Cameroonian blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) harbour a plethora of (RNA) viruses

De Coninck, Lander, Hadermann, Amber, Ingletto, Ludovica, Colebunders, Robert, Njamnshi, Kongnyu Gamnsi, Njamnshi, Alfred Kongnyu, Mokili, John L, Fodjo, Joseph Nelson Siewe and Matthijnssens, Jelle (2025) 'Cameroonian blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) harbour a plethora of (RNA) viruses'. Virus Evolution. (In Press)

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Abstract

Strong epidemiological evidence suggests that onchocerciasis may be associated with epilepsy – hence the name onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). However, the pathogenesis of OAE still needs to be elucidated, as recent studies failed to detect Onchocerca volvulus in the central nervous system of persons with OAE. Therefore, it was suggested that a potentially neurotropic virus transmitted by blackflies could play a role in triggering OAE. To investigate this hypothesis, adult blackflies were collected in an onchocerciasis-endemic area with a high OAE prevalence in the Ntui Health District, Cameroon. A viral particle-based shotgun sequencing approach was used to detect viral sequences in fifty-five pools of ten blackflies. A very high abundance of viral reads was detected across multiple (novel) viral families, including viral families associated with human disease. Although, no genomes closely related to known neurotropic viruses were found in the blackfly virome, the plethora of novel viruses representing novel species, genera and even families, warrant further exploration for their potential to infect vertebrates. These results could serve as a first step for studying the viruses associated with the hematophagous blackfly, which also could be present in their nematode host O. volvulus. Exploring the diversity of viruses in blackflies should be included in the active surveillance of zoonotic diseases.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QW Microbiology and Immunology > Viruses > QW 162 Insect viruses QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 650 Insect vectors WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > General RNA Virus Infections > WC 501 RNA virus infections (General or not elsewhere classified)
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1093/ve/veaf024
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	25 Apr 2025 12:44
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2025 12:44
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/26544

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