''Sosuga pararubulavirus'' is a species of
Paramyxovirus which is transmissible to humans. The
Egyptian fruit bat is thought to be a natural reservoir species for the virus.
History
In August 2012, following a six-week field trip to
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the ...
and
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The south ...
to collect bats and rodents, an American wildlife biologist became ill with symptoms including fever, malaise, headache, pain, stiffness in the neck, and a sore throat. Upon her return to the US, she was admitted to hospital, where she soon developed a
maculopapular rash and
oropharyngeal
The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the oesophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its struc ...
ulceration
An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughing o ...
. Several suspect infections, including
Ebola
Ebola, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), is a viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates, caused by ebolaviruses. Symptoms typically start anywhere between two days and three weeks after bec ...
and
Marburg
Marburg ( or ) is a university town in the German federal state (''Bundesland'') of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district (''Landkreis''). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has a population of approx ...
, were ruled out through standard diagnostic testing. Genetic sequencing identified a novel virus. To determine the source, tissue samples collected during the three-week period prior to the illness were tested for this new Sosuga virus, and several Egyptian fruit bats were found to be positive. Analysis of historical samples of these bats from sites in Uganda found additional positive individuals, suggesting that this species may be a natural reservoir for Sosuga.
Treatment
Research has identified several compounds which inhibit replication of the Sosuga virus.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q29004685
Rubulaviruses