Abstract
Old World alphaviruses were identified in 52 of 623 horses with febrile or neurologic disease in South Africa. Five of 8 Sindbis virus infections were mild; 2 of 3 fatal cases involved co-infections. Of 44 Middelburg virus infections, 28 caused neurologic disease; 12 were fatal. Middelburg virus likely has zoonotic potential.
Highlights
Sindbis and Middelburg Old World Alphaviruses Associated withStephanie van Niekerk, Stacey Human, June Williams, Erna van Wilpe, Marthi Pretorius, Robert Swanepoel, Marietjie Venter
Old World alphaviruses were identified in 52 of 623 horses with febrile or neurologic disease in South Africa
We previously investigated horses as sentinels for detection of neurologic arboviruses and described West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 [5] and Shunivirus (SHUV) as previously missed causes of fatal encephalitis in Africa [6], with zoonotic potential [7]
Summary
Stephanie van Niekerk, Stacey Human, June Williams, Erna van Wilpe, Marthi Pretorius, Robert Swanepoel, Marietjie Venter. Old World alphaviruses were identified in 52 of 623 horses with febrile or neurologic disease in South Africa. We previously investigated horses as sentinels for detection of neurologic arboviruses and described West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 [5] and Shunivirus (SHUV) as previously missed causes of fatal encephalitis in Africa [6], with zoonotic potential [7]. Morgan virus; GETV, Getah virus; HJV, Highlands J virus; MAYV, Mayaro virus; MIDV, Middelburg virus; MUCV, Mucambo virus; NDUV, Ndumu virus; ONNV, O’nyong nyong virus; PIXV, Pixuna virus; RNV, Rio Negro virus; RRV, Ross River virus; SAE, South Africa equine virus; SAGV, Sagiyama virus; SESV, Southern elephant seal virus; SFV, Semliki Forest virus; SINV, Sindbis virus; SPDV, Salmon pancreatic disease virus; TONV, Tonate virus; TROV, Trocara virus; UNAV, Una virus; VEEV, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus; WEEV, Western equine encephalitis virus; WHATV, Whataroanvirus; ZRU, Zoonoses Research Unit virus
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