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Paramyxoviruses in rodents: A review
Firdaus Mohd-Qawiem1, Abdul Rahman Nawal-Amani1, Farzee Faranieyza-Afiqah1
1Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Paramyxoviruses have been shown to infect a wide range of hosts, including rodents, and humans. Several novel murine paramyxoviruses have been discovered in the last several decades. Although these viruses are unclassified, they are recognized as Beilong virus, Mojiang virus (MojV), and Tailam virus in rats, Jeilongvirus, Nariva, Paju Apodemus paramyxovirus-1 and -2 in mice, and Pentlands paramyxovirus-1, -2, and -3 in squirrels. These paramyxoviruses were reported mainly in China and a few other countries like Australia, the Republic of Korea, Trinidad, and France. In June 2012, it becomes a great concern in China whereby, three miners were reported dead potentially caused by a novel zoonotic MojV, a henipa-like virus isolated from tissue samples of rats from the same cave. Rats are considered to be natural hosts for the MojV from the literature research. The classified paramyxovirus, Sendai virus in rodents is also reviewed. Paramyxoviruses infection in rodents leads to respiratory distress such as necrotizing rhinitis, tracheitis, bronchiolitis, and interstitial pneumonia. Infections caused by paramyxoviruses often spread between species, manifesting disease in spillover hosts, including humans. This review focuses on the paramyxoviruses in rodents, including the epidemiological distributions, transmission and pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and control and prevention of paramyxoviruses infection to provide a better understanding of these highly mutating viruses.
Insights
Novel paramyxoviruses infect rodents and humans, with Mojiang virus (MojV) causing human deaths. This review details rodent paramyxovirus epidemiology, transmission, and disease to improve understanding of these mutating viruses.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Molecular Epidemiology
Background:
- Paramyxoviruses infect diverse hosts, including rodents and humans, with several novel murine strains identified.
- Unclassified paramyxoviruses like Beilong virus, Mojiang virus (MojV), and Tailam virus are found in rats, while others infect mice and squirrels.
- Paramyxovirus infections in rodents cause respiratory illnesses and can spill over to humans, as exemplified by MojV deaths in miners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review paramyxoviruses in rodents, focusing on epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, and clinical signs.
- To consolidate information on diagnostic methods for rodent paramyxoviruses.
- To outline control and prevention strategies for paramyxovirus infections in rodent populations and potential human exposure.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications on paramyxoviruses in rodents.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on virus distribution and host range.
- Synthesis of information on clinical manifestations and pathological findings in infected rodents.
Main Results:
- Paramyxoviruses are prevalent in rodents globally, with significant findings in China.
- Mojiang virus (MojV) poses a zoonotic risk, evidenced by fatal human cases.
- Rodent paramyxoviruses cause significant respiratory pathology and have the potential for interspecies transmission.
Conclusions:
- Rodent paramyxoviruses represent a significant public health concern due to their zoonotic potential and ability to cause severe disease.
- Further research into transmission dynamics and pathogenesis is crucial for effective control.
- Enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capabilities are needed to manage these evolving viral threats.
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