Seroepidemiological study of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in animals and humans in Okinawa, Japan

Abstract

In Okinawa prefecture, Japan, the first case of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was confirmed in August 2016, and this case remains to be the only reported case of SFTS in Okinawa. The epidemiological investigation indicated that the patient had been infected on the main island of Okinawa, but source and route of infection were unknown. Therefore, to understand the possible source and route of SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection in Okinawa, we performed a seroepidemiological study of SFTSV among animals and dwellers in Okinawa and conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate risk factors for tick bites in Okinawa. Among the 1,035 serum samples from four different animal species, anti-SFTSV antibodies were detected in only 4.2% wild mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) serum samples. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the detection of anti-SFTSV antibodies in wild mongooses. Meanwhile, all 1,104 human inhabitants tested negative for anti-SFTSV antibodies, suggesting that the frequency of SFTSV exposure is low in Okinawa. Logistic regression analysis of the questionnaire results showed that outdoor activity was associated with an increased risk of tick bite among Okinawa residents. Despite the current low frequency of SFTSV infection in animals and humans, endemic circulation of the virus in Okinawa should be carefully monitored in the area for preventing future infections.