Serotypic classification of hantaviruses by indirect immunofluorescent antibody and plaque reduction neutralization tests.

Antisera prepared against 16 strains of hantaviruses isolated from patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) or from rodents captured in HFRS-endemic and nonendemic regions were titrated against Hantaan virus strain 76-118, Puumala virus strain Sotkamo, and Prospect Hill virus strain Prospect Hill-I by using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody and plaque reduction neutralization tests. Isolates fell into one of four distinct groups or serotypes. Serotype 1 included Apodemus-derived strains, serotype 2 included Rattus-derived strains, serotype 3 included Clethrionomys-derived strains, and serotype 4 included Microtus-derived strains. Serotypic classification of hantavirus infections was possible for humans and rodents in widely varied geographical areas, but in a few instances, sera from patients with HFRS did not conform to any of the four serotypes, suggesting the existence of as yet unidentified serotypes. A definitive serological classification of hantaviruses must await analysis of additional virus isolates.