Palanisamy et al.
Comparative genome analysis of Alkumra hemorrhagic fever virus with Kyasanur forest disease and tick-borne encephalitis viruses by the in silico approach.
Pathogens and Global Health 2018, DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1471187
Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV), which is classified in the tick-borne encephalitis virus serocomplex along with the Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), has initially been isolated about 23 years ago from a butcher in the Al-Khumra district of the Jeddah metropolitan area in Saudi Arabia. There is evidence that this virus is transmitted by ticks – Ornithodoros savignyi (a soft tick) and by Hyalomma dromedarii, but it is still hypothesized that mosquitos could play a role in transmission to humans. The authors have compared the available genome information of these three closely related flaviviruses and have compared their evolution, nucleotide and protein composition, posttranslational modifications of the viral proteins, codon frequencies and secondary structure of the RNA. There is no evidence of recombination of the AHFV genome with either KFDV or TBEV. AHFV and KFV have a nucleotide identity of about 92.5%, and between AHFV and TBEV, this is about 70.5%.
Additional notes:
There is a debate going on over the name of Alkhumra virus vs. Alkhurma virus. The Alkhurma virus may be a misnomer (Madani et al., Intervirology 2012; 55: 259-260). Recent reports in some newspapers about an AHFV outbreak in April 2018 in Saudi Arabia may arise from misinterpretation of an alert published by the Ministry of Health. AHFV is endemic in Saudi Arabia, especially in areas adjoining Mecca and Jeddah cities, where Muslims gather every year for the Hajj. Therefore, there is the possibility that the virus may spread to other countries. In this context, see also snapshot no. 17, dealing with the detection of AHFV in migratory birds.