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Scientists at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention publish new data on hantavirus genetics
April 15th, 2008
2008 APR 15 -- A report, 'Isolation and genetic characterization of hantaviruses carried by Microtus voles in China,' is newly published data in Journal of Medical Virology. "To gain more insights into hantavirus distribution in China, Microtus fortis were caught in Jilin province and M. maximowiczii in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Hantavirus specific RNA was detected by RT-PCR in 3 out of 26 M. fortis and 5 out of 64 M. maximowiczii," researchers in Beijing, People's Republic of China report. "Two hantaviruses (Fusong-Mf-682 and Yakeshi-Mm-59) were isolated successfully in cell culture and their S and M segment nucleotide sequences were determined. Phylogenetic analysis of the S and M segment sequences revealed that the Mf-originated strains from Fusong were closely related to Vladivostok hantavirus (VLAV) with 99% nucleotide identity, but differed from the Yakeshi-Mm strains, with an amino acid divergence of more than 8.8% for the N protein and 11.8% for the GnGc proteins. Yakeshi-Mm strains were closely related to the Khabarovsk hantavirus (KHAV) isolated earlier from M. fortis in Khabarovsk, with an amino acid sequence identity of more than 98.4% for the S segment and 95.6% for the M segment. On phylogenetic trees, Yakeshi-Mm strains clustered together with KHAV and Topografov virus (TOPV) carried by Lemmus sibiricus. The results suggest that the hantavirus carried by M. fortis in China belongs to VLAV type and should be considered as a distinct hantavirus species. They also suggest that M. fortis is the natural host of VLAV (including Fusong-Mf strains), whereas M. maximowiczii is the natural host of KHAV including Yakeshi-Mm strains," wrote Y. Zou and colleagues, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers concluded: "Thus, in addition to Hantaan, Seoul, Dabieshan and Puumala-like Hokkaido viruses, at least two other hantaviruses, namely KHAV and VLAV, are circulating in China." Zou and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Medical Virology (Isolation and genetic characterization of hantaviruses carried by Microtus voles in China. Journal of Medical Virology, 2008;80(4):680-8). For additional information, contact Y. Zou, Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Dept. of Hemorrhagic Fever, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Medical Virology is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA. Keywords: People's Republic of China, Beijing, Hantavirus Genetics, Hantavirus, Vector-Borne Disease, Virology, Zoonoses. This article was prepared by Disease Prevention Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Disease Prevention Week via NewsRx.com.
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