Antigenic Difference Between Viral Strains Causing Classical and Mild Types of Epidemic Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in China

Abstract

The antigenic relationship between viral isolates from Apodemus and Rattus that appear to cause the classical and mild types of epidemic hemorrhagic fever (EHF) in China was studied by cross-immunofluorescence, cross-neutralization, immunofluorescence blocking tests, and cross-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Obvious antigenic diversity between the isolates was demonstrated by cross-neutralization, immunofluorescence blocking tests, and cross-ELISA. Antisera from patients with classical EHF neutralized viruses of both types to a similar degree, but antisera from patients with mild EHF showed little neutralization of apodemus virus. Similarly, antisera from classical EHF blocked immunofluorescence by monoclonal antibody (25-1 McAb) derived from apodemus virus to both viral antigens, but antisera from mild EHF gave only low-grade blocking against apodemus viral antigen. Direct antigenic titrations of both viral strains by cross-ELISA yielded similar results. That distinct antigenic differences exist between viral strains causing these two types of EHF might be of great importance to the serological differentiation of the viruses and the study of EHF vaccine.

Isolation and Characterization of Hantaviruses in Far East Russia and Etiology of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in the Region

“…[6][7][8] Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Seoul virus (SEOV) are known to cause severe and mild forms of HFRS in the Eastern Eurasian Continent, respectively. 2,9,10 HTNV is carried by the striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, which preferentially inhabits grass and rice fields. Thus, humans seem to acquire HTNV infection primarily in fields.…”

Comparison of Virulence between Two Strains of Rattus Serotype Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) Virus in Newborn Rats

“…Subsequently, viruses antigenically related to Hantaan virus have been isolated from many rodent species in various parts of the world (9,11,12,17,23,24,27,28,30). Recently, HFRS viruses were antigenically divided into four serotypes that might be related to the species of reservoir animals: Apodemus, Rattus, Clethrionomys, and Microtus (7,16,25).…”

“…It has been reported that the clinical features of HFRS vary depending on the serotype of the causative virus strain (21,23). Viruses from Apodemus cause a severe form of HFRS, but those from Rattus cause a mild form (23).…”

“…Viruses from Apodemus cause a severe form of HFRS, but those from Rattus cause a mild form (23). In Scandinavia and the European part of the U.S.S.R., the main hosts of HFRS viruses have been determined to be Clethrionomys and the clinical manifestation of HFRS, nephro-X.-K. ZHANG ET AL pathia epidemica, is quite mild (4,6).…”

“…Moreover, it has also been suggested that among the various strains of Rattus serotype HFRS virus there are many which are pathogenic to humans. In China (22,23) and Korea (15), HFRS viruses associated with wild Rattus norvegicus, and to a lesser extent with R. rattus, have been incriminated in urban outbreaks of HFRS. Rat-associated viruses have also been implicated in laboratory outbreaks of HFRS in Asia (9), Belgium (8), and England (18).…”