Andes hantavirus variant in rodents, southern Amazon Basin, Peru

Abstract

We investigated hantaviruses in rodents in the southern Amazon Basin of Peru and identified an Andes virus variant from Neacomys spinosus mice. This finding extends the known range of this virus in South America and the range of recognized hantaviruses in Peru. Further studies of the epizoology of hantaviruses in this region are warranted.

Keywords: Amazon Basin; Neacomys spinosus; Peru; bunyaviruses; epidemiology; hantavirus; mice; rodents; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure 1

Regions of Peru, indicating areas of previous hantavirus study (Loreto [2]) and the study of hantaviruses described in this article (Madre de Dios and Puno). Capital cities of the Loreto and Madre de Dios Regions are indicated by black dots.

Figure 2

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees of the small (S; panel A) and medium (M; panel B) segments of the hantavirus identified in this study in Peru (boldface) compared with segments of hantaviruses from throughout South America. Trees were generated by using MEGA5.2 software (www.megasoftware.net) with 2,000 bootstrap replicates. All viruses are shown relative to North American Sin Nombre virus (SNV; GenBank accession nos. L25784, L25783 [for M segment]). Hu39694 (AF028023 [M]) is also shown. TUNV, Tunari virus (GenBank accession nos. JF750417 [S], JF750420 [M]); CASV, Castelo dos Sonhos virus (AF307324, HQ719471 [S]; JX443698, JX443699 [M]); BMJV-NEBU, Bermejo-Neembucu virus (DQ345763 [S], AY515603 [M]); BMJV, Bermejo virus (AF482713 [S], AF028025 [M]); ACPV, Andes Central Plata virus (EU564715 [S]); LECV, Lechiguanas virus (AF482714 [S], AF028022 [M]); ANDV, Andes virus (AF004660 [S], AF324901 [M]); MACV, Maciel virus (AF482716 [S], AF028027 [M]); ARQV, Araraquara virus (AF307325 [S], AY970821 [M]); PARV, Paranoa virus (EU643620 [S]); PERV, Pergamino (AF482717 [S], AF028028 [M]); CHOV, Choclo virus (DQ285046 [S], DQ285047 [M]); ORNV, Oran virus (AF482715 [S], AF028024 [M]); JUQV-like, Juquitiba-like (GU213197 [S], AY963900 [M]); ARAUV, Araucaria (AY740628 [S]); JUQV, Juquitiba (EF492472 [S]); LANV, Laguna Negra virus (AF005727 [S], FJ816031 [S], AF005728 [M], JX443703 [M]); ALPA, Alto Paraguay virus (DQ345762 [S], AY515602 [M]); RIOMV, Rio Mamore virus (FJ532244, U52136, JX443667, JX443679 [S]; FJ608550 [M], JX443701 [M]); ANAJV, Anajatuba virus (JX443690 [S]); RIOMMV, Rio Mearim virus (DQ451828 [S]); MARV, Maripa virus (GQ179973 [S]); MAPV, Maporal virus (FJ008979 [S], AY363179 [M]); AAIV, Ape Aime Itapua virus (GU205340 [S]); JABV, Jabora virus (JN232079 [S]); and ITPV, Itapua virus (16, AY515606 [M]; 38, AY515604 [M]). Scale bars indicate nucleotide substitutions per site.