Shuni Virus in Wildlife and Nonequine Domestic Animals, South Africa
J. J. Steyn, Pebetsi Motlou, Charmaine van Eeden, Marthi Pretorius, Voula Stivaktas, J. H. Williams, Louwtjie P. Snyman, Peter Buss, Brianna R. Beechler, Anna E. Jolles, Eva Pérez-Martín, Jan G. Myburgh, Johan Steyl, Marietjie Venter
Abstract
S huni virus (SHUV) (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobun- yavirus) was isolated in the 1960s from livestock, Culicoides midges, and a febrile child in Nigeria (1,2). In South Africa, SHUV was identified as the causative agent of neurologic disease in horses (3); seropositivity was also demonstrated in 3.0% of veterinarians, suggesting human exposures (4). SHUV was subsequently identified in aborted livestock and cattle with neurologic disease in Israel, suggesting an extended range beyond Africa (5, We investigated other potential susceptible species in South Africa.