Surveillance of Shrew-Borne Hantaviruses Expands Viral Host Range in Hungary

Since the late 2000s, a growing diversity of distinct hantaviruses has been identified in shrews across Europe. However, knowledge about shrew-borne hantaviruses in Hungary is limited. This study was initiated to investigate the prevalence and host range of these viruses in shrew populations in Hungary. Between 2007 and 2011, 129 shrew specimens, representing six species, were collected from four locations in Southern Transdanubia. Lung tissues were analyzed for the presence of hantaviral RNA by RT-PCR targeting the L genomic segment. Hantavirus RNA was detected in four shrew species. This study provides the first molecular evidence of hantavirus infection in the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), Miller's water shrew (Neomys milleri), and the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) in Hungary, while also confirming infection in the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus). The overall prevalence varied among species, with marked detection rates in S. minutus (50%) and N. fodiens (33.3%). Our findings document the co-circulation of hantaviruses in four distinct shrew species within the same ecosystems in Hungary, thereby expanding the known host range for these viruses within the country. This contributes to the understanding of the complex hantavirus landscape in Central Europe and highlights the need for genetic characterization of identified viruses to assess their evolutionary dynamics.