First evidence of Seoul hantavirus in the wild rat population in the Netherlands

Verner-Carlsson, Jenny; Lõhmus, Mare; Sundström, Karin; Strand, Tanja M.; Verkerk, M.S.A.; Reusken, Chantal; Yoshimatsu, Kumiko; Arikawa, Jiro; Goot, Frank van de; Lundkvist, Åke

doi:10.3402/iee.v5.27215

Cited by 37 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Recently, the first detection of SEOV in wild brown rats in the Netherlands was reported, with 3 of 16 (19%) rats testing positive for SEOV specific antibodies and viral RNA [24]. The rats in our study in 2015 were captured in a larger area, encompassing the area where these three rats were captured.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Amsterdam was selected, because it is a potential high exposure urban region with an increasing use of recreational water-rich and green spaces. Finally, Doetinchem was selected in the last phase of the project because SEOV positive rats were reported in this area [24]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the rats from Nijmegen-Doetinchem, this real-time RT-PCR was performed on all samples, to be confident that no early-stage infections were missed. This was only performed for the rats of this location, because of the findings of SEOV in rats in this area by Verner-Carlsson et al [24]. Three samples from Limburg with positive ELISA results were tested by FRNT.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 2000, the presence of SEOV in wild brown rats was demonstrated in Belgium, France and the UK [18,21–23]. In the Netherlands, SEOV infection was detected in wild brown rats captured in the area around Doetinchem in 2013 [24]. There has been no evidence for autochthonous human cases from wild rats yet [25], while some cases of SEOV in humans have occurred since 2016, with pet rats or feeder rats as the source of infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence ofLeptospiraspp. and Seoul hantavirus in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in four regions in the Netherlands, 2011-2015

Maas

Vries

Reusken

et al. 2018

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology

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Background: Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) may carry pathogens that can be a risk for public health. Brown rats in the Netherlands were tested for the zoonotic pathogens Leptospira spp. and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), in order to obtain insight in their prevalence. Methods and results: Cross-sectional studies were performed at four locations from 2011 to 2015. The rats were tested for Leptospira spp. using real-time PCR and/or culture resulting in a prevalence ranging between 33–57%. Testing for SEOV was done through an adapted human Seoul hantavirus ELISA and real-time RT-PCR. Although at several locations the ELISA indicated presence of SEOV antibodies, none could be confirmed by focus reduction neutralization testing. Conclusion: The results indicate a widespread presence of Leptospira spp. in brown rats in the Netherlands, including areas with a low leptospirosis incidence in humans. No evidence for circulation of SEOV was found in this study.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence ofLeptospiraspp. and Seoul hantavirus in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in four regions in the Netherlands, 2011-2015

Maas

Vries

Reusken

et al. 2018

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology

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“…In the Netherlands, brown rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) are known to be a reservoir for both Seoul orthohantavirus (SEOV) and Leptospira spp [2]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of hantaviruses andLeptospirain muskrat and coypu trappers in the Netherlands, 2016

Friesema

Bakker

Maas

et al. 2018

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology

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Aims: Seoul orthohantavirus (SEOV) and Leptospira spp. are zoonotic pathogens with rats as main reservoir. Recently, the presence of SEOV in brown rats was reported in one region in the Netherlands. Brown rats are a frequent bycatch in traps placed to catch muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and coypus (Myocastor coypus), and thus are a potential health risk for trappers. It was our aim to determine the seroprevalence of orthohantavirus, specifically SEOV, and Leptospira spp in Dutch trappers. Methods and results: Participating trappers provided serum samples and completed an online questionnaire. The serum was tested for the presence of antibodies against six orthohantaviruses and eight Leptospira serovars. Two hundred-sixty trappers completed the online questionnaire (65%), and 246 (61%) and 162 (40%) serum samples were tested for relevant orthohantaviruses and Leptospira spp., respectively. The seroprevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus in Dutch trappers was 0.4% (95% CI: 0.1–2.3%). None of the participants tested positive for SEOV. The seroprevalence of leptospirosis was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.3–4.4%), although Leptospira spp. are present in brown rats in the Netherlands.Significance of study: The results indicate that the infections with orthohantaviruses and leptospires is low for muskrat and coypu trappers.

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Genetic analyses of Seoul hantavirus genome recovered from rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the Netherlands unveils diverse routes of spread into Europe

Ling

Verner-Carlsson

Eriksson

et al. 2019

Journal of Medical Virology

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Seoul virus (SEOV) is the etiologic agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. It is carried by brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), a commensal rodent that closely cohabitates with humans in urban environments. SEOV has a worldwide distribution, and in Europe, it has been found in rats in UK, France, Sweden, and Belgium, and human cases of SEOV infection have been reported in Germany, UK, France, and Belgium. In the search of hantaviruses in brown rats from the Netherlands, we found both serological and genetic evidence for the presence of SEOV in the local wild rat population. To further decipher the relationship with other SEOV variants globally, the complete genome of SEOV in the Netherlands was recovered. SEOV sequences obtained from three positive rats (captured at close trapping locations at the same time) were found highly similar. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that two lineages of SEOV circulate in Europe. Strains from the Netherlands and UK, together with the Baxter strain from US, constitute one of these two, while the second includes strains from Europe and Asia. Our results support a hypothesis of diverse routes of SEOV spread into Europe. These findings, combined with other indications on the expansion of the spatial European range of SEOV, suggest an increased risk of this virus for the public health, highlighting the need for increased surveillance.

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First evidence of Seoul hantavirus in the wild rat population in the Netherlands

Cited by 37 publications

References 14 publications

Prevalence ofLeptospiraspp. and Seoul hantavirus in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in four regions in the Netherlands, 2011-2015

Prevalence ofLeptospiraspp. and Seoul hantavirus in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in four regions in the Netherlands, 2011-2015

Seroprevalence of hantaviruses andLeptospirain muskrat and coypu trappers in the Netherlands, 2016

Genetic analyses of Seoul hantavirus genome recovered from rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the Netherlands unveils diverse routes of spread into Europe

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