Detection of phylogenetically distinct Puumala‐like viruses from red‐grey vole Clethrionomys rufocanus in China

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Abstract
In order to investigate whether Puumala virus (PUUV) or PUUV‐like virus is present in China, Clethrionomys rufocanus and C. rutilus were captured in the Jilin province during the spring and autumn of 2002–2003 for detection of PUUV viral RNA by RT‐PCR and confirmation of PUUV‐positive antigens by an immunofluorescence assay. PUUV‐positive RNA was identified in six out of 121 C. rufocanus but not in any of the 41 C. rutilus. Complete S and partial M sequences (nt 1,316–1,598 and 2,687–3,089) were amplified by RT‐PCR directly from some of the antigen positive lung tissues and subjected to nucleic acid sequencing. It was found that the Chinese PUUV‐like viruses were related most closely with the PUUV strains with 77.7–81.7% identity at the nucleotide level and 91.7–97% identity at the amino acid level for S segment, and with 77–78.8% identity at the nucleotide level and 91.5–92.6% identity at the amino acid level for the partial M segment (nt 1,316–1,598). Genetic analysis indicated that the Chinese PUUV‐like viruses shared the highest level of identity with the viruses which circulate in C. rufocanus in the Far East region of Russia with 85.1–87.4% identity at the nucleotide level and 95.9% identity at the amino acid level for the partial M segment (nt 2,687–3,089), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Chinese PUUV‐like viruses are distinct from those identified from Japan, South Korea, Europe or Russia. These results indicate that PUUV‐like virus is present in China in addition to Hantaan, Seoul and Dabieshan viruses. J. Med. Virol. 79: 1082–1088, 2007.