Etiological study of rats infected with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Hulunbeier of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Abstract

Objective To investigate the genotypes and subtypes of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Hulunbeier, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods In the spring of 2014, rats were collected from the main endemic areas in Morin Dawa Qi in Hulunbeier. RNA was extracted from 90 rat lungs, identified and classified under aseptic conditions. Hantaan virus (HTNV), Seoul virus (SEOV) and Puumala virus (PUUV) of Hantavirus in the lungs were identified by real time quantitative fluorescence reverse transcription PCR(Real-Time RT-PCR). Partial S segments of positive samples were amplified and sequenced with reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Phylogenetic analysis was used for genotyping. Results Mixed areas were dominated by the Apodemus type in HFRS in Hulunbeier. A total of 362 rodents of 10 species of rodents were captured, and the average density was 13.92% (362/2 600). The dominant in the field was Apodemus agrarius (43.21%, 70/162) followed by Dalin agrarius (34.57%, 56/162), and dominant in the house was Rattus norvegicus (40.50%, 81/200) followed by Apodemus agrarius (31.50%, 63/200). Ninety rat lungs were analyzed by using Real-Time PCR. Hantavirus was detected in 23 samples, and the sub type was HTNV. Partial S segment sequences were recovered from 10 samples and sequenced again. Phylogenetic analysis of partial S segment sequences indicated that all viruses belong to H6 clade. Conclusion Etiological study of rats infected with HFRS in Hulunbeier of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is HTNV and the S gene subtype is H6 clade virus. Key words: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; Hantavirus; S gene; Genotyping; Phylogemetic