Direct Transmission of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus from Domestic Cat to Veterinary Personnel

Atsushi Yamanaka; Yumi Kirino; Sho Fujimoto; Naoyasu Ueda; Daisuke Himeji; Miho Miura; Putu E Sudaryatma; Yukiko Sato; Hidenori Tanaka; Hirohisa Mekata; Tamaki Okabayashi

doi:10.3201/eid2612.191513

Direct Transmission of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus from Domestic Cat to Veterinary Personnel

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;26(12):2994-2998. doi: 10.3201/eid2612.191513.

Authors

Atsushi Yamanaka, Yumi Kirino, Sho Fujimoto, Naoyasu Ueda, Daisuke Himeji, Miho Miura, Putu E Sudaryatma, Yukiko Sato, Hidenori Tanaka, Hirohisa Mekata, Tamaki Okabayashi

Abstract

Two veterinary personnel in Japan were infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) while handling a sick cat. Whole-genome sequences of SFTSV isolated from the personnel and the cat were 100% identical. These results identified a nosocomial outbreak of SFTSV infection in an animal hospital without a tick as a vector.

Keywords: Dabie bandavirus; Japan; SFTS; SFTSV; animal hospital; cat; cat-to-human transmission; nosocomial outbreak; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus; veterinary medicine; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Bunyaviridae Infections* / epidemiology
Bunyaviridae Infections* / veterinary
Cats
Japan / epidemiology
Phlebovirus* / genetics
Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome*
Ticks*
Veterinarians
Zoonoses