Genetic characterization of a new subtype of Hantaan virus isolated from a hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) epidemic area in Hubei Province, China

摘要

To characterize hantaviruses currently circulating in the hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) epidemic area of Hubei Province, rodents were captured and serum samples were collected from several HFRS patients. The partial S segment of the hantaviruses amplified from two serum samples had a high degree of sequence identity to the corresponding hantavirus strain isolated from Apodemus agrarius (designated as HV004). The complete S, M, and L segment sequences of HV004 were determined. The sequence identities between strain HV004 and other Hantaan viruses (HTNVs) were 83 %-90 % at the nucleotide level and 95 %-99 % at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HV004 belonged to a new HTNV lineage. These data suggest the presence of a new HTNV subtype, which probably caused the HFRS cases in the endemic area of Hubei Province.