Geographical Distribution of Hantaviruses in Thailand and Potential Human Health Significance of Thailand Virus

Abstract

Phylogenetic investigations, sequence comparisons, and antigenic cross-reactivity studies confirmed the classification of Thailand virus (THAIV) as a distinct hantavirus species. The examination of sera from 402 rodents trapped in 19 provinces of Thailand revealed that five greater bandicoot rats (Bandicota indica) and one lesser bandicoot rat (B. savilei) from four provinces were focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) antibody-positive for THAIV. One of 260 patients from Surin province in Thailand (initially suspected of having contracted leptospirosis, but found to be negative) showed symptoms compatible with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The serum of this patient showed high titers of hantavirus-reactive IgM and IgG. FRNT investigations confirmed virus-neutralizing antibodies against THAIV. These observations suggest that THAIV or THAI-like viruses occur throughout Indochina and may represent an additional causative agent of HFRS.

Hantavirus infection: a global zoonotic challenge

“…Phylogenetic analysis shows that at least nine clades of HTNV and five clades of SEOV are prevalent in China Zou et al, 2016), including the Xinyi and Fugong viruses that have been recently reported in specific epidemic foci (Ge et al, 2016;Gu et al, 2016). Rodent-borne hantaviruses have also been detected in Lao PDR, Thailand (Thailand hantavirus, THAIV) and Cambodia (THAIV-like virus) (Blasdell et al, 2011;Pattamadilok et al, 2006). Among those viruses, THAIV can cause disease in humans (Pattamadilok et al, 2006;Gamage et al, 2011).…”

“…Rodent-borne hantaviruses have also been detected in Lao PDR, Thailand (Thailand hantavirus, THAIV) and Cambodia (THAIV-like virus) (Blasdell et al, 2011;Pattamadilok et al, 2006). Among those viruses, THAIV can cause disease in humans (Pattamadilok et al, 2006;Gamage et al, 2011). Epizootiology studies have reported the presence of rats in Vietnam and Singapore with antibodies against SEOV (Truong et al, 2009;Johansson et al, 2010).…”

Studies on Hantavirus Infection in Small Mammals Captured in Southern and Central Highland Area of Vietnam

“…In other East Asian countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India, prevalence of SEOV and THAIV infection has been shown among rodents and humans [2,3,6,13,14,16,17,22].…”

Application of Truncated Nucleocapsid Protein (N) for Serotyping ELISA of Murinae-Associated Hantavirus Infection in Rats

“…The predominant reservoir rodent species of PUUV is Myodes glareolus, which is classified into subfamily Arvicolinae. The predominant reservoir rodent species of SEOV, THAIV, HTNV and DOBV are Rattus norvegicus, Bandicota indica, Apodemus agrarius and A. flavicollis, respectively [13,18,20], and they are all classified into subfamily Murinae. Despite the close associations between rodent hosts and hantaviruses, exceptional host switching and spillover cases have been reported [26,27].…”