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Variegated Squirrel Bornavirus 1 in Squirrels, Germany and the Netherlands

Kore Schlottau et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

We screened squirrels in Germany and the Netherlands for the novel zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1). The detection of VSBV-1 in 11 squirrels indicates a considerable risk for transmission to humans handling those animals. Therefore, squirrels in contact with humans should routinely be tested for VSBV-1.

Keywords: Germany; VSBV-1; bornavirus; squirrels; the Netherlands; variegated squirrel bornavirus 1; viruses; zoonoses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Immunohistochemical detection of bornavirus X protein (A) and phosphoprotein (B) in hippocampal neurons of a brain of a Prevost’s squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) collected in Germany in 2015. Viral antigen is shown in nuclei or cytoplasm and processes. Inset shows intranuclear dot (inclusion body) in cells with and without cytoplasmic immunostaining (arrows). No staining was observed for bornavirus X protein (C) or phosphoprotein (D) in a bornavirus-negative variegated squirrel. Original magnification ×400
Figure 2
Figure 2
Analysis of 11 newly identified VSBV-1 genomes from squirrels collected in Germany and the Netherlands, 2015, in comparison with related bornaviruses. A) New sequences aligned with published squirrel-derived VSBV-1 genome (GenBank accession no. LN713680). The upper black bar indicates the reference sequence; gray boxes depict the genome. White bar sections for each animal sequence indicate nucleotide variations. The new sequences show 1–29 nucleotide differences compared to the published prototype sequence. G, glycoprotein; L, large structural protein; M, matrix; N, nucleoprotein; P, phosphoprotein; X, nonstructural protein. B) Phylogenetic tree of VSBV-1 isolates from this study (labeled) and comparison sequences. Tree was constructed using the maximum-likelihood method. Numbers along branches are bootstrap values. GER, Germany; NL, the Netherlands; VSBV-1, variegated squirrel bornavirus 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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