clove and Flaviviridae-Infections

In the framework of a viral discovery research program using metagenomics, Human Pegivirus-1 reads (HPgV-1, formerly known as GBV-C) were detected in plasma pools of healthy blood donors from seven sub-Saharan African countries. For five of these countries, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burundi and Madagascar, no data about HPgV-1 genotypes was reported to date. To confirm our metagenomic findings and further investigate the genotype diversity and distribution of HPgV-1 in Africa, 400 blood donations from these five localities as well as from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Burkina Faso were screened with a RT-nested PCR targeting the viral 5'NCR region. Amplified products were sequenced, and the virus was genotyped by phylogenetic analysis. Out of the 400 plasma samples tested, 65 were positive for HPgV-1 RNA and 61 were successfully genotyped. Among these, 54 strains (88.5%) clustered with genotype 1, six (9.8%) with genotype 2 and one (1.6%) with genotype 5. Genotype 1 was observed in all countries studied, except in Madagascar, genotype 2 was detected in Mauritania and Madagascar, and genotype 5 in DRC. Overall, our results extend the geographic distribution of HPgV-1 in Africa and provide six additional nearly complete genomes. Considering that some HPgV-1 genotypes have been reported as potential predictive indicators of lower disease progression in HIV-1 infected subjects, further investigations should be conducted to better understand the positive impact, if any, of this virus.

Topics: Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Flaviviridae Infections; GB virus C; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Madagascar; Mali; Mauritania; Niger

Lemurs are highly endangered mammals inhabiting the forests of Madagascar. In this study, we performed virus discovery on serum samples collected from 84 wild lemurs and identified viral sequence fragments from 4 novel viruses within the family Flaviviridae, including members of the genera Hepacivirus and Pegivirus. The sifaka hepacivirus (SifHV, two genotypes) and pegivirus (SifPgV, two genotypes) were discovered in the diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), while other pegiviral fragments were detected in samples from the indri (Indri indri, IndPgV) and the weasel sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus, LepPgV). Although data are preliminary, each viral species appeared host species-specific and frequent infection was detected (18 of 84 individuals were positive for at least one virus). The complete coding sequence and partial 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) were obtained for SifHV and its genomic organization was consistent with that of other hepaciviruses, with one unique polyprotein and highly structured UTRs. Phylogenetic analyses showed the SifHV belonged to a clade that includes several viral species identified in rodents from Asia and North America, while SifPgV and IndPgV were more closely related to pegiviral species A and C, that include viruses found in humans as well as New- and Old-World monkeys. Our results support the current proposed model of virus-host co-divergence with frequent occurrence of cross-species transmission for these genera and highlight how the discovery of more members of the Flaviviridae can help clarify the ecology and evolutionary history of these viruses. Furthermore, this knowledge is important for conservation and captive management of lemurs.

Topics: Animals; Flaviviridae; Flaviviridae Infections; Genetic Variation; Lemur; Madagascar; Phylogeny; Primate Diseases