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Molecular detection and genomic characterization of diverse hepaciviruses in African rodents
Magda Bletsa1, Bram Vrancken1, Sophie Gryseels1,2
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Insights
Rodents in sub-Saharan Africa harbor diverse hepaciviruses, suggesting they are a potential reservoir. This study identified novel genomes and co-infections, offering insights into Hepatitis C virus (HCV) origins and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Zoonosis research
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant global health concern, with its zoonotic origins and animal reservoirs remaining largely unknown.
- Previous research indicated divergent hepaciviruses in rodents and a potential African origin for HCV genotypes, prompting further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and diversity of hepaciviruses in small mammals from sub-Saharan Africa.
- To explore the potential of rodents as a reservoir for hepaciviruses and to gain insights into HCV evolution.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 4,303 small mammal samples from seven sub-Saharan African countries for hepaciviruses.
- Genomic sequencing of detected hepaciviruses to analyze diversity, co-infections, and recombination.
Main Results:
- Eighty samples tested positive for hepaciviruses across twenty-nine different host species.
- Fifty-six novel hepacivirus genomes were identified, expanding the known diversity within rodent hepacivirus lineages.
- Evidence of hepacivirus co-infections and recombination was found, particularly in brush-furred mice.
Conclusions:
- Rodents in sub-Saharan Africa serve as a significant reservoir for diverse hepaciviruses.
- The findings contribute to understanding the evolutionary history of hepaciviruses and provide models for studying HCV infection dynamics.
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, the zoonotic origins of HCV still remain unresolved. Motivated by recent findings of divergent hepaciviruses in rodents and a plausible African origin of HCV genotypes, we have screened a large collection of small mammals samples from seven sub-Saharan African countries. Out of 4,303 samples screened, eighty were found positive for the presence of hepaciviruses in twenty-nine different host species. We, here, report fifty-six novel genomes that considerably increase the diversity of three divergent rodent hepacivirus lineages. Furthermore, we provide strong evidence for hepacivirus co-infections in rodents, which were exclusively found in four sampled species of brush-furred mice. We also detect evidence of recombination within specific host lineages. Our study expands the available hepacivirus genomic data and contributes insights into the relatively deep evolutionary history of these pathogens in rodents. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of rodents as a potential hepacivirus reservoir and as models for investigating HCV infection dynamics.
