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Coexistence of several novel hantaviruses in rodents indigenous to North America
J E Rowe1, S C St Jeor, J Riolo
1Department of Microbiology, University of Nevada, Reno 89557, USA.
Abstract:
Three genetically distinct members of the Hantavirus genus have been detected in Nevada rodents by RT-PCR and nucleotide sequence analysis. These include Sin Nombre (SN), El Moro Canyon (ELMC), and Prospect Hill (PH)-like viruses which are primarily associated with Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse), Reithrodontomys megalotis (western harvest mouse), and Microtus spp. (voles), respectively. Although this region of the United States is ecologically diverse, rodents infected with different hantaviruses appear to coexist in several different geographical and ecological zones. In two widely separated states, Nevada and North Dakota, PH-like viruses are present in three different species of vole. In addition, ELMC-like virus has been detected in both R. megalotis and M. montanus (mountain vole). SN virus is a cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome throughout much of the United States. SN virus RNA is found in 12.5% of P. maniculatus in Nevada and eastern California. Two lineages of SN virus coexist in this region and differ from SN viruses originally found in infected rodents in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. These data show the complexity of hantavirus maintenance in rodents. Distinct hantaviruses or virus lineages can coexist either in different or the same rodent species and in either different or the same geographic or ecological zones.
Insights
Three distinct hantaviruses, including Sin Nombre virus, were found in Nevada rodents. These viruses and their lineages can coexist within the same or different rodent species and environments, highlighting complex hantavirus ecology.
Area of Science:
- * Virology and Zoonotic Diseases
- * Rodent-borne Pathogen Surveillance
Background:
- * Hantaviruses are a genus of viruses carried by rodents, with some species causing severe illness in humans, such as Sin Nombre virus (SNV).
- * Understanding hantavirus distribution and host associations is crucial for public health, especially in ecologically diverse regions like Nevada.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To identify and characterize genetically distinct hantaviruses circulating in Nevada rodent populations.
- * To investigate the co-occurrence of different hantaviruses and their lineages within rodent species and ecological zones.
Main Methods:
- * Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for hantavirus detection in rodent samples.
- * Nucleotide sequence analysis was employed to determine the genetic identity and relationships of detected hantaviruses.
Main Results:
- * Three genetically distinct hantaviruses were identified: Sin Nombre (SN), El Moro Canyon (ELMC), and Prospect Hill (PH)-like viruses.
- * These viruses were associated with various rodent species, including deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), and voles (Microtus spp.).
- * SN virus RNA was detected in 12.5% of P. maniculatus, with two distinct lineages coexisting in Nevada and eastern California, differing from those found in the Four Corners region.
Conclusions:
- * Hantavirus infections in rodents are complex, with multiple distinct hantaviruses and virus lineages capable of coexisting within the same or different rodent species.
- * These coexisting viruses can be found across diverse geographical and ecological zones, indicating intricate maintenance and transmission dynamics.
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