Mopeia mammarenavirus | |
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Virus classification ![]() | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Negarnaviricota |
Class: | Ellioviricetes |
Order: | Bunyavirales |
Family: | Arenaviridae |
Genus: | Mammarenavirus |
Species: | Mopeia mammarenavirus |
Strains | |
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Synonyms | |
Mopeia virus, MOPV, Mozambique virus, MV |
Mopeia mammarenavirus (MOPV) is a species of virus in the genus Mammarenavirus . [1] It was initially isolated from the Mastomys natalensis mouse in the East African country of Mozambique in 1977. [2] [3] [4] It is of the "Old World" Arenavirus lineage and is closely related to Lassa mammarenavirus, sharing 75% of its amino acid sequence. [5] [6]
Mopeia virus has not been known to cause disease in humans, although it is capable of infecting human cell lines in vitro. [7] Infection of primates with the virus was demonstrated to prevent clinical disease following Lassa virus infection, indicating potential for use as a prophylactic vaccine for Lassa Fever. [8]
Although initially isolated in Mozambique, it has also been detected in rodents in Zimbabwe, [9] and Tanzania. [4] Although not identified outside of these regions, it is possible that M. natalensis rodents could carry Mopeia virus to other areas of Southeast Africa.[ citation needed ]