Emerging Rhabdoviruses and Human Infection

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Rhabdoviridae is a diverse viral family with members infecting vertebrates, arthropods, and plants.
• Rabies lyssavirus is the primary human pathogen, causing rabies, a neglected disease.
• Novel and rarely detected rhabdoviruses are increasingly identified in human febrile illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review rhabdoviruses, excluding Rabies lyssavirus, associated with human infections.
• To discuss the discovery and re-emergence of specific rhabdoviruses in human populations.
• To emphasize the need for further study of these under-investigated viruses.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of rhabdoviruses causing human infections.
• Analysis of findings from next-generation sequencing in clinical samples.
• Discussion of viral discoveries, re-emergence, and geographical distribution.

Main Results:

• Several novel or rarely detected rhabdoviruses have been identified in human samples, often in low- and middle-income countries.
• Viruses such as Bas Congo virus, Ekpoma virus, Le Dantec virus, and Chandipura virus are associated with human disease.
• The re-emergence of viruses like Le Dantec virus highlights ongoing transmission risks.

Conclusions:

• Rhabdoviruses other than Rabies lyssavirus pose a significant, yet under-quantified, threat to human health.
• Prioritization of research into these viruses is essential for disease control and prevention.
• Understanding the epidemiology and clinical impact of these rhabdoviruses is critical for public health initiatives.