Noh Juyoung, Park Kyungmin, Kim Seong-Gyu, Seo Ye-Rin, Kim Jongwoo, Cho Hee-Kyung, Kim Won-Keun, Song Jin-Won
Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Aug 19;19(8):e0013459. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013459. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Hantaan virus (HTNV), hosted by Apodemus spp., is a well-recognized causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and poses a crucial global public health concern. Based on the current evidence, HTNV carried by A. chejuensis is proposed as the likely etiological agent of HFRS on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea (ROK).
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, 50 small mammals were collected from five locations in Seogwipo-si and Jeju-si on Jeju Island, ROK, during 2022-2023. Serological and molecular analyses revealed HTNV prevalence rates of 34% (16/47) and 27.7% (13/47), respectively. Using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based nanopore sequencing approach, nine complete HTNV genomes were sequenced from the lung tissues of A. chejuensis, representing the first comprehensive genomic characterization of HTNV from Seogwipo-si (Hogeun-dong) and Jeju-si (Sangdae-ri). Phylodynamic analyses suggest evolutionary divergence and phylogeographic diversity, with four unique amino acid substitutions identified in HTNV genomes from Seogwipo-si.
CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides important insights into the genomic surveillance, genetic diversity, and evolutionary dynamics of orthohantaviruses, which are essential for guiding effective public health strategies to control and prevent future HFRS outbreaks in the ROK.
汉坦病毒（HTNV）以姬鼠属为宿主，是肾综合征出血热（HFRS）的一种公认病原体，对全球公共卫生构成重大威胁。根据现有证据，韩国济州岛的HFRS可能病原体被认为是济州姬鼠携带的HTNV。
方法/主要发现：在本研究中，2022年至2023年期间，从韩国济州岛西归浦市和济州市的五个地点收集了50只小型哺乳动物。血清学和分子分析显示，HTNV的流行率分别为34%（16/47）和27.7%（13/47）。使用基于多重聚合酶链反应的纳米孔测序方法，从济州姬鼠的肺组织中测序了9个完整的HTNV基因组，这是西归浦市（虎岩洞）和济州市（上内里）HTNV的首次全面基因组特征分析。系统动力学分析表明存在进化分歧和系统地理学多样性，在来自西归浦市的HTNV基因组中鉴定出四个独特的氨基酸替换。
结论/意义：本研究为正汉坦病毒的基因组监测、遗传多样性和进化动态提供了重要见解，这对于指导韩国控制和预防未来HFRS疫情的有效公共卫生策略至关重要。
