Zoonotic Alphaviruses in Fatal and Neurologic Infections in Wildlife and Nonequine Domestic Animals, South Africa.

Jumari Steyn,June Williams,Bjorn Reininghaus,Isabel Fourie,Voula Stivaktas,Stefanie Van Niekerk,Marietjie Venter,Elizabeth Botha,Johan Steyl

doi:10.3201/eid2606.191179

Abstract

Alphaviruses from Africa, such as Middelburg virus (MIDV), and Sindbis virus (SINV), were detected in horses with neurologic disease in South Africa, but their host ranges remain unknown. We investigated the contribution of alphaviruses to neurologic infections and death in wildlife and domestic animals in this country. During 2010–2018, a total of 608 clinical samples from wildlife and nonequine domestic animals that had febrile, neurologic signs or unexplained deaths were tested for alphaviruses. We identified 32 (5.5%) of 608 alphavirus infections (9 SINV and 23 MIDV), mostly in neurotissue of wildlife, domestic animals, and birds. Phylogenetic analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene confirmed either SINV or MIDV. This study implicates MIDV and SINV as potential causes of neurologic disease in wildlife and nonequine domestic species in Africa and suggests a wide host range and pathogenic potential.

Highlights

Alphaviruses from Africa, such as Middelburg virus (MIDV), and Sindbis virus (SINV), were detected in horses with neurologic disease in South Africa, but their host ranges remain unknown
The 608 animals tested were from 99 animal species, of which 14 species were positive for MIDV or SINV (Table l)
We identified a total of 32 alphavirus infections in wildlife, nonequine domestic animals, and 2 birds that had neurologic or febrile signs or unexplained death over a period of 9 years (2010–2018) as MIDV (n = 23) or SINV (n = 9)

Summary

Introduction

Alphaviruses from Africa, such as Middelburg virus (MIDV), and Sindbis virus (SINV), were detected in horses with neurologic disease in South Africa, but their host ranges remain unknown. We investigated the contribution of alphaviruses to neurologic infections and death in wildlife and domestic animals in this country. We identified 32 (5.5%) of 608 alphavirus infections (9 SINV and 23 MIDV), mostly in neurotissue of wildlife, domestic animals, and birds. This study implicates MIDV and SINV as potential causes of neurologic disease in wildlife and nonequine domestic species in Africa and suggests a wide host range and pathogenic potential. The purpose of our study was to investigate the host range and association of alphaviruses from Africa with neurologic disease and death, as well as to increase knowledge on pathogenesis and the zoonotic potential of these 2 viruses

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Conclusion