Zoonotic Alphaviruses in Fatal and Neurologic Infections in Wildlife and Nonequine Domestic Animals, South Africa

• Main Authors: Jumari Steyn, Isabel Fourie, Johan Steyl, June Williams, Voula Stivaktas, Elizabeth Botha, Stefanie van Niekerk, Bjorn Reininghaus, Marietjie Venter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020-06-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Alphaviruses; viruses; Middelburg virus; Sindbis virus; neurologic infections; nonequine domestic animals
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/6/19-1179_article

Alphaviruses from Africa, such as Middelburg virus (MIDV), and Sindbis virus (SINV), were detected in horses with neurologic disease in South Africa, but their host ranges remain unknown. We investigated the contribution of alphaviruses to neurologic infections and death in wildlife and domestic animals in this country. During 2010–2018, a total of 608 clinical samples from wildlife and nonequine domestic animals that had febrile, neurologic signs or unexplained deaths were tested for alphaviruses. We identified 32 (5.5%) of 608 alphavirus infections (9 SINV and 23 MIDV), mostly in neurotissue of wildlife, domestic animals, and birds. Phylogenetic analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene confirmed either SINV or MIDV. This study implicates MIDV and SINV as potential causes of neurologic disease in wildlife and nonequine domestic species in Africa and suggests a wide host range and pathogenic potential.