Molecular detection and genomic characterization of diverse hepaciviruses in African rodents

• DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab036
• Publication Date: 2021-04-09T11:55:41Z
• Authors: Magda Bletsa; Bram Vrancken; Sophie Gryseels; Ine Boonen; Antonios Fikatas; Yiqiao Li; Anne Laudisoit; Sebastian Lequime; Josef Bryja; Rhodes Makundi; Yonas Meheretu; Benjamin Dudu Akaibe; Sylvestre Gambale...; Frederik Van de P...; Natalie Van Houtte; Jana Těšíková; Elke Wollants; Marc Van Ranst; Oliver G Pybus; Jan Felix Drexler; Erik Verheyen; Herwig Leirs; Joelle Gouy de Be...; Philippe Lemey
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Hepatits C virus; hepacivirus co-infection; cross-species transmission; rodent hepacivirus; Human medicine; Biology; recombination; Research Article; 3. Good health

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV; genus Hepacivirus) represents a major public health problem, infecting about three per cent of the human population. Because no animal reservoir carrying closely related hepaciviruses has been identified, zoonotic origins HCV still remain unresolved. Motivated by recent findings divergent in rodents and plausible African origin genotypes, we have screened large collection small mammals samples from seven sub-Saharan countries. Out 4,303 screened, eighty were found positive for presence twenty-nine different host species. We, here, report fifty-six novel genomes that considerably increase diversity rodent hepacivirus lineages. Furthermore, provide strong evidence co-infections rodents, which exclusively four sampled species brush-furred mice. We also detect recombination within specific Our study expands available genomic data contributes insights into relatively deep evolutionary history these pathogens rodents. Overall, our results emphasize importance as potential models investigating infection dynamics.