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Oropouche Virus (OROV): An Emerging Peribunyavirus (Bunyavirus)
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Oropouche Virus (OROV): An Emerging Peribunyavirus (Bunyavirus)

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 June 2026 | Viewed by 10150

Special Issue Editors

Dr. David A. Schwartz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Perinatal Pathology Consulting, Atlanta, GA, USA
Interests: perinatal, placental and obstetrical pathology; emerging infectious diseases; global maternal & child health; tropical medicine; pregnancy complications; stillbirth; maternal and infant mortality; medical epidemiology; medical anthropology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. André Ricardo Ribas Freitas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Epidemiology, São Leopoldo Mandic Medical School, Campinas 13045-755, SP, Brazil
Interests: respiratory viruses; arthropods borne diseases; epidemiological intelligence; arbovirus; neglected tropical diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oropouche virus (OROV), a member of the Peribunyaviridae family, is responsible for causing a common acute febrile illness in the Amazon basin, including Brazil and other countries. Its primary reservoirs include sloths, marsupials, primates, and birds. The primary vector for human transmission is the biting midge (Culicoides paraensis), although other vectors, such as Culex quinquefasciatus, are also suspected. Since its initial identification from a febrile villager in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, it has caused large outbreaks of acute febrile illness in cities and villages throughout the Amazon and central regions of Brazil and the surrounding countries. It is estimated that at least 500,000 cases of OROV infection have occurred in Brazil during the past 48 years. Although a neglected tropical disease, Oropouche fever has been suggested to be one of the most important vector-borne diseases in Latin America. Starting in 2023, there has been a sudden increase in the number of OROV infections reported in Latin America, including locations where the virus was not previously endemic, including Cuba. From January 1st to August 1st, 2024, there have been greater than 8,000 cases of Oropouche virus disease reported from Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Cuba, including two deaths in young women. Since July 2024, there have been reports of miscarriage and stillbirth from pregnant women with Oropouche fever, including positive testing of fetal organs and the placenta for OROV. In addition, there have been multiple reports of newborns with microcephaly and antibodies to OROV that have been delivered to pregnant women having Oropouche fever. Travelers infected with OROV have appeared in the United States and Europe. There are currently no effective vaccines or antiviral treatments available.

This Special Issue on Viruses will address topics regarding the Oropouche virus, including biological aspects such as virology, genetic variation, immunology, and host factors. Articles on the epidemiology of Oropouche fever are requested, including insect vectors and natural hosts, transmission dynamics, geographical distribution, natural history, and relationships with other related arboviruses. Clinical articles will discuss the presentation, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and potential for vaccine and antiviral medication development. Experimental infections in animal models and cell culture are also welcome. Contributions on any aspect of the 2023-2024 OROV epidemic are encouraged, and, in particular, the occurrence of Oropouche fever in pregnancy and its association with obstetrical disease, fetal loss, vertical transmission, congenital microcephaly, and fetal malformations. Submissions can be original research articles, reviews, communications, viewpoints, case reports, and editorials. Illustrative and graphic materials, including photographs, are encouraged whenever possible.

Dr. David A. Schwartz
Prof. Dr. André Ricardo Ribas Freitas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • oropouche fever
  • oropouche virus
  • bunyavirus
  • epidemic
  • travel infection
  • pregnancy complications
  • stillbirth
  • microcephaly
  • brazil
  • Latin America
  • emerging virus

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

8 pages, 219 KiB  
Editorial
Oropouche Virus (OROV): Expanding Threats, Shifting Patterns, and the Urgent Need for Collaborative Research in Latin America
by André Ricardo Ribas Freitas, David A. Schwartz, Antônio Silva Lima Neto, Rosana Rodrigues, Luciano Pamplona Goes Cavalcanti and Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal
Viruses 2025, 17(3), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030353 - 28 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 756
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of Oropouche virus (OROV) in Latin America demonstrate shifting epidemiological trends, with increasing clinical severity and geographic expansion driven by environmental and anthropogenic factors, many of which remain uncertain. Viral evolution with new reassortant strains, changes in vectors, environmental degradation, and [...] Read more.
Recent outbreaks of Oropouche virus (OROV) in Latin America demonstrate shifting epidemiological trends, with increasing clinical severity and geographic expansion driven by environmental and anthropogenic factors, many of which remain uncertain. Viral evolution with new reassortant strains, changes in vectors, environmental degradation, and human activities have been postulated as factors that have facilitated its spread into new areas beyond the Amazon Basin. Multiple reports starting in July 2024 of pregnant women with Oropouche fever developing vertical infections and adverse perinatal outcomes, including placental infection, stillbirth, and fetal infections with microcephaly and malformation syndromes, have reinforced the public health significance of this disease. Here, we describe the evidence surrounding this re-emerging epidemic threat, examine these changes, and propose specific strategies for enhanced surveillance and a public health response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oropouche Virus (OROV): An Emerging Peribunyavirus (Bunyavirus))

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

17 pages, 9975 KiB  
Article
Oropouche Virus: Isolation and Ultrastructural Characterization from a Human Case Sample from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Using an In Vitro System
by Ana Luisa Teixeira de Almeida, Igor Pinto Silva da Costa, Maycon Douglas do Nascimento Garcia, Marcos Alexandre Nunes da Silva, Yasmim Gonçalves Lazzaro, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, Fernanda de Bruycker Nogueira and Debora Ferreira Barreto-Vieira
Viruses 2025, 17(3), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030373 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 870
Abstract
The Oropouche virus (OROV) is a segmented negative-sense RNA arbovirus member of the Peribunyaviridae family, associated with recurring epidemics of Oropouche fever in Central and South America. Since its identification in 1955, OROV has been responsible for outbreaks in both rural and urban [...] Read more.
The Oropouche virus (OROV) is a segmented negative-sense RNA arbovirus member of the Peribunyaviridae family, associated with recurring epidemics of Oropouche fever in Central and South America. Since its identification in 1955, OROV has been responsible for outbreaks in both rural and urban areas, with transmission involving sylvatic and urban cycles. This study focuses on the characterization of an OROV isolate from a human clinical sample collected in the state of Rio de Janeiro, a non-endemic region in Brazil, highlighting ultrastructural and morphological aspects of the viral replicative cycle in Vero cells. OROV was isolated in Vero cell monolayers which, following viral inoculation, exhibited marked cytopathic effects (CPEs), mainly represented by changes in cell morphology, including membrane protrusions and vacuolization, as well as cell death. Studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed significant ultrastructural changes, such as apoptosis, intense remodeling of membrane-bound organelles and signs of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stress. Additionally, the formation of specialized cytoplasmic vacuoles and intra- and extracellular vesicles emphasized trafficking and intercellular communication as essential mechanisms in OROV infection. RT-qPCR studies confirmed the production of viral progeny in high titers, corroborating the efficiency of this experimental model. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the cytopathogenic mechanisms of OROV infection and the contribution of cellular alterations in OROV morphogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oropouche Virus (OROV): An Emerging Peribunyavirus (Bunyavirus))
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10 pages, 1123 KiB  
Article
Full Genome Characterization of the First Oropouche Virus Isolate Imported in Europe from Cuba
by Michela Deiana, Simone Malagò, Antonio Mori, Silvia Accordini, Andrea Matucci, Rebeca Passarelli Mantovani, Natasha Gianesini, Ralph Huits, Chiara Piubelli, Federico Giovanni Gobbi, Maria Rosaria Capobianchi and Concetta Castilletti
Viruses 2024, 16(10), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101586 - 9 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1938
Abstract
On 27 May 2024, the Cuban Ministry of Health reported the first outbreak of Oropouche fever on the island. The etiologic agent, Oropouche virus (OROV), is a poorly understood arbovirus that has been known since the 1960s and represents a public health burden [...] Read more.
On 27 May 2024, the Cuban Ministry of Health reported the first outbreak of Oropouche fever on the island. The etiologic agent, Oropouche virus (OROV), is a poorly understood arbovirus that has been known since the 1960s and represents a public health burden in Latin America. We report the whole-genome characterization of the first European OROV isolate from a returning traveler from Cuba with Oropouche fever-like symptoms. The isolate was obtained from the patient’s serum; whole-genome sequencing was performed by next-generation sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis and genetic variability studies. The analysis showed that the most closely related sequence was from the French Guiana 2020 outbreak. Interestingly, our isolate is a reassortant virus, included in a highly supported monophyletic clade containing recent OROV cases (Brazil 2015–Colombia 2021), separated from the other four previously known genotypes. More deeply, it was found to be included in a distinct branch containing the sequences of the Brazil 2022–2024 outbreak. The reassortment event involved the S and L segments, which have high similarity with sequences belonging to a new cluster (here defined as OROV_SCDC_2024), while the M segment shows high similarity with older sequences. These results likely describe the viral strain responsible for the current outbreak in Cuba, which may also reflect the ongoing outbreak in Latin America. Further studies are needed to understand how OROV evolves towards traits that facilitate its spread and adaptation outside its original basin, and to track its spread and evolution in the European continent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oropouche Virus (OROV): An Emerging Peribunyavirus (Bunyavirus))
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Review

