Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei
09:02

An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei

Published on: February 17, 2014

Dobrava-belgrade virus spillover infections, Germany

Mathias Schlegel1, Boris Klempa, Brita Auste

  • 1Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut-Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|December 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) is identified as the reservoir host for the Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) lineage DOBV-Aa in Germany. Multiple virus spillover events to the yellow-necked mouse (A. flavicollis) were observed, facilitating host switching and genetic reassortment.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • The Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) is a significant hantavirus with various lineages.
  • Understanding the reservoir hosts and transmission dynamics of DOBV is crucial for public health.
  • Apodemus agrarius (striped field mouse) and Apodemus flavicollis (yellow-necked mouse) are common rodent species in Europe.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To molecularly identify the primary reservoir host of the DOBV-Aa lineage in Germany.
  • To investigate the potential for host switching and genetic reassortment of DOBV-Aa.
  • To analyze the phylogenetic relationships of DOBV strains in different rodent species.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular identification of rodents and virus detection.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of viral sequences.
  • Geographical mapping of virus-host associations.

Main Results:

  • Apodemus agrarius was identified as the reservoir host for the DOBV-Aa lineage in three German federal states.
  • Phylogenetic analyses revealed multiple spillover events of DOBV-Aa from A. agrarius to A. flavicollis.
  • Evidence suggests A. flavicollis plays a role in host switch and genetic reassortment of DOBV-Aa.

Conclusions:

  • Apodemus agrarius serves as the main reservoir for DOBV-Aa in the studied German regions.
  • The observed spillover events to A. flavicollis are critical for the evolution and diversification of DOBV.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these findings for hantavirus epidemiology.

More Related Videos

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection13:45

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection

Published on: February 7, 2019

Efficient Recombinant Parvovirus Production with the Help of Adenovirus-derived Systems13:47

Efficient Recombinant Parvovirus Production with the Help of Adenovirus-derived Systems

Published on: April 23, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Genital Herpes01:23

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), though herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is increasingly implicated in genital infections, particularly among younger populations. Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, with asymptomatic viral shedding serving as a major route of spread. This characteristic makes HSV-2 difficult to control at a population level, as individuals may unknowingly transmit the virus even in the...
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...