Seoul virus in the Brown Rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) from Ürümqi, Xinjiang, Northwest of China.
Hantavirus infections among human populations are linked to the geographic distribution of the host rodents that carry the viruses. To determine the presence and distribution of hantaviruses in the northern region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China, 844 rodents were captured from five locations in four dissimilar habitats during 2010-14 and examined for Hantavirus infection. Hantavirus nucleic acids were firstly detected in the brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) from Ürümqi, China, indicating that the Hantavirus was transmitted into Ürümqi in XUAR and circulated by the brown rat. Our results suggest that the brown rat may act as a natural reservoir for the virus in XUAR.
1 Public Health School of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi 830011, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;|2 Alashankou Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Alashankou 833418, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;
Gang
G
Guo
3 Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;
Jinliang
J
Sheng
2 Alashankou Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Alashankou 833418, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;
Xiran
X
Wu
3 Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;
Yuanzhi
Y
Wang
3 Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;
Liping
L
Guo
3 Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;
Xun
X
Zhang
1 Public Health School of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi 830011, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China;
Hua
H
Yao
D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D029263:Seoul virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
Brown rat; Rattus norvegicus; Seoul virus; Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; hantavirus; rodent