Evaluation of taxonomic characteristics of Matlo and Phala bat rabies-related lyssaviruses identified in South Africa

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Authors

Viljoen, Natalie
Weyer, Jacqueline
Coertse, Jessica
Markotter, Wanda

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

MDPI

Abstract

We report the genetic characterization of two potentially novel rabies-related lyssaviruses identified from bats in Limpopo province, South Africa. Matlo bat lyssavirus (MBLV) was identified in two Miniopterus natalensis (Natal long-fingered) bats in 2015 and 2016, and Phala bat lyssavirus (PBLV) was identified in a Nycticeinops schlieffeni (Schlieffen’s) bat in 2021. The distribution of both of these bat species is largely confined to parts of Africa, with limited reports from the Arabian Peninsula. MBLV and PBLV were demonstrated to group with the unassigned and phylogroup I lyssaviruses, respectively. MBLV was most closely related to Lyssavirus caucasicus (WCBV), whereas PBLV was most closely related to Lyssavirus formosa (TWBLV-1) and Taiwan bat lyssavirus 2 (TWBLV-2), based on analysis of the N and G genes, the concatenated N + P +M+ G + L coding sequence, and the complete genome sequence. Based on our analysis, MBLV and WCBV appeared to constitute a phylogroup separate from Lyssavirus lleida (LLEBV) and Lyssavirus ikoma (IKOV). Analysis of the antigenic sites suggests that PBLV will likely be serologically distinguishable from established lyssaviruses in virusneutralization tests, whereas MBLV appeared to be antigenically highly similar to WCBV. Taken together, the findings suggested that, while PBLV is likely a new lyssavirus species, MBLV is likely related to WCBV.

Description

SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES : TABLE S1. Percentage nucleotide and amino acid identity withMBLV; TABLE S2. Percentage nucleotide and amino acid identity with PBLV; TABLE S3. Summary of pathogenic determinants in lyssaviruses; TABLE S4. Summary of amino acid changes in antigenic regions on the G protein for lyssaviruses.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : All relevant data are included within the manuscript and its Supplementary Materials.

Keywords

Lyssaviruses, Rabies, Surveillance, Molecular characterization, South Africa (SA), Bats, Matlo bat lyssavirus (MBLV), Phala bat lyssavirus (PBLV), SDG-03: Good health and well-being

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being

Citation

Viljoen, N.; Weyer, J.; Coertse, J.; Markotter, W. Evaluation of Taxonomic Characteristics of Matlo and Phala Bat Rabies-Related Lyssaviruses Identified in South Africa. Viruses 2023, 15, 2047. https://DOI.org/10.3390/v15102047.