Open AccessUrinary genome detection and tracking of Hantaan virus from hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome patients using multiplex PCR-based next-generation sequencing
Author(s) -
Seungchan Cho,
Won-Keun Kim,
Jin Sun No,
Seungho Lee,
Jaehun Jung,
Youngjin Yi,
Hayne Cho Park,
GeumYoung Lee,
Kyungmin Park,
Jeongah Kim,
Jong-Woo Kim,
Jingyeong Lee,
Dae-Sang Lee,
Dong Hyun Song,
Se Hun Gu,
Seong Tae Jeong,
JinWon Song
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos neglected tropical diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.99
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1935-2735
pISSN - 1935-2727
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009707
Subject(s) - virology , hantaan virus , hantavirus , biology , genome , apodemus agrarius , whole genome sequencing , urine , gene , virus , genetics , ecology , biochemistry , rodent
Background Hantavirus infection occurs through the inhalation of aerosolized excreta, including urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents. The presence of Hantaan virus (HTNV) RNA or infectious particles in urine specimens of patient with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) remains to be investigated. Methodology/Principal findings We collected four urine and serum specimens of Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) patients with HFRS. We performed multiplex PCR-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) to obtain the genome sequences of clinical HTNV in urine specimens containing ultra-low amounts of viral genomes. The epidemiological and phylogenetic analyses of HTNV demonstrated geographically homogenous clustering with those in Apodemus agrarius captured in highly endemic areas, indicating that phylogeographic tracing of HTNV genomes reveals the potential infection sites of patients with HFRS. Genetic exchange analyses showed a genetic configuration compatible with HTNV L segment exchange in nature. Conclusion/Significance Our results suggest that whole or partial genome sequences of HTNV from the urine enabled to track the putative infection sites of patients with HFRS by phylogeographically linking to the zoonotic HTNV from the reservoir host captured at endemic regions. This report raises awareness among physicians for the presence of HTNV in the urine of patients with HFRS.