Abstract:
Alphaviruses from Africa, such as Middelburg virus
(MIDV), and Sindbis virus (SINV), were detected in horses
with neurologic disease in South Africa, but their host
ranges remain unknown. We investigated the contribution
of alphaviruses to neurologic infections and death in wildlife
and domestic animals in this country. During 2010–
2018, a total of 608 clinical samples from wildlife and
nonequine domestic animals that had febrile, neurologic
signs or unexplained deaths were tested for alphaviruses.
We identified 32 (5.5%) of 608 alphavirus infections
(9 SINV and 23 MIDV), mostly in neurotissue of wildlife,
domestic animals, and birds. Phylogenetic analysis of the
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene confirmed either
SINV or MIDV. This study implicates MIDV and SINV as
potential causes of neurologic disease in wildlife and nonequine
domestic species in Africa and suggests a wide
host range and pathogenic potential.
