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Patty
Tioman Virus, Characterisation Of A New Paramyxovirus From Malaysian Bats
From Dr. Muruga Vadivale <vale@pop.jaring.my Source <http://www.geocities.com/vadivale [edited] 10-17-00
Collaboration between the University of Malaya and the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) has led to the characterisation of a new paramyxovirus discovered in Malaysia. Tioman virus, named after a small island off the east coast of the Malayan Peninsula where it was collected, has been characterised as a [member of the genus _Rubulavirus_, of the family _Paramyxoviridae_]. It has been established that Tioman virus is related to another virus first identified in Australia in 1997, called Menangle virus.
Dr Chua Kaw Bing, from the Medical Microbiology Department of the University of Malaya, explains that Tioman virus was discovered in the course of searching for the animal host of yet another paramyxovirus, Nipah virus. Last year, Nipah virus killed 105 people and led to the culling of millions of pigs in Malaysia. "We suspected that bats were the animal host of Nipah virus, as many bats had antibodies to the virus. I was able to collect urine samples from bats and successfully isolated Nipah virus, proving the link. I also found this related virus, also new to science, in the bat urine," Dr Chua says.
Dr Chua spent 6 months at AAHL earlier this year, working closely with Dr Bryan Eaton and Dr Lin-Fa Wang. The entire virus genome (approximately 15.4 kb) of Tioman virus has now been mapped and the complete gene sequence determined. Tioman virus shares up to 80 per cent of its genetic information with its Australian relative, Menangle virus. It is also 50-60 per cent homologous in key protein sequences with a better known rubulavirus, human mumps virus. The geographic distribution of Tioman virus in bats is as yet unknown. There have been no recorded outbreaks of disease [associated with Tioman virus] in bats or any other species. "However it would not be surprising if it did cause disease in some species, given what we know about related viruses," says Dr Wang.
"The web of relationships between newly emerged viruses in our region is scientifically a fascinating story. First Hendra virus was discovered in Queensland in 1994, then Nipah virus, which is closely related, emerged in Malaysia in 1999. In 1997, Menangle virus was identified in New South Wales, and now we have a close relative for Menangle virus in Malaysia." AAHL's Dr Bryan Eaton says on a practical level the grouping of related viruses poses a diagnostic challenge. "Test reagents which are specific to the group can be useful, but we now need to ensure we have reagents which are specific to each virus and won't cross react," Dr Eaton says. (Contact Dr Wang <linfa.wang@li.csiro.au or Dr Eaton on +61 3 5227 5116 or email <bryan.eaton@li.csiro.au).
[The molecular characterisiation of this virus is a significant development. Although the newly named Tioman virus has not yet been associated with any human or animal disease, each of the other 3 paramyxoviruses recently discovered in South East Asia and Australasia has disease-producing potential. Nipah and Hendra viruses are related and differ from previously known paramyxoviruses by the larger size of their genomes. Menangle and Tioman viruses, on the other hand, appear to be members of the genus _Rubulavirus_, a long-established genus of the family _Paramyxoviridae_ which includes human mumps virus, a number of avian parainfluenza viruses, human parainfluenza viruses types 2 and 4, and porcine rubulavirus. Curiously, most if not all of the new paramyxoviruses found in South East Asia are associated with migratory bats and pigs. - Mod.CP] ...................................cp/es
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