Abstract
Plasma from patients with dengue-like symptoms was collected in 2013 to 2016 from the Brazilian states of Tocantins and Amapa. 781 samples testing negative for IgM against Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses and for flaviviruses, alphaviruses and enteroviruses RNA using RT-PCRs were analyzed using viral metagenomics. Viral particles-associated nucleic acids were enriched, randomly amplified, and deep sequenced in 102 mini-pools generating over 2 billion reads. Sequence data was analyzed for the presence of known and novel eukaryotic viral reads. Anelloviruses were detected in 80%, human pegivirus 1 in 19%, and parvovirus B19 in 17% of plasma pools. HIV and enteroviruses were detected in two pools each. Previously uncharacterized viral genomes were also identified, and their presence in single plasma samples confirmed by PCR. Chapparvovirus and ambidensovirus genomes, both in the Parvoviridae family, were partially characterized showing 33% and 34% identity in their NS1 sequences to their closest relative. Molecular surveillance using pre-existing plasma from febrile patients provides a readily scalable approach for the detection of novel, potentially emerging, viruses.
Highlights
Deep sequencing of nucleic acids in clinical samples allows the identification of any known infectious agents, resulting in improved diagnostic capabilities [1]
Samples testing negative for recent infections by Dengue, Zika, or Chikungunya viruses, using IgM tests and negative for viral RNA using pan-Flaviruses, pan-Alphaviruses, and pan-Enteroviruses RT-PCR assays were selected for viral metagenomics analyses
We describe here the plasma virome of febrile Brazilian testing negative for Dengue RNA
Summary
Deep sequencing of nucleic acids in clinical samples allows the identification of any known infectious agents, resulting in improved diagnostic capabilities [1]. Analyzing plasma from patients with symptoms of acute viral infections such as fever of unknown origin may be used as a surveillance tool for unexpected or novel (previously uncharacterized) viruses. Plasma virome of over 700 Brazilians with unexplained fever. The specific roles of this author are articulated in the ’author contributions’ section. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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