TY - JOUR AU - Wong, Ann AU - Cheng, Peter K.C. AU - Lai, Mary Y.Y. AU - Leung, Peter C.K. AU - Wong, Kitty K.Y. AU - Lee, W.Y. AU - Lim, Wilina W.L. T1 - Virulence Potential of Fusogenic Orthoreoviruses T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2012 VL - 18 IS - 6 SP - 944 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Several severe respiratory virus infections that have emerged during the past decade originated in animals, including bats. In Indonesia, exposure to bats has been associated with increased risk of acquiring orthoreovirus infection. Although orthoreovirus infections are mild and self-limiting, we explored their potential for evolution into a more virulent form. We used conventional virus culture, electron microscopy, and molecular sequencing to isolate and identify orthoreoviruses from 3 patients in whom respiratory tract infection developed after travel to Indonesia. Virus characterization by plaque-reduction neutralization testing showed antigenic similarity, but sequencing of the small segment genes suggested virus reassortment, which could lead to increased virulence. Bats as a reservoir might contribute to virus evolution and genetic diversity, giving orthoreoviruses the potential to become more virulent. Evolution of this virus should be closely monitored so that prevention and control measures can be taken should it become more virulent. KW - fusogenic orthoreovirus KW - reassortment KW - antigenic characterization and phylogenetic analysis KW - viruses KW - virulence KW - Indonesia KW - Hong Kong DO - 10.3201/eid1806.111688 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/6/11-1688_article ER - End of Reference