Rat hepatitis E virus and novel paramyxoviruses in synanthropic rodents and shrews in Kenya

Ochola, G.; Pulkkinen, E.; Ogola, J. G.; Makela, H.; Masika, M.; Vauhkonen, H.; Smura, T.; Jaaskelainen, A. J.; Anzala, O.; Vapalahti, O.; Mweu, A. W.; Forbes, K. M.; Lindahl, J. F.; Laakkonen, J.; Uusitalo, J.; Altan, E.; Korhonen, E. M.; Sironen, T.

doi:10.64898/2026.04.21.719784

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.04.21.719784

Rat hepatitis E virus and novel paramyxoviruses in synanthropic rodents and shrews in Kenya

Ochola, G.·Pulkkinen, E.·Ogola, J. G.·Makela, H.·Masika, M.·Vauhkonen, H.·Smura, T.·Jaaskelainen, A. J.·Anzala, O.·Vapalahti, O.·Mweu, A. W.·Forbes, K. M.·Lindahl, J. F.·Laakkonen, J.·Uusitalo, J.·Altan, E.·Korhonen, E. M.·Sironen, T.

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Abstract

The majority of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, having their origin in wildlife before spilling over into the human population. While small mammals are recognized as critical reservoirs for these viruses, their viral diversity remains largely uncharacterized across many African countries. We conducted molecular surveillance of synanthropic rodents and shrews in the Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi and the rural Taita Hills region of Kenya to detect and characterize potential zoonotic viruses. Tissue samples from 228 rodents and shrews were screened for six viral families using PCR assays. Rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) (Rocahepevirus ratti), a rodent-associated virus with potential for human spillover, was identified in Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus from Kibera. NGS was conducted for the HEV positive samples, and we obtained two near-complete HEV genomes from Rattus norvegicus, which clustered within rodent-associated HEV genotypes in the phylogenetic analysis. The two sequences from the Rattus norvegicus cluster together, indicating a close genetic relationship. Paramyxoviruses belonging to the genera Jeilongvirus and Parahenipavirus were detected both from Taita and Kibera in nine different samples from Rattus norvegicus, Mus minutoides, Crocidura sp and Acomys ignitus. One paramyxovirus positive sample (Acomys ignitus) from Taita was selected for further sequencing with NGS, and a complete genome of a new jeilongvirus was assembled. Phylogenetic analysis of the detected viruses confirmed the close relation to previously known rodent-borne jeilongviruses but also revealed potentially novel jeilong- and parahenipavirus species. Our findings highlight the circulation of potentially zoonotic viruses in both urban and rural small mammals in Kenya. It emphasizes the necessity of continued genomic surveillance of zoonotic viruses to mitigate risks of their spillover into human populations. HighlightsO_LISurveillance reveals diverse rodent-borne viruses circulating in Kenya. C_LIO_LIRat-HEV was detected in Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus from an urban low-income area. C_LIO_LIParamyxoviruses were detected across multiple rodent and shrew species, including novel Acomys ignitus jeilongvirus. C_LI Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=139 SRC="FIGDIR/small/719784v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (66K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@86c94aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@10946adorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1ff45eforg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4876f1_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

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Ochola, G., Pulkkinen, E., Ogola, J. G., Makela, H., Masika, M., Vauhkonen, H., Smura, T., Jaaskelainen, A. J., Anzala, O., Vapalahti, O., Mweu, A. W., Forbes, K. M., Lindahl, J. F., Laakkonen, J., Uusitalo, J., Altan, E., Korhonen, E. M., Sironen, T.. 2026-04-21. Rat hepatitis E virus and novel paramyxoviruses in synanthropic rodents and shrews in Kenya. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.21.719784

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