Iquitos Virus: A Novel Reassortant Orthobunyavirus Associated with Human Illness in Peru

Abstract

Oropouche (ORO) virus, a member of the Simbu serogroup, is one of the few human pathogens in the Orthobunyavirus genus in the family Bunyaviridae. Genetic analyses of ORO-like strains from Iquitos, Peru, identified a novel reassortant containing the S and L segments of ORO virus and the M segment of a novel Simbu serogroup virus. This new pathogen, which we named Iquitos (IQT) virus, was first isolated during 1999 from a febrile patient in Iquitos, an Amazonian city in Peru. Subsequently, the virus was identified as the cause of outbreaks of “Oropouche fever” during 2005 and 2006 in Iquitos. In addition to the identification of 17 isolates of IQT virus between 1999 and 2006, surveys for neutralizing antibody among Iquitos residents revealed prevalence rates of 14.9% for ORO virus and 15.4% for IQT virus. Limited studies indicate that prior infection with ORO virus does not seem to protect against disease caused with the IQT virus infection. Identification of a new Orthobunyavirus human pathogen in the Amazon region of Peru highlights the need for strengthening surveillance activities and laboratory capabilities, and investigating the emergence of new pathogens in tropical regions of South America.

Isolation of Madre de Dios Virus (Orthobunyavirus; Bunyaviridae), an Oropouche Virus Species Reassortant, from a Monkey in Venezuela

“…6,[35][36][37][38] Molecular studies, using sequence information for the genomic segments of OROV and other Simbu viruses, have provided a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and evolution of viruses included in the OROV species and the Simbu virus serogroup. 15,16,39,40 Our recovery of MDDV from a sick monkey is the first evidence that this virus occurs in Venezuela. Sick and dying monkeys in South America are usually associated with YFV infections.…”

“…30,46,47 Reassortment is a common mechanism described for orthobunyaviruses of the Bunyamwera, Wyeomyia, and Simbu serogroups. 15,[47][48][49] In the case of INHRR 17a-10 virus, we used extensive and robust analyses for testing the possibility of genetic reassortment of the isolate, including matrix of evolutionary distance, phylogenetic reconstructions, and Simplot method. Phylogenetic analyses indicated distinct origins for the S, M, and LRNA segments; the S and LRNAs were related to OROV, whereas the MRNA was related to MDDV (Figure 1).…”

“…OROV is an important human pathogen, and it appears to be involved in different processes of genetic reassortment as a parental virus, contributing to the emergence of new human pathogens such as IQTV in Peru, PDEV in Brazil, and MDDV in Peru and Venezuela. [14][15][16] Interestingly, PDEV was isolated from a dead marmoset (C. penicillata) collected in Minas Gerais State, in western Brazil in 2013.…”

“…A total of 100 μL of the filtered homogenate was inoculated into flasks of confluent African green monkey kidney (Vero E6) cells, as previously described. 15,17 Vero cell cultures were maintained at 37°C, and were examined daily for 7 days for evidence of viral cytopathic effects (CPEs). CPE was observed in a culture of a lung homogenate from the C. olivaceus, identified as INHRR 17a-10.…”

“…These include Iquitos virus (IQTV), Madre de Dios virus (MDDV), and Perdões virus (PDEV), which contain the S and L segments of OROV, and the M segments of other still unrecognized Simbu serogroup viruses. [14][15][16] Herein, we report the complete genome sequence of an isolate of an OROV reassortant obtained from a moribund monkey (Cebus olivaceus Schomburgk) collected in Venezuela during an epizootic of monkey deaths in 2010. This is the first report of the isolation, complete genome sequence, and evidence of an OROV reassortment event in Venezuela.…”