Detection of novel sequences related to african Swine Fever virus in human serum and sewage.
The family Asfarviridae contains only a single virus species, African swine fever virus (ASFV). ASFV is a viral agent with significant economic impact due to its devastating effects on populations of domesticated pigs during outbreaks but has not been reported to infect humans. We report here the discovery of novel viral sequences in human serum and sewage which are clearly related to the asfarvirus family but highly divergent from ASFV. Detection of these sequences suggests that greater genetic diversity may exist among asfarviruses than previously thought and raises the possibility that human infection by asfarviruses may occur.
Loh
Joy
J
Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., Box 8118, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Zhao
Guoyan
G
Presti
Rachel M
RM
Holtz
Lori R
LR
Finkbeiner
Stacy R
SR
Droit
Lindsay
L
Villasana
Zoilmar
Z
Todd
Collin
C
Pipas
James M
JM
Calgua
Byron
B
Girones
Rosina
R
Wang
David
D
Virgin
Herbert W
HW
D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology*; D012722:Sewage / Q000821:virology*
D012722:Sewage