Seewis virus, a genetically distinct hantavirus in the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus)

Jin-Won Song,Satoru Arai,Shannon N Bennett,Se Gu,Maria Puorger,Monika Hilbe,Richard Yanagihara

doi:10.1186/1743-422x-4-114

Jin-Won Song, Satoru Arai + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422x-4-114

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Abstract

More than 20 years ago, hantaviral antigens were reported in tissues of the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus), Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) and common mole (Talpa europea), suggesting that insectivores, or soricomorphs, might serve as reservoirs of unique hantaviruses. Using RT-PCR, sequences of a genetically distinct hantavirus, designated Seewis virus (SWSV), were amplified from lung tissue of a Eurasian common shrew, captured in October 2006 in Graubünden, Switzerland. Pair-wise analysis of the full-length S and partial M and L segments of SWSV indicated approximately 55%–72% similarity with hantaviruses harbored by Murinae, Arvicolinae, Neotominae and Sigmodontinae rodents. Phylogenetically, SWSV grouped with other recently identified shrew-borne hantaviruses. Intensified efforts are underway to clarify the genetic diversity of SWSV throughout the geographic range of the Eurasian common shrew, as well as to determine its relevance to human health.

Highlights

Bang virus (CBNV) in the Chinese mole shrew [6], Tanganya virus (TGNV) in the Therese shrew (Crocidura theresae) [7], and Ash River virus and Jemez Springs virus in the masked shrew (Sorex cinereus) and the dusky shrew (Sorex monticolus), respectively [8]
Viruses antigenically related to Hantaan virus (HTNV), the prototype virus of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, have been isolated from the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus), greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) and Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) [1,2,3,4], indicating that shrews are capable of serving as incidental hosts of hantaviruses typically harbored by rodents
Thottapalayam virus (TPMV), a previously unclassified virus isolated from the Asian house shrew [9,10], is known to be a bona fide shrew-borne hantavirus [11,12,13,14]

Summary

Introduction

Bang virus (CBNV) in the Chinese mole shrew [6], Tanganya virus (TGNV) in the Therese shrew (Crocidura theresae) [7], and Ash River virus and Jemez Springs virus in the masked shrew (Sorex cinereus) and the dusky shrew (Sorex monticolus), respectively [8]. We present the genetic and phylogenetic analyses of a new hantavirus, designated Seewis virus (SWSV), detected in the Eurasian common shrew.

Results

Conclusion