Selina L. Graff
(Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany)
Ekpoma virus 2 (EKV-2) is a human-associated rhabdovirus first detected in a febrile case in Nigeria. Seroprevalence studies from Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reported EKV-2 reactivity rates ranging from 4 – 94%. EKV-2 is closely related to Mundri virus (MUNV), identified in the cerebrospinal fluid of a girl with nodding syndrome in South Sudan, and to Bas-Congo virus (BASV), which has been linked to severe cases of haemorrhagic fever in the DRC.
In a cross-sectional study, we collected 2,062 human serum samples from 20 locations across the Albertine Rift region of Uganda and tested them for acute viral infections using next-generation sequencing.
We identified EKV-2 in two samples: a 39-year-old woman from an urban centre who reported febrile symptoms, and an asymptomatic 22-year-old man from a rural village 55 km away. Full genomes were obtained from both samples sharing 99% nucleotide (nt) with each other, and 89% nt identity with the Nigerian prototype strain. Phylogenetically, both strains clustered with EKV-2 and formed a clade with MUNV and BASV. To investigate human exposure to EKV-2 in the Albertine Rift region, we established a recombinant immunofluoresence assay as virus isolation in cell culture was not successful. The analyses are ongoing and will provide insights into the geographic distribution of EKV-2, potential regional differences and sociodemographic characteristics associated with EKV-2.
Keywords
Ekpoma virus 2, Rhabdovirus, Metagenomics, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Uganda
| Registration ID |
OHS26-96
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| Professional Status of the Speaker |
PhD Student
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| Junior Scientist Status |
Yes, I am a Junior Scientist.
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Peter Z. Sabakaki
(Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)
Yea-Seul Lee
(Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany)
Selina L. Graff
(Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany)
Prof.
Sandra Junglen
(Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany)
Lisa Biber-Freudenberger
(Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany)
Maureen Nabatanzi
(Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany)
Erick E. K. Bigala
(Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)
Anthony M. Nsubuga
(Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)
Teddy A. Tindyebwa
(Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)
Innocent B. Rwego
(Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)
Julius J. Lutwama
(Department of Arbovirology, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Entebbe, Uganda)
James R. Ochieng
(Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)
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