Isolation and identification of Hantaviruses from reservoir animals captured in nidi of HFRS in Ningxia

Objective To isolate and identify Hantaviruses from reservoir animals captured in new nidi of HFRS in Ningxia.Methods Infant Meriones unguiculatus and Vero E6 cells were used in virus isolation. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) with monoclonal antibodies, genus specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) followed by restriction endonuclease analysis and serotype specific RT PCR were used for identifying viruses. Results Two virus strains were successfully isolated from A. agrarius captured in Ningxia. The results of IFAT with monoclonal antibodies showed that the reaction patterns of the two strains were similar with those of Hantaan viruses. The two strains were all reacted with Hantavirus genus specific primers and Hantaan virus serotype specific primers by RT PCR. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the products of genus specific RT PCR also showed that the two strains belonged to the same group of Hantaan virus. Conclusion Hantaviruses were isolated from Ningxia for the first time and were classified as Hantaan viruses. These provided scientific basis for further study and control of HFRS in this district.