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Viruses2021; 13(5); 937; doi: 10.3390/v13050937

Epidemiology of Shuni Virus in Horses in South Africa.

Abstract: The genus, family , contains several important emerging and re-emerging arboviruses of veterinary and medical importance. These viruses may cause mild febrile illness, to severe encephalitis, fetal deformity, abortion, hemorrhagic fever and death in humans and/or animals. Shuni virus (SHUV) is a zoonotic arbovirus thought to be transmitted by hematophagous arthropods. It was previously reported in a child in Nigeria in 1966 and horses in Southern Africa in the 1970s and again in 2009, and in humans with neurological signs in 2017. Here we investigated the epidemiology and phylogenetic relationship of SHUV strains detected in horses presenting with febrile and neurological signs in South Africa. In total, 24/1820 (1.3%) horses submitted to the zoonotic arbovirus surveillance program tested positive by real-time reverse transcription (RTPCR) between 2009 and 2019. Cases were detected in all provinces with most occurring in Gauteng (9/24, 37.5%). Neurological signs occurred in 21/24 (87.5%) with a fatality rate of 45.8%. Partial sequencing of the nucleocapsid gene clustered the identified strains with SHUV strains previously identified in South Africa (SA). Full genome sequencing of a neurological case detected in 2016 showed 97.8% similarity to the SHUV SA strain (SAE18/09) and 97.5% with the Nigerian strain and 97.1% to the 2014 Israeli strain. Our findings suggest that SHUV is circulating annually in SA and despite it being relatively rare, it causes severe neurological disease and death in horses.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-19 PubMed ID: 34069356PubMed Central: PMC8158722DOI: 10.3390/v13050937Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't
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  • U.S. Gov't
  • P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study investigates the presence and impact of the Shuni virus (SHUV) in horses in South Africa over a decade-long period. The study reveals that the virus is circulating annually in this region, affecting a small percentage of horses, but causing severe neurological disease and often leading to death.

Research Subject and Context

  • The study focuses on the Shuni virus (SHUV), a zoonotic arbovirus shared between animals and humans typically via blood-sucking arthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks.
  • The virus is a part of the family of arboviruses, which are known for possessing significant veterinary and medical importance due to their potentially serious and varied effects on human and animal health.
  • Previous cases of SHUV were reported in a child in Nigeria in 1966 and horses in Southern Africa in the 1970s, 2009, and in humans displaying neurological signs in 2017.

Methodology

  • Over the course of a decade (2009-2019), 1,820 horses were submitted to the zoonotic arbovirus surveillance program.
  • The virus identification was performed via real-time reverse transcription (RTPCR), a widely used technique for virus detection and quantification.
  • Furthermore, researchers employed partial sequencing of the nucleocapsid gene to cluster the identified strains of the virus.
  • A specific case from 2016 underwent full genome sequencing to compare its similarity to other previously identified strains.

Results and Findings

  • An overall prevalence rate of 1.3% was detected, with 24 out of 1,820 horses testing positive for SHUV.
  • Cases were found in all provinces, with most instances occurring in Gauteng (approximately 38%).
  • The majority of the infected horses, signifying 87.5% of cases, were diagnosed with neurological signs,
  • The fatality rate among the infected horses stood at 45.8%.
  • The partial sequencing clustered the newly identified strains with SHUV strains previously identified in South Africa.
  • Findings from the full genome sequencing of a 2016 case showed a high level of similarity to the South African strain, the Nigerian strain, and the 2014 Israeli strain.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that despite being relatively rare, SHUV circulates annually in South Africa causing serious neurological diseases and often leading to death in horses.
  • This underlines the need for continued surveillance and research into methods of control and mitigation of the impacts of this zoonotic arbovirus.

Cite This Article

APA
Motlou TP, Williams J, Venter M. (2021). Epidemiology of Shuni Virus in Horses in South Africa. Viruses, 13(5), 937. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13050937

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 5
PII: 937

Researcher Affiliations

Motlou, Thopisang P
  • Zoonotic Arbo and Respiratory Virus Program, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa.
Williams, June
  • Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0110, South Africa.
Venter, Marietjie
  • Zoonotic Arbo and Respiratory Virus Program, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa.

MeSH Terms

  • Africa, Southern / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Female
  • Genome, Viral
  • Genomics / methods
  • Geography, Medical
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Orthobunyavirus / classification
  • Orthobunyavirus / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Seasons
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Grant Funding

  • U19 GH000571 / CGH CDC HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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