Apodemus agrarius is a potential natural host of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)—causing novel bunyavirus

The incidence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Qingdao, China was three times higher than that of the average national level. Here we characterized the epidemiology, ecological determinants and pathogen evolution of HFRS in Qingdao during 2007–2015. In this longitudinal study, a total of 1846 HFRS patients and 41 HFRS-related deaths were reported. HFRS in Qingdao peaked once a year in the fourth quarter. We built a time series generalized additive model, and found that meteorological factors in the previous quarter could accurately predict HFRS occurrence. To explore how meteorological factors influenced the epidemic of HFRS, we analyzed the relationship between meteorological factors and hantavirus-carrying states of the hosts (including rodents and shrews). Comprehensive analysis showed humidity was correlated to high host densities in the third quarter and high hantavirus-carrying rates of animal hosts in the third to fourth quarters, which might contribute to HFRS peak in the fourth quarter. We further compared the L segments of hantaviruses from HFRS patients, animal hosts and ectoparasites. Phylogenetic analysis showed that hantaviruses in gamasid and trombiculid mites were the same as those from the hosts. This indicated mites also contributed to the transmission of hantavirus. Furthermore, Hantaan virus from HFRS patients, hosts and mites in Qingdao formed a distinct phylogenetic cluster. A new clade of Seoul virus was also identified in the hosts. Overall, meteorological factors increase HFRS incidence possibly via facilitating hosts’ reproduction and consequent mite-mediated hantavirus transmission. New hantavirus subtypes evolved in Qingdao represent new challenges of fighting against HFRS.

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“…A phylogenetic tree was constructed by the neighbor-joining method (bootstrap: 1000 replicates) as previously described. 12 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteorological factors affect the epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome via altering the breeding and hantavirus-carrying states of rodents and mites: a 9 years’ longitudinal study

Jiang

Wang

et al. 2017

Emerging Microbes & Infections

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“…The survey subjects were selected with strict inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, who must live in the area for more than 1 year, ages 2 years and older, and were not SFTS patients in the past. The previous studies have shown SFTS virus seroprevalence was 7.2%-10.5% in healthy persons who reported no symptoms associated with SFTS [12]. The estimation of sample size depends on 7% incidence, 80% power and two tailed 5% level of significance in this study, the minimal sample size was calculated to be 1276.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Survey of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus covert infection for healthy people in Henan Province, China

Cheng

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Background： Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a severe emerging disease, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. A crosssectional study was conducted for healthy people in high SFTS endemic areas of Henan province in 2016.Methods：This study used stratified random sampling method and finally 14 natural villages were selected as the investigation site. The questionnaire survey and serum collection were carried out from April to May in 2016. All the serum samples were detected by SFTSV IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA. Only positive samples of SFTSV IgM antibody need be tested SFTSV RNA and virus cultured. A month after the specimen collection, all persons positive for IgM antibody were followed up one by one to confirm whether he or she was recessive infection. Results： 1463 healthy persons were investigated in total. The average seropositive rates of SFTS virus specific IgG and IgM antibodies were 10.46% (153/1463) and 0.82% (12/1463), respectively. IgM antibody was positive in 12 individuals, and 6 of them SFTS virus RNA were also detected. In addition, 5 SFTS virus were isolated from the 6 SFTS virus RNA (+) individuals. By genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis， 5 new isolates from healthy crowd all belonged to groups A, which were similar to other isolates from SFTS patients. After one month, all people with SFTS virus IgM antibody had no illness or symptoms.Conclusions：This study confirmed there is SFTS recessive infection in human, and it is the first report about SFTS virus isolation in healthy people.Keyword: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), SFTS virus, seroprevlence, recessive infection Author Summary：Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)， a severe emerging infectious disease, was discovered in rural areas of China. The first SFTS case was found in Henan province, which has had the largest number of SFTS cases in China every year since the disease was discovered. However, as a high incidence area of SFTS in Henan province, the serum prevalence rate of the virus in healthy people is still not clear. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey was performed in high endemic areas and epidemic seasons in 2016. The results showed that the level of specific SFTS seroprevlence was relatively higher and possibility increasing. SFTS RNA were positive and SFTS virus was isolated from the specimens of healthy people. This study confirmed there is SFTS recessive infection in human, and it is the first report about SFTS virus isolation in healthy people.

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“…SFTSV-infected ticks could transmit the virus to mice during feeding. SFTSV genomic RNAs were identified in Apodemus agrarius in Zhejiang province [ 22 ]. In this family cluster, the residence of index patient was located on a hilly area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two confirmed cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome with pneumonia: implication for a family cluster in East China

Zhu

Gao

et al. 2017

BMC Infect Dis

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BackgroundSevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was first reported in China in 2011. Human-to-human transmission of the virus occurred occasionally in family clusters. However, pneumonia as an onset syndrome was not common in most SFTS cases. Our aim is to report a family cluster of SFTS with clinical manifestation of pneumonia in Shanghai.MethodsEpidemiologic investigations were conducted when a family cluster of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection was identified in Shanghai in June 2016. Samples were collected from two secondary cases and two close contacts with fever. SFTSV was detected by Real-Time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).ResultsThere were two confirmed STFS cases and one potential index case. The potential index case became ill on 21 May and died on 31 May. Case A had onset from 4 to 23 June and case B from 8 June to 25 June. All the three cases experienced pneumonia at the early stage of SFTSV infection. Three (3) out of thirty two (32) close contacts had symptoms of fever or cough but were detected STFSV negative by real-time RT-PCR. According to epidemiologic investigations, the potential index case had outdoor activities on a nearby hill. A tick bite could have been the reason for the SFTSV infection in the potential index case as ticks were found both in grassland or shrubs on the hill and also found on mice caught in her house. Both cases A and B had provided bedside care for the potential index case without any protection and had contacted with blood and other body fluids.ConclusionIt was a family cluster of SFTSV infection imported from Jiangsu province located in the east of China. We suggested to become alert to atypical SFTSV infected cases.

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Apodemus agrarius is a potential natural host of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)—causing novel bunyavirus

Cited by 29 publications

References 24 publications

Meteorological factors affect the epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome via altering the breeding and hantavirus-carrying states of rodents and mites: a 9 years’ longitudinal study

Meteorological factors affect the epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome via altering the breeding and hantavirus-carrying states of rodents and mites: a 9 years’ longitudinal study

Survey of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus covert infection for healthy people in Henan Province, China

Two confirmed cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome with pneumonia: implication for a family cluster in East China

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