Insight into the global evolution of Rodentia associated Morbilli-related paramyxoviruses

Abstract

One portion of the family Paramyxoviridae is a group of Unclassified Morbilli-Related Viruses (UMRV) recently recognized in wild small mammals. At a global level, the evolutionary history of these viruses is not properly understood and the relationships between UMRV and their hosts still remain largely unstudied. The present study revealed, for the first time, that Rodentia associated UMRV emerged from a common ancestor in southern Africa more than 4000 years ago. Sequenced UMRV originating from different regions in the world, clustered into four well-supported viral lineages, which suggest that strain diversification occurred during host dispersal and associated exchanges, with purifying selection pressure as the principal evolutionary force. In addition, multi-introductions on different continents and islands of Rodentia associated UMRV and spillover between rodent species, most probably Rattus rattus, were detected and indicate that these animals are implicated in the vectoring and in the worldwide emergence of this virus group. The natural history and the evolution dynamics of these zoonotic viruses, originating from and hosted by wild animals, are most likely shaped by commensalism related to human activities.

Insights into the Host Range, Genetic Diversity, and Geographical Distribution of Jingmenviruses

“…Together, these observations suggest that the high level of stability of Jingmen arboviruses is more likely due to dispersals of the same virus over long distance. The role of migratory birds (18), rodents (19), or domestic animals (20) that could be infested by ticks or viremic or both has to be investigated to better understand the dissemination of Jingmenviruses over continents. Similarly, the role of bats in the environmental cycle of Jingmenviruses has to be evaluated.…”

Evolution and diversity of bat and rodent Paramyxoviruses from North America

“…Furthermore, increased sampling and improvements in sequencing technologies have revealed a large number of novel PMVs in wild mammals. Most sampling efforts have focused on rodents and bats due to their diversity, abundance, and the significance of their role as hosts for other viral zoonoses (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17).…”

Measles virus and rinderpest virus divergence dated to the sixth century BCE

“…At a deeper evolutionary scale, small mammals appear to be the ancestral hosts of paramyxoviruses (rodents in the case of morbilliviruses; (78,79). Most human-infecting paramyxoviruses are thought to have a relatively recent zoonotic origin, including a number of instances where it is known that domesticates have acted as intermediate hosts (e.g.…”