Detection of some haemorrhagic fever viruses in wild shrews collected from different habitats in Saudi Arabia: First record in the Middle East

Shrews (family Soricidae) are tiny mole-shaped mammals belong to the order Eulipotyphla. The main objective of this study is to screen wild specimens of shrews for specific RNA viruses cause hemorrhagic fevers. Wild specimens of shrews were collected from rural areas in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Collection of shrews were carried out from the traps then identified using the classical morphological keys. Specimens were dissected then extraction of single stranded RNA of shrews was performed from internal organs including lungs, livers, kidneys, and stomach using QiagenRNeasy Mini Kit. RT-PCR was utilized for screening of Crimean- Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), and Chikengunya virus (CHIKV), and Sindbis virus (SINV). The results revealed SINV, CHIKV, and CCHFV were all found in the internal viscera of shrews in four different groups. This demonstrated that the viruses were propagating and spreading throughout the tissues of the shrews. Conclusions: Depending to our knowledge results of this study constitute first record in Kingdom Saudi Arabia and significantly highlight some of the neglected wild reservoirs of arboviruses; therefore future studies should focus on evaluating other hosts, including bats. (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

This study screened wild shrew specimens in Saudi Arabia for RNA viruses, finding multiple viruses propagating in the tissues of the shrews. This first documentation of the viruses in the country highlights the neglected wild reservoirs of arboviruses and suggests future studies should evaluate other potential hosts, including bats.