Abstract
As part of further investigations into three linked haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) cases in Wales and England, 21 rats from a breeding colony in Cherwell, and three rats from a household in Cheltenham were screened for hantavirus. Hantavirus RNA was detected in either the lungs and/or kidney of 17/21 (81%) of the Cherwell rats tested, higher than previously detected by blood testing alone (7/21, 33%), and in the kidneys of all three Cheltenham rats. The partial L gene sequences obtained from 10 of the Cherwell rats and the three Cheltenham rats were identical to each other and the previously reported UK Cherwell strain. Seoul hantavirus (SEOV) RNA was detected in the heart, kidney, lung, salivary gland and spleen (but not in the liver) of an individual rat from the Cherwell colony suspected of being the source of SEOV. Serum from 20/20 of the Cherwell rats and two associated HFRS cases had high levels of SEOV-specific antibodies (by virus neutralisation). The high prevalence of SEOV in both sites and the moderately severe disease in the pet rat owners suggest that SEOV in pet rats poses a greater public health risk than previously considered.
Highlights
Liver, salivary gland and spleen were removed from one individual (#3784), a male rat introduced into the Cherwell colony, possibly from Germany, a few months before the owner was hospitalised with haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in November 2011 (Table 1)
Kidney and lung samples were removed at necropsy and hantavirus RNA was detected in 17 of 21 (81%) rats in either the lung and/or kidney tissues; with 14/21 lung positive, 15/21 kidney positive and 12/21 in both (Table 1)
For the single imported rat (#3784), Seoul hantavirus (SEOV) RNA was detected in the heart, kidney, lung, salivary gland and spleen but not in the liver
Summary
Unlike other members of the Hantaviruses (order Bunyavirales, family Hantaviridae, genus Orthohantavirus) are single-stranded. Bunyavirales, hantaviruses are not transmitted by arthropods but primarily by rodents of the families Cricetidae and Muridae [1]. Each hantavirus appears to be adapted and largely restricted to an individual reservoir host species. Evolutionary analyses support both host–virus co-divergence and crossspecies transmission, with Chiroptera (bat) or.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
