Genetic Characterization of Hantaviruses Transmitted by the Korean Field Mouse (Apodemus peninsulae), Far East Russia

Abstract

In an epizootiologic survey of 122 rodents captured in Vladivostok, Russia, antibodies positive for hantavirus were found in Apodemus peninsulae (4/70), A. agrarius (1/39), and Clethrionomys rufocanus (1/8). The hantavirus sequences identified in two seropositive A. peninsulae and two patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) from the Primorye region of Far East Russia were designated as Solovey and Primorye, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of the Solovey, Primorye, and Amur (obtained through GenBank) sequences were closely related (>92% identity). Solovey and Primorye sequences shared 84% nucleotide identity with the prototype Hantaan 76-118. Phylogenetic analysis also indicated a close relationship between Solovey, Primorye, Amur, and other viruses identified in Russia, China, and Korea. Our findings suggest that the Korean field mouse ( A. peninsulae ) is the reservoir for a hantavirus that causes HFRS over a vast area of east Asia, including Far East Russia.

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).…”

“…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).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).…”

Epizootiologic Survey for <i>Babesia microti</i> among Small Wild Mammals in Northeastern Eurasia and a Geographic Deversity in the &beta;-Tubulin Gene Sequences

“…At two survey points near Vladivostok, 68 animals comprising five species of Rodentia were trapped in 1999. The serum samples collected were used for a previous study [22], and the remaining blood clots that had been stored at -80°C were made available for the present study. In Xinjiang, 165 small wild mammals comprising 19 species of Rodentia were captured during 1998 and 1999 at eight locations, namely Wuchai wan, Wulong-gu, Fuhai, Bulzin, Hanashi Lake, Jadenggu, Fuwen, and Kamushite [2].…”

Epidemiological Study of Hantavirus Infection in the Samara Region of European Russia

“…In Russia, five viruses cause HFRS in humans: PUUV and DOBV cause HFRS in European Russia [41], and HTNV, SEOV, and AMRV cause HFRS in Far Eastern Russia [16,19,38,46]. Sporadic HFRS cases, caused by PUUV and DOBV, were recently detected in the western Siberian regions of Russia [45].…”