High diversity of RNA viruses in rodents, Ethiopia

Abstract

We investigated synanthropic small mammals in the Ethiopian Highlands as potential reservoirs for human pathogens and found that 2 rodent species, the Ethiopian white-footed mouse and Awash multimammate mouse, are carriers of novel Mobala virus strains. The white-footed mouse also carries a novel hantavirus, the second Murinae-associated hantavirus found in Africa.

Figure 1

Maximum-likelihood tree of Old World arenaviruses showing the position of 3 arenaviruses (boldface; GenBank accession nos. JQ956481–JQ956483) found in kidney samples of Awash multimammate mice (Mastomys awashensis) and Ethiopian white-footed mice (Stenocephalemys albipes). The tree was constructed on the basis of analysis of partial sequences of the RNA polymerase gene; phylogeny was estimated by using the maximum-likelihood method with the GTR + I + Γ (4 rate categories) substitution model to account for rate heterogeneity across sites as implemented in the PhyML program (8). Lujo arenavirus was used as an outgroup. Numbers represent percentage bootstrap support (1,000 replicates). *Arenaviruses from Tanzania that have not yet been named (9). Scale bar indicates nucleotide substitutions per site. GenBank accession numbers of the virus strains: EU136039, GU830849, AY363902, EF179864, GU979511, GU481071, DQ868486, GU182412, FJ952385, AB586645, GU830863, GU078661, DQ328876, AY363904, EU914110, GU182413.

Figure 2

Maximum-likelihood tree of hantaviruses showing the position of the 4 sequences of Tigray hantavirus (boldface; GenBank accession nos. JQ956484–JQ956487) found in kidney samples of Ethiopian white-footed mice (Stenocephalemys albipes). The tree was constructed on the basis of analysis of partial sequences of the RNA polymerase gene; phylogeny was estimated by using the maximum-likelihood method with the general time reversible + I + Γ (4 rate categories) substitution model to account for rate heterogeneity across sites as implemented in the PhyML program (8). Numbers represent percentage bootstrap support (1,000 replicates). Underlining indicates hantaviruses found in Africa. Scale bar indicates nucleotide substitutions per site. GenBank accession numbers of the virus strains: AB620030, NC_003468, EU929078, EF619961, JF276228, EF540771, EF543525, EF397003, NC_005235, AB620033, JN037851, FJ170809, FJ170812, AB620108, EF641807, FJ593501, GQ306150, AF005729, EU788002, AB620102, FJ593498, FJ593497, EF646763, NC_005225, GU566021, FJ809772, HM015221, AJ410618, DQ268652, JQ082305, EU424336, NC_005238, AM998806, NC_005217, DQ056292, EF050454, JN116261, EU001330, AJ005637, JQ287716.