A natural focus of hantavirus infection in the [Scaron]umava region (Czech Republic)

Abstract number: P2190

Pejcoch M., Pauchova E., Kriz B.

Objectives: To find whether the human cases in the Prachatice district (CR) are of hantavirus origin and if so, to identify the causative genospecies and map its circulation in the natural focus likely to be the reservoir of infection.

Methods: Sera from patients with suspected HRFS and occupationally exposed individuals were screened for anti-hantavirus antibodies by commercial ELISA kits from Progen Biotechnik. Terrestrial rodents were captured in the suspected areas. The specific PUU antigen was detected from homogenised lungs of these animals using the commercial kits Hantagnost from the Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.

Results: Hantavirus infections are emerging diseases as the causative agent was only recognised in 1978. More than 20 hantavirus genospecies have been identified to date. In Central Europe, three hantavirus genospecies, i.e. Dobrava-Belgrade (DOB), Puumala (PUU) and Tula (TUL), are known to circulate in natural foci. Their respective hosts are yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and common vole (Microtus arvalis). In Eurasia, the major hantavirus disease is haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). In Central Europe, the most serious infection is caused by DOB. TUL is generally non-pathogenic for humans. In the Czech Republic (CR), hantavirus infections have been reported sporadically. In the Czech Republic, the seroprevalence of hantaviroses in adults is about 0.8%. A local outbreak of hantavirus infection was observed in 2004 in the [Scaron]umava region, with some cases still persisting.

Eight patients admitted to the Prachatice district hospital with suspected HFRS and interstitial nephritis as the major symptom had primarily IgM antibodies against PUU. Two of the screened individuals showed seropositivity for IgG antibodies. The PUU antigen was detected from the lungs of a bank vole captured in the area where the forest workers had been working.

Conclusion: We detected a PUU natural focus in the [Scaron]umava region with hantavirus infection cases in humans. PUU was detected in its specific host Myodes glareolus from this biotope. The PUU focus is adjacent to another one situated on the other side of the border and reported previously by German authors. These findings need further study.

Supported by IGA MZCR-NR9420–3/07.