Isolation and characterization of Hantavirus carried by rodents in Huludao, Liaoning province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the Hantavirus infection and their genotype in rodents in Huludao.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rodents were collected from the main epidemic areas to detect antigen of Hantavirus in rat lungs by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Antigen-positive samples were inoculated onto cultures of confluent Vero E6 cells for the isolation of virus. The genotypes of viruses in all antigen-positive samples were identified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>200 rats were collected in the main epidemic areas, and 11 Hantavirus-positive samples were tested. The positive rate of Hantavirus in rats was 5.5%. Three strains of Hantavirus were isolated in Vero E6 cell culture. Data from the phylogenetic trees constructed by partial S segment (620-999 nt) or partial G1 segment (180-580 nt) showed that the three isolates carried by rats from Huludao were all genetic subtype SEOV 3. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree constructed by partial G2 segment (2003-2302 nt) divided SEOV strains into 7 genetic subtypes, and the three isolates were having a closer evolutionary relationship with isolates CP211, ch302 and dc501 from Beijing, and the isolates SD10 and SD227 form Shandong.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Data indicated that the rate of carrying virus was high and the main genetic subtype of Hantavirus was S3 of Seoul virus in Huludao area.</p>

The epidemic characteristics and preventive measures of hemorrhagic fever with syndromes in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of hantaviruses including geographic distribution, types and prevalent intensity of epidemic areas of hantavirus for the last 30 years in China, and to discuss relative preventive measures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Collecting and analyzing the data of hantaviruses epidemics in China.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The annual number of cases of hantavirus disease rapidly increased from 3295 in 1970 to 115,804 in 1986 then sustained between 40,000 and 60,000 cases annually in the 1990's, and then decreased thereafter. The epidemic areas existed in all provinces except Qinhai and Xinjiang and there were the hospitalized cases of hantavirus disease reported in other provinces. In recent years, the prevalence of hantavirus infection had increased in some cities, and the seasonal distribution of the cases changed as well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Data suggested that the new epidemic characteristics of hantaviruses had emerged in China suggesting that it was necessary to strengthen surveillance programs and to take comprehensive preventive measures for the control and prevention of hantaviruses in China.</p>