title: Geographical distribution of hantaviruses in Thailand and potential human health significance of Thailand virus.
abstract: Phylogenetic investigations, sequence comparisons, and antigenic cross-reactivity studies confirmed the classification of Thailand virus (THAIV) as a distinct hantavirus species. The examination of sera from 402 rodents trapped in 19 provinces of Thailand revealed that five greater bandicoot rats (Bandicota indica) and one lesser bandicoot rat (B. savilei) from four provinces were focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) antibody-positive for THAIV. One of 260 patients from Surin province in Thailand (initially suspected of having contracted leptospirosis, but found to be negative) showed symptoms compatible with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The serum of this patient showed high titers of hantavirus-reactive IgM and IgG. FRNT investigations confirmed virus-neutralizing antibodies against THAIV. These observations suggest that THAIV or THAI-like viruses occur throughout Indochina and may represent an additional causative agent of HFRS.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sirima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pattamadilok
authors.forename: Byoung-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sanit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumperasart
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimatsu
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Yuvaluk
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khoprasert
authors.forename: Prayadh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dangsupa
authors.forename: Pornpitak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panlar
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jandrig
authors.forename: Detlev H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klempa
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jäkel
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kariwa
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012377:Rodentia; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral