Author/Editor		Lavrenčak, Jaka
Title		Molekularna epidemiologija hantavirusnih infekcij malih sesalcev
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta in Biotehniška fakulteta
Publication year		1995
Volume		str. 73
Language		slo
Abstract		Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is caused by viruses in the genus Hantavirus of the family Bunyaviridae. This syndrome has been found in Slovenia and the evidence of simultaneously circulation of three hantaviurses: Hantaan, Puumala and Dobrava virus. Wild living rodents are found as a primarily reservoirs of hantaviruses. To understanding infection in humans it is important to know a prevalence of hantaviral infection among their reservoirs and population dynamic of different small mammal's species. Diagnosis of hantaviral infection is based on detection of specific hantavirus antibodies in patients and small mammals sera by using indirect immunofluorescent assay and enzyme immunoassays. The method that allows detection of viral genome and so provides direct evidence for hantaviruses is reverse transcriptaze polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The present study indicated that chosen molecular methods seem to be comparatively more sensitive and specific than serological tests used for detection of hantaviral infection in small mammals. Three strategies were used for detection and tipization of hantaviruses in animal tissues. First, RT-PCR was performed by genus specific primer pairs followed with restriction endonuclease digestion of PCR products. Second strategy was directed by serotype specific primers. Third, nested PCR was chosen for detection and tipization of Dobrava virus. Furthermore, those tests provide an opportunity to study active hantaviral infection in small mammals. Using the chosen serological and molecular methods the prevalence of hantaviral infection among small mammals trapped in Kočevski rog in Slovenia was studied. The prevalence of hantaviral infection among yellow-necked field mouse Apodemus flavicollis and bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus was 30,7%. Three hantaviruses were detected in both rodent species: Hantaan, Puumala and Dobrava viruses. (Abstract truncated at 2000 character)
Descriptors		HANTAVIRUS HANTAVIRUS INFECTIONS DISEASE RESERVOIRS IMMUNOENZYME TECHNIQUES POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION EPIDEMIOLOGY, MOLECULAR TRANSCRIPTION, GENETIC RNA FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT MURIDAE MICROTINAE