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Original ArticleOpen Access
Prevalence of Rabies Virus and Hantaan Virus Infections in Commensal Rodents and Shrews Trapped in Bangkok
Kantakamalakul W 
,
Siritantikorn S ,
D ,
Thongcharoen P ,
Singchai C ,
P
,
Siritantikorn S ,
D ,
Thongcharoen P ,
Singchai C ,
P SONT ANA SIRIT ANTIKORN, Drrernat*,
CHANTRA SINGCHAI, DVM**,
Five hundred rodents and shrews
(Rattus norvegicus:
458,
Rattus rattus:
28,
Rattus exulans:
5,
Mus musculus:
4 and
Suncus murine:
5) trapped from the fresh food markets around Bangkok area
were investigated for rabies virus and Hantaan virus infections. No rabies viral antigens in the animals'
brains were detected by direct immunofluorescence. On the other hand, antibodies to Hantaan virus
were demonstrated in the sera of 7 (1.53%)
R. norvegicus
caught in various markets using a particle
agglutination technique. Further determination of the viral genome in rat lung tissue was performed by
reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR, 3 (0.66%) out of 7 were
positive.
Hindiii
and
Hijl
restriction enzyme analyses showed the pattern of the Hantaan virus genome
in 2 samples and that of the Seoul virus genome in the other.
The results of the present study suggest that rodents from Bangkok's fresh food markets did
not carry rabies. Thus, getting rid of rabies in dogs or cats in the Bangkok area may be easier than anti-
cipated because there are no sources of asymptomatic reservoirs. This may result in the low incidence
of rabies patients observed in Bangkok. On the contrary, the presence of antibodies and the Hantaan
virus genome and Seoul virus genome in
R. norvegicus
will definitely provide evidence for physicians
to be aware of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and other clinical settings of Hantaan/
Seoul virus disease in patients with a history of having contact with rats or their excreta.
Key word : Rabies Virus, Hantaan Virus, Seoul Virus, Commensal Rodents and Shrews
CHANTRA SINGCHAI, DVM**,
Five hundred rodents and shrews
(Rattus norvegicus:
458,
Rattus rattus:
28,
Rattus exulans:
5,
Mus musculus:
4 and
Suncus murine:
5) trapped from the fresh food markets around Bangkok area
were investigated for rabies virus and Hantaan virus infections. No rabies viral antigens in the animals'
brains were detected by direct immunofluorescence. On the other hand, antibodies to Hantaan virus
were demonstrated in the sera of 7 (1.53%)
R. norvegicus
caught in various markets using a particle
agglutination technique. Further determination of the viral genome in rat lung tissue was performed by
reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR, 3 (0.66%) out of 7 were
positive.
Hindiii
and
Hijl
restriction enzyme analyses showed the pattern of the Hantaan virus genome
in 2 samples and that of the Seoul virus genome in the other.
The results of the present study suggest that rodents from Bangkok's fresh food markets did
not carry rabies. Thus, getting rid of rabies in dogs or cats in the Bangkok area may be easier than anti-
cipated because there are no sources of asymptomatic reservoirs. This may result in the low incidence
of rabies patients observed in Bangkok. On the contrary, the presence of antibodies and the Hantaan
virus genome and Seoul virus genome in
R. norvegicus
will definitely provide evidence for physicians
to be aware of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and other clinical settings of Hantaan/
Seoul virus disease in patients with a history of having contact with rats or their excreta.
Key word : Rabies Virus, Hantaan Virus, Seoul Virus, Commensal Rodents and Shrews
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