Novel arenavirus, Zambia

Abstract

To investigate arenavirus in Zambia, we characterized virus from the kidneys of 5 arenavirus RNA-positive rodents (Mastomys natalensis) among 263 captured. Full-genome sequences of the viruses suggested that they were new strains similar to Lassa virus-related arenaviruses. Analyzing samples from additional rodents and other species can elucidate epizootiologic aspects of arenaviruses.

Figure 1

Phylogenetic analysis of Luna virus proteins based on the amino acid sequence, Zambia, 2009. Phylogenetic tree of A) glycoprotein precursor (GPC), B) nucleoprotein (NP), C) Z protein, and D) L protein. Bootstrap values are indicated in the trees (<900). Data from which amino acid sequences used for phylogenetic analyses were deduced: DANV, Dandenong virus (GenBank accession nos. EU136038 and EU136039); IPPYV, Ippy virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_007905 and NC_007906); LASV, Lassa virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_004296 and NC_004297); LUJV, Lujo virus (GenBank accession nos. FJ952384 and FJ952385); LCMV, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (GenBank accession nos. EU480450 and EU480453); MWV, Merino Walk virus (GenBank accession nos. GU078660 and GU078661); MOBV, Mobala virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_007903 and NC_007904); MOPV, Mopeia virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_006575 and NC_006574); MORV, Morogoro virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_013057 and NC_013058); GTOV, Guanarito virus (GenBank accession nos. AY129247 and AY358024); JUNV, Junin virus (GenBank accession nos. AY746353 and AY746354); MACV, Machupo virus (GenBank accession nos. AY624355 and AY624354); PARV, Parana virus (GenBank accession nos. AF512829 and NC_010761); PICV, Pichinde virus (GenBank accession nos.EF529746 and EF529747); PIRV, Pirital virus (GenBank accession nos. EU542420 and NC_005897); SABV, Sabia virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_006317 and NC_006313); TCRV, Tacaribe virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_004293 and NC_004292); TAMV, Tamiami virus (GenBank accession nos.NC_010701 and NC_010702); and WWAV, Whitewater Arroyo virus (GenBank accession nos. NC_010700 and [NC_0107003). Scale bars indicate amino acid substitutions per site.

Figure 2

Detection of increasing viral RNA by 1-step reverse transcription PCR in a novel arenavirus, Zambia, 2009. Viral RNA was extracted from 100 μL of culture supernatant on the indicated days (top) and eluted in 20 μL of distilled water. The RNA sample was subjected to 1-step reverse transcription PCR with the specific primers 5′-TGAGAGACATTGCTTCACAATTGACATCC-3′ and 5′-TGACCCATTCTTGATGTATTGTGACTCC-3′, which were designed to amplify a 1,000-bp fragment within the determined large gene segment of Luna virus. DNA size markers are shown in the far left lane; sizes in kb are indicated at left.