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Viljoen N, Weyer J, Coertse J, Markotter W. Evaluation of Taxonomic Characteristics of Matlo and Phala Bat Rabies-Related Lyssaviruses Identified in South Africa. Viruses 2023; 15:2047. [PMID: 37896824 PMCID: PMC10611238 DOI: 10.3390/v15102047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the genetic characterization of two potentially novel rabies-related lyssaviruses identified from bats in Limpopo province, South Africa. Matlo bat lyssavirus (MBLV) was identified in two Miniopterus natalensis (Natal long-fingered) bats in 2015 and 2016, and Phala bat lyssavirus (PBLV) was identified in a Nycticeinops schlieffeni (Schlieffen's) bat in 2021. The distribution of both of these bat species is largely confined to parts of Africa, with limited reports from the Arabian Peninsula. MBLV and PBLV were demonstrated to group with the unassigned and phylogroup I lyssaviruses, respectively. MBLV was most closely related to Lyssavirus caucasicus (WCBV), whereas PBLV was most closely related to Lyssavirus formosa (TWBLV-1) and Taiwan bat lyssavirus 2 (TWBLV-2), based on analysis of the N and G genes, the concatenated N + P + M + G + L coding sequence, and the complete genome sequence. Based on our analysis, MBLV and WCBV appeared to constitute a phylogroup separate from Lyssavirus lleida (LLEBV) and Lyssavirus ikoma (IKOV). Analysis of the antigenic sites suggests that PBLV will likely be serologically distinguishable from established lyssaviruses in virus-neutralization tests, whereas MBLV appeared to be antigenically highly similar to WCBV. Taken together, the findings suggested that, while PBLV is likely a new lyssavirus species, MBLV is likely related to WCBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Viljoen
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2131, South Africa
| | - Jacqueline Weyer
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2131, South Africa
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Jessica Coertse
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2131, South Africa
| | - Wanda Markotter
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
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Lourenco M, Woodborne S, Fitchett JM. Fire regime of peatlands in the Angolan Highlands. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 195:78. [PMID: 36342572 PMCID: PMC9638379 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10704-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Angolan Highlands region includes the Angolan miombo woodland ecoregion which supports miombo woodland, grasslands, subsistence agricultural land, and peatland deposits. Extensive fires, slash and burn agriculture, peat fuel extraction, and peatland drainage are among the anthropogenic practices that threaten these peatland deposits. Peat fires cause peatland degradation, release significant amounts of greenhouse gases, deteriorate air quality, and contribute towards climate change and biodiversity loss. This study presents an analysis of the fire regimes over the period 2001 to 2020 in an under-studied area of the Angolan Highlands. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) fire and vegetation data were used in combination with a land use/land cover (LULC) classification map to calculate fire frequency, burn area, and fire regimes. The fire patterns within the study site are comparable to those found in African woodland savannas. Across the study site, 6976 km2 (11.31%) of the land surface area burned at least nine times from 2001 to 2020, occurring largely within in the river valley environment. Considering the different LULC classes, peatlands were calculated to (a) burn more frequently (average fire frequency from 2001 to 2020 = 9.12), (b) have the smallest proportion (4.11%) of area which remained unburnt over the fire archive, and (c) have the largest average proportion (45.65% or 746 km2) of burnt area per year. Peatland burning occurred predominantly during drier months from May to September. The results of this study highlight the strong influence of LULC on the fire frequency and distribution in the study area, requiring unique fire management strategies. As has been documented for boreal and tropical peatlands across the globe, we stress the importance of peatland conservation and protection; continued unsustainable management practices may lead to the loss of these important peatland deposits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Lourenco
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Wild Bird Trust, Hogsback, South Africa
| | - Stephan Woodborne
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- iThemba LABS, Private Bag 11, WITS, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jennifer M. Fitchett
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- BP012 Bernard Price Building, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa
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Krásová J, Mikula O, Bryja J, Baptista NL, António T, Aghová T, Šumbera R. Biogeography of Angolan rodents: The first glimpse based on phylogenetic evidence. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jarmila Krásová
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ninda L. Baptista
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação da Huíla (ISCED‐Huíla) Lubango Angola
- CIBIO‐InBIO Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos GenéticosUniversidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
| | - Telmo António
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação da Huíla (ISCED‐Huíla) Lubango Angola
| | - Tatiana Aghová
- Centre of OncocytogenomicsInstitute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory DiagnosticsGeneral University Hospital and First Faculty of MedicineCharles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
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Elizalde Castells D, Elizalde SRFF, Ceríaco LMP, Groom RJ. Ansorge’s cusimanse in Angola: 100 years apart, new records contribute to the species known range. MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Ansorge’s cusimanse, Crossarchus ansorgei Thomas, 1910, has until recently been known in Angola only from a single specimen collected in 1908, the holotype. During a camera trap survey conducted in Quiçama National Park (Angola) in 2017, we recorded the presence of the species 115 km south-west of the type locality – 40 km from the edge of the current known distribution range, – extending it south of the Cuanza river and possibly following the woodlands along the Angolan Escarpment. We combine our records of Ansorge’s cusimanse with the available published and unpublished records from Angola and compare with other vertebrate taxa that follow a similar pattern, in which Central African species extend their southern distribution into Angola, through the more forested areas in northwestern Angola and further south along the Escarpment. Furthermore, we discuss the urgent need for more research on this species and the impact bushmeat harvesting may have on its conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Elizalde Castells
- The Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dog, Regents Park , London NW1-4RY , UK
- Zoological Society of London, Regents Park , London NW1-4RY , UK
| | - Sara R. F. F. Elizalde
- The Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dog, Regents Park , London NW1-4RY , UK
- Zoological Society of London, Regents Park , London NW1-4RY , UK
| | - Luis M. P. Ceríaco
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal
- Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência , Universidade de Lisboa , Lisboa , Portugal
| | - Rosemary Joy Groom
- The Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dog, Regents Park , London NW1-4RY , UK
- Zoological Society of London, Regents Park , London NW1-4RY , UK
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Eiseb SJ, Taylor PJ, Zeller U, Denys C, Nicolas V. Rapid peripatric speciation linked with drainage evolution in a rare African rodent,
Mastomys shortridgei
(Rodentia: Muridae). J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seth J. Eiseb
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Namibia Windhoek Namibia
- National Museum of Namibia Windhoek Namibia
| | - Peter J. Taylor
- SARChI Chair on Biodiversity Value & Change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve & Core Team Member of Centre for Invasion Biology School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences University of Venda Thohoyandou South Africa
- Zoology & Entomology Department & Afromontane Research Unit University of the Free State Phuthaditjhaba South Africa
- National Geographic Okavango Wilderness ProjectWild Bird Trust Parktown South Africa
| | - Ulrich Zeller
- Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Christiane Denys
- Institut de Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle CNRSSorbonne UniversitéEPHEUniversité des Antilles Paris France
| | - Violaine Nicolas
- Institut de Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle CNRSSorbonne UniversitéEPHEUniversité des Antilles Paris France
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Bryja J, Meheretu Y, Šumbera R, Lavrenchenko LA. Annotated checklist, taxonomy and distribution of rodents in Ethiopia. FOLIA ZOOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.25225/fozo.030.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research & Development, Mekelle University, Ethiopia; e-mail:
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; e-mail:
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