title: Phylogenetic and geographical relationships of hantavirus strains in eastern and western Paraguay.
abstract: Recently, we reported the discovery of several potential rodent reservoirs of hantaviruses in western (Holochilus chacarius) and eastern Paraguay (Akodon montensis, Oligoryzomys chacoensis, and O. nigripes). Comparisons of the hantavirus S- and M-segments amplified from these four rodents revealed significant differences from each another and from other South American hantaviruses. The ALP strain from the semiarid Chaco ecoregion clustered with Leguna Negra and Rio Mamore (LN/RM), whereas the BMJ-NEB strain from the more humid lower Chaco ecoregion formed a clade with Oran and Bermejo. The other two strains, AAI and IP37/38, were distinct from known hantaviruses. With respect to the S-segment sequence, AAI from eastern Paraguay formed a clade with ALP/LN/RM, but its M-segment clustered with Pergamino and Maciel, suggesting a possible reassortment. AAI was found in areas experiencing rapid land cover fragmentation and change within the Interior Atlantic Forest. IP37/38 did not show any strong association with any of the known hantavirus strains.
authors.affiliation: Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA. chu@sri.org
authors.forename: Yong Kyu
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Brook
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Douglas G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goodin
authors.forename: Colleen B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Jonsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005843:Geography; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D010239:Paraguay; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012377:Rodentia / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral