Retrospective serological and genetic study of the distribution of hantaviruses in Greece

Abstract

A retrospective serological and genetic study of hantaviruses responsible for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Greece during the last 17 years is presented. Fifty-one serum samples taken from 30 HFRS cases previously diagnosed by immunofluorescence assay were tested by ELISA for IgG (Hantaan, Dobrava, and Puumala) and IgM antibodies (Hantaan and Puumala). Results were compatible with the majority of infections being related to hantaviruses carried by rodents of the subfamily Murinae. RNA was extracted from 26 selected samples and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using primers specifically designed for the detection of hanta-viruses associated with murine (MS-N-specific, MM-G1-specific primers) or arvicoline rodents (PPT-N-specific primers). In addition, primers previously designed for the detection of the G2 coding region of the Murine-associated hanta-viruses were also used. Sequencing of the PCR products was then performed, followed by phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequence differences. Eleven out of the 26 serum samples tested were found to be positive by PCR with the MS-N primers, whereas four were positive with the MM-G1 primers, and only two with the G2 primers. None of the samples was found positive with the PPT primers. The sequence analysis showed that the virus that was responsible for these 11 HFRS cases was the Dobrava virus, which is endemic throughout the Balkans.

Central European Dobrava Hantavirus Isolate from a Striped Field Mouse ( Apodemus agrarius )

“…This idea is mainly based on the fact that most severe DOBV-associated HFRS cases have been reported from the Balkans, where DOBV-Af is believed to be dominant (3,33). On the other side, usually mild or moderate DOBV-associated clinical courses were described for Central Europe, where DOBV-Aa is supposed to prevail (51).…”

“…A direct proof for DOBV-Af strains as an etiologic agent of HFRS was established by amplification of DOBV-Af nucleotide sequences from HFRS patients in Greece, Albania, and Croatia (1,25,33). HFRS cases caused by DOBV infection in South-East Europe were found to be clinically moderate or even severe with a case fatality index of up to 12% (1,3,22,33).…”

“…A direct proof for DOBV-Af strains as an etiologic agent of HFRS was established by amplification of DOBV-Af nucleotide sequences from HFRS patients in Greece, Albania, and Croatia (1,25,33). HFRS cases caused by DOBV infection in South-East Europe were found to be clinically moderate or even severe with a case fatality index of up to 12% (1,3,22,33).In Central Europe, DOBV RNA has been predominantly detected in a different mouse species, the striped field mouse (A. agrarius). Phylogenetic analysis of these viral sequences from A. agrarius led to the definition of a second genetic DOBV clade, 50,51).…”

Hantaviruses Induce Antiviral and Pro-Inflammatory Innate Immune Responses in Astrocytic Cells and the Brain

“…These include Seoul virus (SEOV) (12,23,32,36,45), Puumala virus (PUUV) (11,42), Dobrava/Belgrade virus (DOBV) (7,8,33,34,44), and Amur/ Soochong virus (AMRV/SOOV) (9,26). The discovery of HTNV also made possible the identification of hantaviruses such as Sin Nombre virus (SNV), Black Creek Canal virus (BCCV), and Andes virus (ANDV), harbored by sigmodontine and neotomine rodent species, which cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the Americas (39,43,51).…”

Verbreitung von Hantavirusinfektionen in Deutschland

“…Dabei handelt es sich um einen hochvirulenten, in Asien vorkommenden Erreger, der zu schweren Verläufen des HFRS mit einer Letalität von 15% führt. Die größte Gefahr für die Bevölkerung in Europa geht im Augenblick vom Dobravavirus (DOBV) aus: Infektionen mit einer hochvirulenten genetischen Linie des DOBV (s. Kapitel "Klinischer Verlauf") führen bei etwa 12% der Infizierten zum tödlichen Ausgang der Erkrankung [5,6]. Während in Mitteleuropa bisher meist über milde bis moderate Verläufe von Hantavirusinfektionen berichtet wurde, muss der Möglichkeit der Entstehung neuer, hochvirulenter Erreger oder deren Eindringen/Einschleppung nach Mitteleuropa erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet werden.…”