Shedding and Transmission Modes of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Phlebovirus in a Ferret Model

Abstract

Background Although human-to-human transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus (SFTSV) via direct contact with body fluids has been reported, the role of specific body fluids from SFTSV-infected hosts has not been investigated in detail. Methods To demonstrate the virus transmission kinetics in SFTSV-infected hosts, we adapted the ferret infection model, and evaluated the virus shedding periods, virus titers, and transmission modes from various specimens of infected ferrets. Results Large amounts of infectious SFTSV are shed through nasal discharge, saliva and urine from SFTSV-infected ferrets. Virus could be detected from 2 dpi and persisted until 12 dpi in these specimens compared to the relatively short virus shedding period in sera. Further, transmission studies revealed that SFTSV can be transmitted to close direct- and indirect-contact naïve animals through various mediums, especially through contact with serum and urine. Further, ferrets contacted with human urine specimens from SFTSV-positive patients were successfully infected with SFTSV suggesting urine specimens could be a source of SFTSV infection in humans. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the SFTSV can be shed in various body fluids for more than 12 days, and that these specimens can be a source for direct or indirect transmission to close contact personals.

Genetic and pathogenic diversity of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in South Korea

“…Previous studies demonstrated that aged ferrets mimic clinical signs (fever, hematological changes) of human SFTSV infection (27)(28)(29). Further, severe illness was exhibited only in aged ferrets, which is similar to that seen in humans older than 60 years.…”

“…) was inoculated into young adult and aged ferrets, a proven SFTSV infection model (27)(28)(29), and clinical symptoms, hematology, and mortality were monitored for 14 days. To optimize the infection dose in ferrets, we analyzed the growth property of each selected virus in Vero E6 cells (Supplemental Table 3).…”

Safety, Immunogenicity and Efficacy of a Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectored Vaccine Against Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and Heartland Bandaviruses

“…Ferret studies have shown that SFTSV can be transmitted in the absence of ticks between co-housed ferrets or ferrets co-housed with a separator (23). The detection of SFTSV in ferret saliva, feces, and urine suggests that these fluids are a likely route of SFTSV transmission in the absence of ticks (23). Indeed, one report indicates that SFTSV can spread between humans in a nosocomial setting through contact with patient blood (24).…”

Urinary genome detection and tracking of Hantaan virus from hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome patients using multiplex PCR-based next-generation sequencing

“…In Bunyavirales , interhuman transmission was reported between households of ANDV in Argentina and Chile [ 22 , 23 ]. Dabie bandavirus from SFTSV-positive urine samples was transmitted to ferrets [ 24 ]. Although there is no report that human-to-human transmission of HTNV occurs through patient excreta, the risk of infection through urine or saliva still remains.…”