The First Evidence of Seoul hantavirus, Hepatitis E Virus and Rabies Virus in Rattus norvegicus in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), hepatitis E and rabies viruses in Norway rats in Tehran, Iran. Methods: With the aid of a rat ELISA kit, the we identified specific IgG antibodies against the rabies virus. The presence of SEOV and HEV was determined using an SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay. Results: 1% of the Rattus norvegicus carried the rabies virus. HEV was associated with R. norvegicus obtained from the south of Tehran with the highest frequency (35%). 12% of tests for SEOV were positive. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of putting in place rodent control programs and avoiding interaction with rodent populations in urban settings.

Keywords:

• hepatitis E virus
• HEV
• rabies viruses
• Rattus norvegicus
• Seoul hantavirus
• SEOV
• zoonotic diseases

Author contributions

T Azimi, S Nasrollahian, L Azimi, S Sabour and N Hadi: conceptualization; data curation; formal analysis; and writing – original draft. T Azimi, L Azimi, F Fallah, R Mansour-Ghanaie, SM Hoseini-Alfatemi: conceptualization; methodology; project administration; and writing – original draft. SM Hoseini-Alfatemi, T Azimi, L Azimi, S Sabour, S Nasrollahian and SA Fahimzad: data curation; formal analysis; writing – original draft; and writing – review and editing. T Azimi, S Nasrollahian and L Azimi: language editing.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The research reported in this publication was supported by Elite Researcher Grant Committee under award no. 962763 from the National Institutes for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), Tehran, Iran and grant no. 43002991 from Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committees of the Research Institute of Children Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran with reference number IR.SBMU.RICH.REC.1401.031.