Molecular identification of Puumala orthohantavirus in Bulgaria

Infect Genet Evol. 2019 Jun:70:42-44. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.02.023. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Abstract

In Bulgaria, only Dobrava orthohantavirus has been detected in patients and in rodents. In order to elucidate possible Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) circulation, 131 bank voles (Myodes glareolus) were captured. PUUV RNA was detected in 14 (10.7%). Partial L segment sequences were recovered from six M. glareolus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all PUUV sequences from this study clustered together among the Alpe-Adrian lineage. It is the first genetic evidence of the virus circulation in a Balkan country outside north-western Balkans. The findings in this study extended the known edge of virus distribution towards Southeastern Europe.

Keywords: Bulgaria; Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; Puumala orthohantavirus; Rodents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arvicolinae / virology*
  • Balkan Peninsula / epidemiology
  • Bulgaria / epidemiology
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology
  • Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / virology*
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Phylogeography
  • Puumala virus*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral