Identification of orthohantaviruses detected for the first time in the Republic of Belarus
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Monitoring of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) pathogens in the Republic of Belarus is necessary and relevant, since the number of HFRS cases in the population has increased in recent years, and genetic characteristics of the pathogens remain unidentified. AIM OF THE STUDY: Identification of orthohantaviruses circulating in the territory of the Republic of Belarus and defining of their genetic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Screening of 613 samples from small mammals caught in the territory of the Republic of Belarus was carried out by the real time PCR method using the test system «Belar-GLPS-PCR/RV». Positive samples were sequenced by the Sanger method. Comparative and phylogenetic analysis was carried out using the MegAlign programs from the Lasergene package (DNASTAR, USA) and MEGA 11. RESULTS: The primary screening yielded 32 PCR-positive samples (5.2%), of which 24 belonged to Puumala virus (PUUV) and 8 to Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV). Three nucleotide sequences of the M-segment region of PUUV, two sequences of the 291-base pair (bp) M-segment region and one sequence of the 348-bp S-segment region of DOBV were sequenced. Comparative and phylogenetic analysis showed that the identified PUUV sequences belong to the Russian genetic lineage, to the same sublineage as the strains common in the Moscow and Kursk regions. The identified DOBV ssequences demonstrated the closest relationship to the strains from the central region of the European part of Russia. CONCLUSION: The results of molecular biological analysis showed that PUUV circulates in the territory of the Republic of Belarus and is widespread. At the same time, DOBV was detected in four regions of the republic, which indicates an expansion of the range of this HFRS pathogen. In the Republic of Belarus, nucleotide sequences of orthohantaviruses were obtained for the first time and their molecular genetic analysis was carried out.
Source: Problems of Virology
Language: English
Topic: Viral Infections and Vectors
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408360825