Molecular Characterisation and Phylogeny of Tula Virus in Kazakhstan
Tukhanova N. Shin A. Turebekov N. Nurmakhanov T. Abdiyeva K. Shevtsov A. Yerubaev T. Tokmurziyeva G. Berdibekov A. Sutyagin V. Maikanov N. Zakharov A. Lezdinsh I. Yeraliyeva L. Froeschl G. Hoelscher M. Frey S. Wagner E. Peintner L. Essbauer S.
June 2022MDPI
Viruses
2022#14Issue 6
Orthohantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens that play a significant role in public health. These viruses can cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Eurasia. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the first human cases were registered in the year 2000 in the West Kazakhstan region. Small mammals can be reservoirs of orthohantaviruses. Previous studies showed orthohantavirus antigens in wild-living small mammals in four districts of West Kazakhstan. Clinical studies suggested that there might be further regions with human orthohantavirus infections in Kazakhstan, but genetic data of orthohantaviruses in natural foci are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate small mammals for the presence of orthohantaviruses by molecular biological methods and to provide a phylogenetic characterization of the circulating strains in Kazakhstan. Small mammals were trapped at 19 sites in West Kazakhstan, four in Almaty region and at seven sites around Almaty city during all seasons of 2018 and 2019. Lung tissues of small mammals were homogenized and RNA was extracted. Orthohantavirus RT-PCR assays were applied for detection of partial S and L segment sequences. Results were compared to published fragments. In total, 621 small mammals from 11 species were analysed. Among the collected small mammals, 2.4% tested positive for orthohantavirus RNA, one sample from West Kazakhstan and 14 samples from Almaty region. None of the rodents caught in Almaty city were infected. Sequencing parts of the small (S) and large (L) segments specified Tula virus (TULV) in these two regions. Our data show that geographical distribution of TULV is more extended as previously thought. The detected sequences were found to be split in two distinct genetic clusters of TULV in West Kazakhstan and Almaty region. TULV was detected in the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and for the first time in two individuals of the forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), interpreted as a spill-over infection in Kazakhstan.
orthohantavirus , Republic of Kazakhstan , rodents , Tula virus
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Center for International Health, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, 80336, Germany
Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, 050054, Kazakhstan
Almaty Branch National Center for Biotechnology, Almaty, 050054, Kazakhstan
National Center for Biotechnology, Nur Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
Taldykorgan Antiplague Station, Branch Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Taldykorgan, 040000, Kazakhstan
Oral Antiplague Station, Branch Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Oral, 09002, Kazakhstan
National Scientific Center of Phthisiopulmonology, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, 80802, Germany
Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and CBRN Protection, Munster, 29633, Germany
Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, 07745, Germany
Department Virology and Intracellular Agents, German Centre for Infection Research, Munich Partner Site Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, 80937, Germany
Center for International Health
Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections
Almaty Branch National Center for Biotechnology
National Center for Biotechnology
Taldykorgan Antiplague Station
Oral Antiplague Station
National Scientific Center of Phthisiopulmonology
Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine
Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and CBRN Protection
Section of Experimental Virology
Department Virology and Intracellular Agents
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