A new natural reservoir of hantavirus: isolation of hantaviruses from lung tissues of bats.

Two species of bats were confirmed as new natural reservoirs of hantavirus. Antibodies to Hantaan virus were detected in 3.40% (23 of 677) of bats captured from 1989 to 1992 in Korea by the IFA technique. Areal distribution of immunofluorescent antibody were different, and seropositive rates were much high in sera of bats captured in summer (3.82%) and winter (5.82%). Viral antigens were observed in the lungs (3 of 16) and kidney (1 of 7). Two hantaviruses were isolated from lung tissues of E. serotinus and R. ferrum-equinum through a cell culture system, designated CUMC-92B8 and -92B48, respectively. Using Rous associated virus-2 reverse transcriptase-directed PCR and 2 oligonucleotide primer pairs, genomic sequences of the isolates were amplified. Amplified products of the isolates and reactivities to monoclonal antibodies very closely resembled those of Hantaan virus. These data suggest that the serotype of the isolates is closely related to Hantaan virus, and bats serve as reservoirs of hantavirus.