Novel Arenavirus Isolates from Namaqua Rock Mice, Namibia, Southern Africa

Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 Jul;21(7):1213-6. doi: 10.3201/eid2107.141341.

Abstract

Arenaviruses are feared as agents that cause viral hemorrhagic fevers. We report the identification, isolation, and genetic characterization of 2 novel arenaviruses from Namaqua rock mice in Namibia. These findings extend knowledge of the distribution and diversity of arenaviruses in Africa.

Keywords: Africa; Namibia; arenavirus; emerging diseases; rock mice; viruses; zoonoses; zoonotic infectious diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arenaviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Arenaviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Arenaviridae Infections / virology
  • Arenavirus / genetics
  • Arenavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Genome, Viral
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Muridae / virology*
  • Namibia
  • Rodent Diseases / diagnosis
  • Rodent Diseases / virology*
  • Vero Cells