Novel orthohepeviruses in wild rodents from São Paulo State, Brazil

Virology. 2018 Jun:519:12-16. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.03.025. Epub 2018 Apr 5.

Abstract

The Hepeviridae comprise single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses classified into two genera, Orthohepevirus and Piscihepevirus. Orthohepeviruses have a wide host range that includes rodents, but previous studies had been restricted to rodents of the Muridae family. In this study, we applied a high-throughput sequencing approach to examine the presence of orthohepeviruses in rodents from São Paulo State, Brazil. We also used RT-PCR to determine the frequency of orthohepeviruses in our sampled population. We identified novel orthohepeviruses in blood samples derived from Necromys lasiurus (1.19%) and Calomys tener (3.66%). Therefore, our results expand the host range and viral diversity of the Hepeviridae family.

Keywords: Hepatitis E virus; Hepeviridae; Orthohepevirus; Rodent-borne viruses; Viral hepatitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / virology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Chiroptera / virology
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Host Specificity
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA Virus Infections / epidemiology
  • RNA Virus Infections / veterinary*
  • RNA Virus Infections / virology
  • RNA Viruses / classification
  • RNA Viruses / genetics*
  • RNA Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rodent Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Rodentia / virology*
  • Serogroup