Ne Delhi: While the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have discovered a virus called ‘Cat Que Virus’ (CQV) which has the potential to wreak havoc in the nation.
In the 883 human serum samples tested by the scientists at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), ICMR, Pune, two samples contained antibodies for the virus. It was concluded after further testing of these samples that these two persons from Karnataka, who showed the presence of antibodies, were infected with CQV at some point. These samples tested positive for the presence of anti-CQV IgG antibodies in 2014 and 2017.
This virus, which falls under the category of Arthropod-borne viruses, is found in pigs and Culex mosquitoes. It has been mostly reported in China and Vietnam.
According to the article published in ‘Proactive preparedness for Cat Que virus: An Orthobunyavirus existing in India’, “availability of vector, primary mammalian host (swine) and confirmation of CQV from the jungle myna bird signifies the potential of this orthobunyavirus as a public health pathogen in India.”
“Anti-CQV IgG antibody positivity in human serum samples tested and the replication capability of CQV in mosquitoes indicated a possible disease-causing potential of CQV in Indian scenario. Screening of more human and swine serum samples using these assays is required as a proactive measure for understanding the prevalence of this neglected tropical virus,” ICMR was quoted by Bahujan Media.
The research conducted by ICMR showed that Indian mosquito breeds- Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. Tritaeniorhynchus were vulnerable to CQV.
There have been no reports of birds as a host for CQV transmission or human infection with CQV, yet. Mosquitoes are the natural host, besides domestic pigs are the primary mammalian host of CQV. In China, locally reared swine have shown antibodies against the virus.
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