Hepatitis E virus in Common voles (Microtus arvalis) from an urban environment, Hungary: Discovery of a Cricetidae-specific genotype of Orthohepevirus C.

Hepatitis E virus is a major causative agent of acute hepatitis worldwide. Despite its zoonotic potential, there is limited information about the natural chain of hepevirus infection in wildlife, and the potential reservoir species. In this study, we performed a HEV survey by heminested RT-PCR on rodent samples from an urban environment (in the city of Pécs, Hungary) and investigated the prevalence of the virus among these native rodent species (Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Microtus arvalis and Myodes glareolus). HEV was detected exclusively in Common voles (M. arvalis), in 10.2% of screened voles, and 3.2% of all investigated samples from all species. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, our strain showed the closest homology with European Orthohepevirus C strains detected previously in faecal samples of birds of prey and Red fox, supporting the possibility of the dietary origin of these strains. In addition, our samples showed close phylogenetic relation with a South American strain detected in Necromys lasiurus (Cricetidae), but separated clearly from other Muridae-associated strains, suggesting the presence of a Cricetidae-specific genotype in Europe and South-America. Based on these results, we hypothesize the reservoir role of M. arvalis rodents for the European Cricetidae-specific Orthohepevirus C genotype.

Parallel Survey of Two Widespread Renal Syndrome-Causing Zoonoses: Leptospira spp. and Hantavirus in Urban Environment, Hungary.

Rodents are important reservoir hosts for several zoonotic pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans. Among others, leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases worldwide and has the similar clinical manifestation with hantavirus infection in humans. Despite the fact that both pathogens have great epidemiological significance in Europe, no epizootiological data exist for urbanized areas so far. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and prevalence of Leptospira spp. and hantaviruses in small wild rodents living in close proximity to humans. Altogether, 338 small rodents representing five different species (Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, Microtus arvalis, and Myodes glareolus) were captured in the city of Pécs (Hungary) and screened for pathogens by different types of PCR methods (TaqMan-based real-time PCR/PCR, RT-PCR/PCR). A total of 18.3% of the rodents were positive for Leptospira kirschneri, L. interrogans, and L. borgpetersenii. Nucleic acid of Tula hantavirus and human pathogen Dobrava-Belgrade orthohantavirus were detected in 8% of tested specimens. Furthermore, dual infections with both Leptospira spp. and hantaviruses were shown in 2.6% of animals, suggesting that the same rodent host can be infected with several pathogens at the same time, therefore, representing a serious threat to public health. Overall, this study provides important surveillance data on the prevalence of Leptospira spp. and hantaviruses from rodents in urbanized environment for the first time in Hungary and emphasizes the importance of further ecoepidemiological investigations.