Maja Stanojevic1, Valentina Cirkovic2, Marina Siljic2, Ana Gligic3, Gorana Stamenkovic4. 1. University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: maja.stanojevic@med.bg.ac.rs. 2. University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Belgrade, Serbia. 3. Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera - Torlak, National Center for Arboviruses and HF Viruses, Belgrade, Serbia. 4. University of Belgrade Institute for Biological Research "S. Stankovic", Department of Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hantaviruses are etiological agents of emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide, including hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). A number of hantavirus species is known to be present in Europe. In Serbia, existing data on hantavirus presence and prevalence rely in serological findings. In this study, molecular analysis was performed in order to characterize HFRS causing hantaviruses in Serbia. METHODS: Sixty four serum samples of HFRS cases, previously found seropositive to anti-hantaviral antibodies, were included in the study. Partial hantaviral L and S segments were PCR amplified producing 390nt and 598nt amplicons, respectively, in parallel with human beta-actin mRNA as external reverse transcription positive control. Hantavirus specific PCR products were DNA sequenced in both direction and the obtained sequences phylogenetically confirmed and analyzed. RESULTS: PCR detection of hantavirus L and S genome segments was positive in 18/64 and 11/64 tested samples, respectively. Positive PCR results involved samples obtained from different locations, mostly from central and southern parts of Serbia. All the obtained sequences were identified as Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV). In the phylogenetic analysis sequences from Serbia tended to cluster in distinctive, geographically related clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate DOBV as the main HFRS causing hantavirus in Serbia, the site of its initial isolation.
BACKGROUND: Hantaviruses are etiological agents of emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide, including hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). A number of hantavirus species is known to be present in Europe. In Serbia, existing data on hantavirus presence and prevalence rely in serological findings. In this study, molecular analysis was performed in order to characterize HFRS causing hantaviruses in Serbia. METHODS: Sixty four serum samples of HFRS cases, previously found seropositive to anti-hantaviral antibodies, were included in the study. Partial hantaviral L and S segments were PCR amplified producing 390nt and 598nt amplicons, respectively, in parallel with humanbeta-actin mRNA as external reverse transcription positive control. Hantavirus specific PCR products were DNA sequenced in both direction and the obtained sequences phylogenetically confirmed and analyzed. RESULTS: PCR detection of hantavirus L and S genome segments was positive in 18/64 and 11/64 tested samples, respectively. Positive PCR results involved samples obtained from different locations, mostly from central and southern parts of Serbia. All the obtained sequences were identified as Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV). In the phylogenetic analysis sequences from Serbia tended to cluster in distinctive, geographically related clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate DOBV as the main HFRS causing hantavirus in Serbia, the site of its initial isolation.
Authors: Xu Yiwei; Li Yahui; Tan Weilong; Shi Jiyong; Zou Xiaobo; Zhang Wen; Zhang Xinai; Li Yanxiao; Zhu Changqiang; Ai Lele; Li Hong; Shen Tingting Journal: Mikrochim Acta Date: 2021-03-06 Impact factor: 5.833