Orthohantaviruses in the reservoir and atypical hosts in the Czech Republic: spillover infection and indication of virus-specific tissue tropism

Abstract

Aim of this study was to reveal the presence of hantaviruses in natural reservoir rodent hosts in selected urban areas in the Czech Republic. Hantavirus rodent hosts were trapped, sampled and tested for hantavirus RNA in different tissues. Universal and specific primers for amplification of the large and medium fragments of hantavirus genomic RNA were used. Phylogenetic relationships were based on the obtained nucleotide sequences. Four different hantaviruses were detected, including two species pathogenic (or potentially pathogenic) for humans, further suggesting a threat for public health. Moreover, inter-family spillover infections and hantavirus species-associated tissue tropism were recorded in rodent hosts.