Objective: To know the genotype and subtype of hantavirus (HV) carried by host animals in HFRS natural epidemic area of Hebei province.
Methods: According to the conservative sequence of 76-118 and R22 strains, specific primers were designed. RT-nested PCR was used to amplify partial M segments from the positive rat lungs screened by IFA. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to identify the types. Nucleotides were assayed from partial products after purification and reclaim. Gene analysis was carried on with DNAStar package.
Results: 32 specimens, which were positive screened by IFA, were amplified the specific segment (418bp) and all belonged to type SEO. Sequencing results of 10 partial segments indicated that G2 segment had little variability and nucleotide homology reached to 98.0%-100.0%. Comparing with the R22 and 76-118 strains, homology was 93.3%-94.3% and 67.7%-69.0% respectively.
Conclusion: According to G2 segment, SEO was the major type in Hebei HFRS natural epidemic area and S3 was the major subtype. HV which belonged to the same subtype had high homology and genetic materials were correspondingly stable. Different rats could carry the same subtype of HV.