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
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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]