Epidemiological Studies on Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in China

Abstract

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has been reported from greater than 20 provinces in China. The number of reported cases has increased markedly in recent years and surpassed 80,000 human cases in 1983. All of the cases reported before 1981 were from rural areas and were attributed to Apodemus rats. In 1981, outbreaks of cases associated with house rats were first reported. Cases associated with Apodemus agrarius were more severe than those associated with the house rat Rattus norvegicus. The rate of inapparent infection in the rural population of areas endemic for Apodemus-associated disease was lower than that of Rattus-associated urban disease. After the onset of the disease, IgG antibody levels increase rapidly, peak after one week, and persist for as long as 25 years. Lung tissues from 16 species of rodent, from two species of sorex, and from cats and weasels in the epidemic areas have been found to carry antigen. A. agrarius, Apodemus peninsulae, and R. norvegicus serve as the main reservoirs of HFRS in rural areas, forest areas, and urban areas, respectively.

Isolation and characterization of hantavirus carried by Apodemus peninsulae in Jilin, China

“…In the present study, A. peninsulae in China was found to harbour HTNV belonging to a different lineage that is commonly found in A. agrarius in North-East Asia (Sun et al, 2001;Wang et al, 2000). These studies, together with the detection of hantavirus antigens and antibodies in A. peninsulae since the 1980s (Chen et al, 1986(Chen et al, , 1999Li et al, 1983;Luo & Liu, 1989), strongly support the notion that A. peninsulae, in addition to A. agrarius, is also a natural host for HTNV (Lokugamage et al, 2002).…”

“…of hantavirus have been identified worldwide (Khaiboullina et al, 2005), and each serotype and/or genotype of hantavirus appears to be associated primarily with one (or a few closely related) specific rodent host(s) (Plyusnin & Morzunov, 2001). Several rodent species, such as Apodemus agrarius and Rattus norvegicus, have been identified as hantavirus reservoirs in China (Chen et al, 1986(Chen et al, , 1999Song et al, 1983 Song et al, , 1984Wang et al, 2000).Apodemus peninsulae has been identified as a hantavirus reservoir, and the hantavirus carried by A. peninsulae has been associated with HFRS in the far-east region of Russia (Lokugamage et al, 2002;Yashina et al, 2000). Hantaviruses have also been isolated from A. peninsulae in South Korea (Baek et al, 2006).…”

“…of hantavirus have been identified worldwide (Khaiboullina et al, 2005), and each serotype and/or genotype of hantavirus appears to be associated primarily with one (or a few closely related) specific rodent host(s) (Plyusnin & Morzunov, 2001). Several rodent species, such as Apodemus agrarius and Rattus norvegicus, have been identified as hantavirus reservoirs in China (Chen et al, 1986(Chen et al, , 1999Song et al, 1983 Song et al, , 1984Wang et al, 2000).…”

“…A. peninsulae is distributed widely in China, and is one of the predominant rodent species in forest areas in the north-east , where HFRS occurs (Cai et al, 1997). Hantavirus-positive antigens and antibodies have been detected in A. peninsulae in north-eastern China since 1983 (Chen et al, 1986(Chen et al, , 1999 Li et al, 1983;Luo & Liu, 1989). However, no characterization has been performed antigenically or genetically.…”

“…These two lineages are related closely to each other within the HTNV group. A. agrarius has been considered the natural host for HTNV (Chen et al, 1986;Lee et al, 1978;Plyusnin & Morzunov, 2001;Song et al, 1983;Wang et al, 2000), as most of the HTNV viruses (irrespective of lineage) have been isolated from A. agrarius. Previously, viruses in the AMR lineage within HTNV were detected in A. peninsulae in Korea (Baek et al, 2006) and Russia (Lokugamage et al, 2004).…”