[Genetic analysis on S segment of hantaviruses in rodent hosts from Wuhan area, Hubei province].

Objective: To investigate the infection and genotype of hantaviruses in rodents from Wuhan area, Hubei province.

Methods: Rodents were trapped in fields and residential areas of Xinzhou and Jiangxia districts of Wuhan in autumn and winter seasons, from 2000 to 2003 and from 2009 to 2011. Trapped rodents were identified, and hantavirus antigens were detected in the lung tissues with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Partial S segment sequences were amplified with RT-PCR in hantavirus antigen positive samples and then sequenced. Phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze the genetic characteristics of hantaviruses.

Results: From 2000 to 2003, 437 rodents were trapped, with 24 (5.49%) lung tissues showed hantavirus antigen positive. From 2009 to 2011, 173 rodents were trapped and 7 (4.05%) were hantavirus antigen positive. Rattus norvegicus were the dominant species of rodents. Partial S segment sequences were amplified from 22 samples with Hantaan and Seoul viruses specific primers and sequenced. Partial S segments of Seoul viruses (nucleotide 588 - 1147) were amplified from 17 rodents (13 R. norvegicus and 4 Apodemus agrarius). Seven of these sequences belonged to 3 genetic lineage, while two novel genetic lineages were formed by 9 and 1 sequences, respectively. Partial S segments of Hantaan viruses (nucleotide 615 - 1141) were amplified from 5 A. agrarius. One of these sequences belonged to 7 genetic lineages, and 4 sequences formed one novel genetic subtype.

Conclusion: Hantaan and Seoul viruses co-circulated in Wuhan area, Hubei province. Novel genetic lineages were identified in this study and Seoul virus might have caused spillover infection in A. agrarius.