Serological and genetic evidence for the presence of Seoul hantavirus in Rattus norvegicus in Flanders, Belgium

Paul Heyman From the Research Laboratory for Vector-borne Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Bruynstraat, BrusselsCorrespondence[email protected]

K. Baert Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Kliniekstraat, Brussels

A. Plyusnina Haartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Finland

C. Cochez National Reference Centre for Hantavirus Infections, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Bruynstraat, Brussels, Belgium

Å. Lundkvist Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Solna, Sweden

M. Van Esbroeck Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp

E. Goossens Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre, Uccle, Belgium

C. Vandenvelde National Reference Centre for Hantavirus Infections, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Bruynstraat, Brussels, Belgium

A. Plyusnin Haartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Finland

J. Stuyck Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Kliniekstraat, Brussels

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Abstract

Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), carried by Rattus rattus (black rat) and R. norvegicus (Norway, brown rat), was reported to circulate as well as cause HFRS cases in Asia. As Rattus sp. are present worldwide, SEOV has the potential to cause human disease worldwide. In Europe however, only SEOV prevalence in rats from France was reported and no confirmed cases of SEOV infection were published. We here report genetic and serological evidence for the presence of SEOV virus in brown rat populations in Belgium. We also serologically screened an at-risk group that was in contact with R. norvegicus on a daily basis and found no evidence for SEOV infection.

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Serological and genetic evidence for the presence of Seoul hantavirus in Rattus norvegicus in Flanders, Belgium

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Serological and genetic evidence for the presence of Seoul hantavirus in Rattus norvegicus in Flanders, Belgium

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