Speaker
Description
Puumala virus (PUUV, Orthohantavirus puumalaense), the causative agent of human nephropathia epidemica, is an important zoonotic pathogen in Europe. Our study investigated PUUV RNA occurrence, genetic diversity, and environmental associations in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from two boreal forest areas in northern Sweden across a vole population cycle from 2020–2023. Lung-derived RNA from 519 bank voles was screened for a partial PUUV S-segment by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing, and infection probability was analysed using logistic regression. Overall, 83/519 voles tested PUUV RNA-positive. Seasonality was the main factor influencing PUUV RNA occurrence, with study-area differences most evident in spring and body weight positively associated with infection probability particularly in autumn. Predicted prevalences were higher in males than females, 23.7% (95% ,CI: 17.0–32.0) vs. 8.3% (95% CI: 4.6–14.8), and increased from 8.6% in 2020 (95% CI: 3.6–19.2) to 25.6% in 2022 (95% CI: 17.6–35.6). All detected PUUV RNA sequences belong to the North-Scandinavian lineage, with limited spatial or temporal structuring. Land-use analyses at multiple spatial scales identified no significant habitat predictors. Overall, PUUV dynamics appeared to be shaped mainly by seasonality, reservoir demography, and vole population cycles rather than broad-scale landscape composition, emphasizing the importance of these factors for predicting periods of elevated human infection risk.
Keywords
Puumala virus, Orthohanatvirus, Zoonotic, bank vole
| Registration ID | 204 |
|---|---|
| Professional Status of the Speaker | PhD Student |
| Junior Scientist Status | Yes, I am a Junior Scientist. |
Author
Co-authors
External references
- 121
