[Prevalence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus in domestic pigs: an epidemiological investigation in Shandong province].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the epidemiological significance of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus (HFRSV) infection in domestic pigs in Shandong province, and study the role of domestic pigs in the prevalence of HFRS.

METHODS

Epidemiological investigation was performed in 4 cities of Shandong province. Reversed passive hemagglutination assay (RPHA), reversed passive hemagglutination inhibition (RPHI), HPR-SPA, immunofluorescent antibody (IFA), and reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect antigen and antibody of HFRSV.

RESULTS

HFRSV antigen and antibody were detected in the heart, liver, lung, spleen, kidney, blood, urine, and stool of domestic pigs as well as in the sewage of the pigpen facilities. The positivity rate of HFRSV antigen ranged from 3.33% to 5.00% in the organ of pigs, and HFRSV positivity rate in the blood, urine, stool, and sewage was 3.67%, 7.04%, 2.51%, and 5.56%, respectively, with a total serum antibody positivity rate of 1.96%. The virus was isolated from the HFRSV antigen-positive samples, and could infect many organs after artificial infection of the pigs. HFRSV antigen can be detected in suckling rat brain and histopathological examination suggested transient pathological changes in such organs as the liver, lung and kidney. HFRSV may proliferate in pigs and was discharged through multiple routes.

CONCLUSION

Domestic pigs can be the host of HFRSV for the viral transmission.