Paramyxoviruses from neotropical bats suggest a novel genus and nephrotropism

William Marciel de Souza, Marcilio Jorge Fumagalli, Jean Paul Carrera, Jansen de Araujo, Jedson Ferreira Cardoso, Cristiano de Carvalho, Edison Luiz Durigon, Luzia Helena Queiroz, Nuno Rodrigues Faria, Pablo R. Murcia, Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Paramyxoviruses have a broad host range and geographic distribution, including human pathogens transmitted by bats, such as Nipah and Hendra viruses. In this study, we combined high-throughput sequencing and molecular approaches to investigate the presence of paramyxoviruses in neotropical bats (Microchiroptera suborder) in Brazil. We discovered and characterized three novel paramyxoviruses in the kidney tissues of apparently healthy common vampire bats (D. rotundus) and Seba's short-tailed bats (C. perspicillata), which we tentatively named Kanhgág virus (KANV), Boe virus (BOEV), and Guató virus (GUATV). In this study, we classified these viruses as putative species into the Macrojêvirus genus, a newly proposed genus of the Orthoparamyxovirinae subfamily. Using RT-PCR, we detected these viruses in 20.9% (9 out of 43) of bats tested, and viral RNA was detected exclusively in kidney tissues. Attempts to isolate infectious virus were successful for KANV and GUATV. Our results expand the viral diversity, host range, and geographical distribution of the paramyxoviruses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number105041
JournalInfection, Genetics and Evolution
Volume95
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Keywords

  • Bat-borne diseases
  • Paramyxoviridae
  • Paramyxovirus
  • Virus discovery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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