Kiwira Virus, a Newfound Hantavirus Discovered in Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae) in East and Central Africa
Sabrina Weiss,
Lwitiho E. Sudi,
Ariane Düx,
Chacha D. Mangu,
Nyanda Elias Ntinginya,
Gabriel M. Shirima,
Sophie Köndgen,
Grit Schubert,
Peter T. Witkowski,
Jean-Jacques Muyembe,
Steve Ahuka,
Boris Klempa,
Fabian H. Leendertz,
Detlev H. Krüger
Affiliations
Sabrina Weiss
Institute of Virology, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Lwitiho E. Sudi
NIMR—Mbeya Medical Research Center, Mbeya P.O. Box 2410, Tanzania
Ariane Düx
Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Chacha D. Mangu
NIMR—Mbeya Medical Research Center, Mbeya P.O. Box 2410, Tanzania
Nyanda Elias Ntinginya
NIMR—Mbeya Medical Research Center, Mbeya P.O. Box 2410, Tanzania
Gabriel M. Shirima
Nelson Mandela African Institution for Science and Technology, Arusha Arusha P.O. Box 447, Tanzania
Sophie Köndgen
Institute of Virology, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Grit Schubert
Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Peter T. Witkowski
Institute of Virology, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Jean-Jacques Muyembe
Institut National de Recherche Biomédical, Kinshasa BP 1197, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Steve Ahuka
Institut National de Recherche Biomédical, Kinshasa BP 1197, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Boris Klempa
Institute of Virology, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Fabian H. Leendertz
Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Detlev H. Krüger
Institute of Virology, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
A novel hantavirus, named Kiwira virus, was molecularly detected in six Angolan free-tailed bats (Mops condylurus, family Molossidae) captured in Tanzania and in one free-tailed bat in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hantavirus RNA was found in different organs, with the highest loads in the spleen. Nucleotide sequences of large parts of the genomic S and L segments were determined by in-solution hybridisation capture and high throughput sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses placed Kiwira virus into the genus Mobatvirus of the family Hantaviridae, with the bat-infecting Quezon virus and Robina virus as closest relatives. The detection of several infected individuals in two African countries, including animals with systemic hantavirus infection, provides evidence of active replication and a stable circulation of Kiwira virus in M. condylurus bats and points to this species as a natural host. Since the M. condylurus home range covers large regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and the species is known to roost inside and around human dwellings, a potential spillover of the Kiwira virus to humans must be considered.
