A new hantavirus from the stripe-backed shrew (Sorex cylindricauda) in the People's Republic of China.

Inspired by the recent discovery of genetically distinct hantaviruses from insectivore species worldwide, we performed a small-scale search for insectivore-borne hantaviruses. In this paper, we report the discovery of a new hantavirus, which was designated the Qian Hu Shan virus (QHSV). This virus was detected in the lung tissues of three stripe-backed shrews (Sorex cylindricauda), which were captured in the Yunnan Province, China.

[Ecological-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China VII. Typing of natural plague foci].

Objective: To group and characterize natural plague foci in China.

Methods: A novel two-class typing method as well as a three-indication nomenclature method were established to group and characterize the natural plague foci, on the basis of eco-geographical landscapes of plague foci, genetics of Yersinia pestis, zoology of rodent reservoirs and the entomology of flea vectors.

Results: A total of 12 distinct natural plague foci (including 19 subtypes) as well as their biological features were characterized.

Wide distribution and genetic diversity of "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" in rodents from China.

"Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" was detected by PCR in 4.0% (34/841) of the rodents tested in this study. The 34 rodents represented nine species from seven regions of China.

[Ecological-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China VI. Biological characteristics of natural vectors of Yesinia pestis].

Objective: To characterize the biological characteristics of natural vectors of Yersinia (Y.) pestis in China.

Methods: Species and genera of natural vectors of Y.

Discovery of DNA viruses in wild-caught mosquitoes using small RNA high throughput sequencing.

Background: Mosquito-borne infectious diseases pose a severe threat to public health in many areas of the world. Current methods for pathogen detection and surveillance are usually dependent on prior knowledge of the etiologic agents involved. Hence, efficient approaches are required for screening wild mosquito populations to detect known and unknown pathogens.

Genetic analysis of a hantavirus strain carried by Niviventer confucianus in Yunnan province, China.

Hantavirus genome sequences were recovered from lung tissues of Chinese white-bellied rats (Niviventer confucianus) captured in Yunnan province, China. Pairwise comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the entire S and partial M and L segments indicated that the newly discovered virus strain, which was designated as strain YN509, was very different from other rodent-borne hantaviruses. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the new strain fit into a clade containing Da Bie Shan virus (DBSV) (also carried by N.

[Fleas on small mammals in the surrounding area of Erhai Lake].

Objective: To investigate the distribution pattern, species diversity and community structure of fleas on small mammals in the surrounding area of Erhai Lake, and the relationship between fleas and their hosts.

Methods: Different geographical areas surrounding the Erhai Lake in Yunnan were selected as investigated spots. Small mammals were captured with baited cages.

[Identification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in small mammals from Hengduan Mountains of Southwest China].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in small mammals from the forest area of Hengduan Mountains in southwestern China.

Methods: Small mammals captured from Gaoligong and Xianggelila mountainous area of Yunnan province were detected by PCR amplification. The sequences of 16S rRNA and Msp4 gene fragments from positive samples were compared with corresponding sequences deposited in GenBank.

Distribution of arboviruses and mosquitoes in northwestern Yunnan Province, China.

From July to September in 2005 and 2006, a survey was conducted to identify mosquito species and mosquito-borne arboviruses at elevations ranging from 900-3280 m between 24 degrees 00' N and 29 degrees 00' N latitude in the northwestern part of Yunnan Province, China. A total of 54,879 mosquitoes representing 15 species and 4 genera was collected using UV light traps at 59 sites. Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Anopheles sinensis were the most abundant species.

Isolation and characterization of the full coding sequence of a novel densovirus from the mosquito Culex pipiens pallens.

During an investigation of arboviruses in China, a novel densovirus (DNV) was isolated from the adult female Culex pipiens pallens. The virus, designated Culex pipiens pallens densovirus (CppDNV), caused cytopathic effect in C6/36 cells. The virus particles were icosahedral, non-enveloped and had a mean diameter of 24 nm.

[Study on the prevalence of Bartonella species in rodent hosts from different environmental areas in Yunnan].

Objective: To investigate Bartonella infections in small mammalian reservoir hosts from different environments and types of climate in Yunnan.

Methods: Femoral blood samples were collected from the anesthetic captured animals from five counties including three types of climate. All isolates were grown on brain and heart infusion agar plates containing 5% defibrinated rabbit blood.