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18 pages, 1778 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review of the Neglected and Emerging Oropouche Virus
by Fengwei Bai, Prince M. D. Denyoh, Cassandra Urquhart, Sabin Shrestha and Donald A. Yee
Viruses 2025, 17(3), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030439 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1175
Abstract
Oropouche virus (OROV) is a neglected and emerging arbovirus that infects humans and animals in South and Central America. OROV is primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected midges and possibly some mosquitoes. It is the causative agent of Oropouche fever, [...] Read more.
Oropouche virus (OROV) is a neglected and emerging arbovirus that infects humans and animals in South and Central America. OROV is primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected midges and possibly some mosquitoes. It is the causative agent of Oropouche fever, which has high morbidity but low mortality rates in humans. The disease manifests in humans as high fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, photophobia, and, in some cases, meningitis and encephalitis. Additionally, a recent report suggests that OROV may cause fetal death, miscarriage, and microcephaly in newborns when women are infected during pregnancy, similar to the issues caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV), another mosquito-borne disease in the same regions. OROV was first reported in the mid-20th century in the Amazon basin. Since then, over 30 epidemics and more than 500,000 infection cases have been reported. The actual case numbers may be much higher due to frequent misdiagnosis, as OROV infection presents similar clinical symptoms to other co-circulating viruses, such as dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), ZIKV, and West Nile virus (WNV). Due to climate change, increased travel, and urbanization, OROV infections have occurred at an increasing pace and have spread to new regions, with the potential to reach North America. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 10,000 cases were reported in 2024, including in areas where it was not previously detected. There is an urgent need to develop vaccines, antivirals, and specific diagnostic tools for OROV diseases. However, little is known about this surging virus, and no specific treatments or vaccines are available. In this article, we review the most recent progress in understanding virology, transmission, pathogenesis, diagnosis, host–vector dynamics, and antiviral vaccine development for OROV, and provide implications for future research directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oropouche Virus (OROV): An Emerging Peribunyavirus (Bunyavirus))
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Other

9 pages, 237 KiB  
Perspective
Oropouche Virus (OROV) in Pregnancy: An Emerging Cause of Placental and Fetal Infection Associated with Stillbirth and Microcephaly following Vertical Transmission
by David A. Schwartz, Pradip Dashraath and David Baud
Viruses 2024, 16(9), 1435; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091435 - 9 Sep 2024
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4124
Abstract
Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging arbovirus endemic in Latin America and the Caribbean that causes Oropouche fever, a febrile illness that clinically resembles some other arboviral infections. It is currently spreading through Brazil and surrounding countries, where, from 1 January to 1 [...] Read more.
Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging arbovirus endemic in Latin America and the Caribbean that causes Oropouche fever, a febrile illness that clinically resembles some other arboviral infections. It is currently spreading through Brazil and surrounding countries, where, from 1 January to 1 August 2024, more than 8000 cases have been identified in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, and Peru and for the first time in Cuba. Travelers with Oropouche fever have been identified in the United States and Europe. A significant occurrence during this epidemic has been the report of pregnant women infected with OROV who have had miscarriages and stillborn fetuses with placental, umbilical blood and fetal somatic organ samples that were RT-PCR positive for OROV and negative for other arboviruses. In addition, there have been four cases of newborn infants having microcephaly, in which the cerebrospinal fluid tested positive for IgM antibodies to OROV and negative for other arboviruses. This communication examines the biology, epidemiology, and clinical features of OROV, summarizes the 2023–2024 Oropouche virus epidemic, and describes the reported cases of vertical transmission and congenital infection, fetal death, and microcephaly in pregnant women with Oropouche fever, addresses experimental animal infections and potential placental pathology findings of OROV, and reviews other bunyavirus agents that can cause vertical transmission. Recommendations are made for pregnant women travelling to the regions affected by the epidemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oropouche Virus (OROV): An Emerging Peribunyavirus (Bunyavirus))
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