This new pathogen, which we named Iquitos (IQT) virus, was first isolated during 1999 from a febrile patient in Iquitos, an Amazonian city in Peru. Subsequently, the virus was identified as the cause of outbreaks of “Oropouche fever” during 2005 and 2006 in Iquitos. In addition to the identification of 17 isolates of IQT virus between 1999 and 2006, surveys for neutralizing antibody among Iquitos residents revealed prevalence rates of 14.9% for ORO virus and 15.4% for IQT virus. Limited studies indicate that prior infection with ORO virus does not seem to protect against disease caused with the IQT virus infection. Identification of a new Orthobunyavirus human pathogen in the Amazon region of Peru highlights the need for strengthening surveillance activities and laboratory capabilities, and investigating the emergence of new pathogens in tropical regions of South America.

Highlights

Viruses in the family Bunyaviridae are classified into five genera: Orthobunyavirus, Hantavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirus and Tospoviruses
On the basis of genetic and antigenic analyses, we previously reported that Jatobal virus (JAT), a member of the Simbu serogroup, is a reassortant virus that contains the S segment of ORO virus and the M and L segments of a still unrecognized Simbu serogroup virus [6]
Phylogenetic analyses of ORO-like strains isolated from febrile patients in Iquitos, Peru, identified a novel ORO reassortant virus, which we named Iquitos (IQT) virus based on the location of the isolation of the virus

Summary

Introduction

Viruses in the family Bunyaviridae are classified into five genera: Orthobunyavirus, Hantavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirus and Tospoviruses. The orthobunyaviruses are enveloped, negative sense RNA viruses whose genome comprises three segments: small (S), medium (M) and large (L). Some members of the Orthobunyavirus genus are known to cause clinical disease in humans, including Oropouche (ORO) virus, a member of the Simbu serogroup, which causes a febrile disease often associated with headache, dizziness, weakness, myalgias and arthralgias [1]. Bunyamwera virus, which is considered the prototype member of the family, causes a febrile illness with headache, arthralgias, rash and infrequent central nervous system involvement [2]. Hemorrhagic manifestations associated with some orthobunyavirus infections have been reported recently [3,4]

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