title: Detection of novel gammaherpesviruses in wild animals of South Africa.
abstract: Herpesviral DNA was detected in 24/261 DNA samples that were extracted from whole blood of 13 wild animal species in South Africa. Herpesviral DNA was shown in 22 impalas (Aepyceros melampus) and 2 springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis). All of DNA sequences detected in impalas were identical, whereas two DNA sequences detected in springboks were different each other. These three sequences showed 44 to 72% homology to the corresponding gene of the Gammaherpesvirinae, indicating that these three viruses should be unrecognized novel gammaherpesviruses. The putative novel herpesviruses were tentatively designated as Aepyceros melampus (impala) herpesvirus 1 (ImHV-1), Antidorcas marsupialis (springbok) herpesviruses 1 (SpHV-1) and 2 (SpHV-2). ImHV-1 seems to be a relatively independent virus. SpHV-1 belongs to a group of ruminant lymphotropic herpesviruses and SpHV-2 is closer to a malignant catarrhal fever virus group. Potential threat of these herpesviruses to domestic animals should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Veterinary Sciences, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Ochir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pagamjav
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: El-Sayed M
authors.initials: el-SM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Janusz T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Paweska
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukushi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000821:virology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013019:South Africa; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral