Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus among Domesticated Animals, China

Abstract

To investigate the infections of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in domesticated animals, we sampled a total of 3,039 animals in 2 counties in Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China, from April to November 2011. SFTSV-specific antibodies were detected in 328 (69.5%) of 472 sheep, 509 (60.5%) of 842 cattle, 136 (37.9%) of 359 dogs, 26 (3.1%) of 839 pigs, and 250 (47.4%) of 527 chickens. SFTSV RNA was detected in all sampled animal species, but the prevalence was low, ranging from 1.7% to 5.3%. A cohort study in 38 sheep was conducted to determine when seroconversion to SFTSV occured. SFTSVs were isolated from sheep, cattle, and dogs and shared >95% sequence homology with human isolates from the same disease-endemic regions. These findings demonstrate that natural infections of SFTSV occur in several domesticated animal hosts in disease-endemic areas and that the virus has a wide host range.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus in South Korea and Migratory Bird Routes Between China, South Korea, and Japan

“…Most patients are farmers living in wooded, hilly, or mountainous areas. 1,4 In 2013, SFTS was also reported and confirmed in South Korea and in western regions of Japan. [6][7][8][9] In China, SFTSV has an approximate case fatality rate of 12%.…”

“…3 The major clinical symptoms of SFTS are acute and high fever (temperatures of 38°C or more), thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100,000/mm 3 ), leucopenia, elevated levels of serum hepatic enzymes, and multiorgan dysfunction. 1,4,5 More recently, SFTSV has spread to eastern Asia. SFTSV was first reported in China in 2009 and became the first tickborne Phlebovirus isolated in rural areas of Hubei and Henan provinces in central China ( Figure 1).…”

“…SFTSV RNA has been detected in the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, impacting both animals and human patients. 1,4 As a consequence, H. longicornis has been identified as a vector of SFTSV. 1,[4][5][6] Migratory birds are regular hosts of H. longicornis and this tick species is widely distributed in the Asia-Pacific region.…”

Suppression of type I and type III IFN signalling by NSs protein of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus through inhibition of STAT1 phosphorylation and activation

“…Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a novel phlebovirus first isolated in 2009 in China, where it causes a tick-borne zoonosis in humans and domestic animals (Yu et al, 2011;Niu et al, 2013). Human patients present with acute fever, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia as well as gastrointestinal and joint symptoms.…”

Investigation of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Antibody among Domestic Bovines Transported to Slaughterhouse in Shimane Prefecture, Japan

“…Seroepidemiological surveys identified anti-SFTSV antibodies in domestic animals in endemic areas, indicating that SFTSV circulates between ticks and animals in nature (1,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Antibody prevalence rates are particularly high among livestock in regions with large number of SFTS patients in China: 74.8z-83z in goats, 69.5z in sheep, 57.1z-60.4z in cattle, and 47.4z-52.1z in chickens (11)(12)(13). Therefore, seroepidemiological studies on animals may provide useful information on the prevalence of SFTS in endemic areas.…”