Hantaviruses In Small Mammals In Two Regions In Bulgaria

Specific antibodies against Puumala and Dobrava-Belgrade othohantaviruses were examined in small mammals in Bulgaria for the firs time. Seroprevalence rate in Apodemus flavicollis was 10.3%, in Apodemus agrarius - 14.5%, in Myodes glareolus - 12.7% and in Microtus arvalis - 11.1%. In Smolyan Region, seroprevalence rates of rodents were 5.9% in M. glareolus for Puumala hantavirus in the town of Smolyan and 20% of A. flavicollis for Dobrava hantavirus in the village of Smilyan. In Pazardzhik Region, infection rates in rodents were much higher. Antibodies against hantaviruses were found in 10.6% and hantavirus RNA was detected in 6.9% of rodents. One M. glareolus from the village of Ravnogor was positive for Puumala hantavirus antibodies and, at the same time, Puumala hantavirus RNA was confirmed. Results of the serosurvey on rodents revealed various rates of infection with hantaviruses in different localities and identified the so called "hot spots", where the risk for humans is significant: Smolyan, Smilyan, Batak, Velingrad and Peshtera. These findings suggest real risks for humans and are important steps to prevent these severe viral hemorrhagic fevers.