Matthias Schlegel

Network “Rodent-borne pathogens” in Germany: longitudinal studies on the geographical distribution and prevalence of hantavirus infections

Hantavirus infections are known in Germany since the 1980s. While the overall antibody prevalence against hantaviruses in the general human population was estimated to be about 1–2%, an average of 100–200 clinical cases are recorded annually. In the years 2005 and 2007 in particular, a large increase of the number of human hantavirus infections in Germany was observed. The most affected regions were located in the federal states of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. In contrast to the well-documented situation in humans, the knowledge of the geographical distribution and frequency of hantavirus infections in their rodent reservoirs as well as any changes thereof was very limited. Hence, the network “Rodent-borne pathogens” was established in Germany allowing synergistic investigations of the rodent population dynamics, the prevalence and evolution of hantaviruses and other rodent-associated pathogens as well as their underlying mechanisms in order to understand their impact on the frequency of human infections. A monitoring of hantaviruses in rodents from endemic regions (Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony) and regions with a low number of human cases (Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt) was initiated. Within outbreak regions, a high prevalence of Puumala virus (PUUV) was detected in bank voles. Initial longitudinal studies in North Rhine Westphalia (city of Cologne), Bavaria (Lower Bavaria), and Lower Saxony (rural region close to Osnabrück) demonstrated a continuing presence of PUUV in the bank vole populations. These longitudinal studies will allow conclusions about the evolution of hantaviruses and other rodent-borne pathogens and changes in their distribution, which can be used for a risk assessment of human infections. This may become very important in order to evaluate changes in the epidemiology of rodent-borne pathogens in the light of expected global climate changes in the future.

Hantavirus Infection among Wild Small Mammals in Vellore, South India

Wild indigenous small mammals including 83 rodents (bandicoot and black rats, and house mice) and a shrew captured from multiple sites in Vellore, south India, were tested for serological and molecular evidence of hantavirus infection. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using Hantaan virus (HTNV) antigen indicated hantavirus‐reactive antibodies in 16 (19.3%) of 83 rodents (bandicoot and black rats). Western blot (WB) using Thailand virus (THAIV) antigen confirmed hantavirus‐reactive antibodies in nine of the 16 HTNV IFA‐positive rodents. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) of lung and kidney tissue of captured mammals resulted in the detection of partial S segment sequence in a bandicoot rat. This study complements our earlier reports on hantavirus epidemiology in south India and documents first laboratory evidence for rodent‐associated hantaviruses in south India.

Autochthone Dobrava-Belgrad-Virus-Infektion in einem Nichtendemiegebiet in Mitteldeutschland

Ein 21-jahriger mannlicher Patient aus Borna, Sachsen, wurde der Nephrologie des Universitatsklinikums Leipzig mit einem akuten Nierenversagen und den Symptomen Ubelkeit, Erbrechen, Abdominalschmerzen sowie Diarrho aus dem Kreiskrankenhaus Borna zur weiteren Abklarung zugewiesen. Serologische Untersuchungen durch indirekte in-house IgM- und IgG-ELISAs, kommerziell erhaltliche Immunfluoreszenz- und Streifen-Immunoassays sowie Chemilumineszenz- Fokusreduktionsneutralisationstests bestatigten eine akute Infektion mit dem Dobrava-Belgrad-Virus (DOBV). Serologische und RT-PCR-Analysen von Brandmausen (Apodemus agrarius), die in der Nahe der Wohnregion des Patienten daraufhin gefangen wurden, zeigten eine Infektion mit DOBV, Genotyp Kurkino. Dies ist der erste dokumentierte Fall einer autochthonen Infektion mit dem DOBV bei einem Patienten, der nicht im bekannten Endemiegebiet Norddeutschland lebt. Dies zeigt, dass auch Arzte in Regionen, in denen der entsprechende Wirt lebt, die aber nicht als typische Hantavirus- Endemiegebiete gelten, eine solche Infektion nicht von vornherein ausschliesen sollten. * Erstpublikation der englischen Fassung in Clinical Nephrology Band 83, Nr. 2/2015, S. 111-116