Mopeia mammarenavirus explained

Mopeia mammarenavirus (MOPV) is a species of virus in the genus Mammarenavirus.^[1] It was initially isolated from the Mastomys natalensis mouse in the East African country of Mozambique in 1977.^{[2] [3] [4]} It is of the "Old World" Arenavirus lineage and is closely related to Lassa mammarenavirus, sharing 75% of its amino acid sequence.^{[5] [6]} __TOC__

Mopeia virus disease

Mopeia virus has not been known to cause disease in humans, although it is capable of infecting human cell lines in vitro.^[7] Infection of primates with the virus was demonstrated to prevent clinical disease following Lassa virus infection, indicating potential for use as a prophylactic vaccine for Lassa Fever.^[8]

Geographic distribution

Although initially isolated in Mozambique, it has also been detected in rodents in Zimbabwe,^[9] and Tanzania. Although not identified outside of these regions, it is possible that M. natalensis rodents could carry Mopeia virus to other areas of Southeast Africa.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Genus: Mammarenavirus - Arenaviridae - Negative-sense RNA Viruses - ICTV . 2022-05-08 . talk.ictvonline.org.
2. Wulff H, McIntosh BM, Hamner DB, Johnson KM . Isolation of an arenavirus closely related to Lassa virus from Mastomys natalensis in south-east Africa . Bulletin of the World Health Organization . 55 . 4 . 441–444 . 1977 . 304387 . 2366678 .
3. Grobbelaar AA, Jardine J, Burt FJ, Shepherd AJ, Shepherd SP, Leman PA, Kemp A, Braack LE, Weyer J, Paweska JT, Swanepoel R . 6 . Mammarenaviruses of Rodents, South Africa and Zimbabwe . Emerging Infectious Diseases . 27 . 12 . 3092–3102 . December 2021 . 34808083 . 8632164 . 10.3201/eid2712.211088 .
4. Borremans B, Leirs H, Gryseels S, Günther S, Makundi R, de Bellocq JG . Presence of Mopeia virus, an African arenavirus, related to biotope and individual rodent host characteristics: implications for virus transmission . Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases . 11 . 8 . 1125–1131 . August 2011 . 21142956 . 10.1089/vbz.2010.0010 .
5. Gonzalez JP, Emonet S, de Lamballerie X, Charrel R . Arenaviruses . Childs JE, Mackenzie JS, Richt JA . Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology . Wildlife and Emerging Zoonotic Diseases: The Biology, Circumstances and Consequences of Cross-Species Transmission . 315 . 253–88 . 2007 . 17848068 . 7122678 . 10.1007/978-3-540-70962-6_11 . 978-3-540-70961-9 . Berlin, Heidelberg . Springer Berlin Heidelberg .
6. Pannetier D, Faure C, Georges-Courbot MC, Deubel V, Baize S . Human macrophages, but not dendritic cells, are activated and produce alpha/beta interferons in response to Mopeia virus infection . Journal of Virology . 78 . 19 . 10516–10524 . October 2004 . 15367618 . 516411 . 10.1128/JVI.78.19.10516-10524.2004 .
7. Borremans B, Leirs H, Gryseels S, Günther S, Makundi R, de Bellocq JG . Presence of Mopeia virus, an African arenavirus, related to biotope and individual rodent host characteristics: implications for virus transmission . Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases . 11 . 8 . 1125–1131 . August 2011 . 21142956 . 10.1089/vbz.2010.0010 .
8. Kiley MP, Lange JV, Johnson KM . Protection of rhesus monkeys from Lassa virus by immunisation with closely related Arenavirus . Lancet . 2 . 8145 . 738 . October 1979 . 90819 . 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)90659-7 . 37185713 .
9. Johnson KM, Taylor P, Elliott LH, Tomori O . Recovery of a Lassa-related arenavirus in Zimbabwe . EN . The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene . 30 . 6 . 1291–1293 . November 1981 . 7034562 . 10.4269/ajtmh.1981.30.1291 .