Detection of RNA and analysis of complete genome of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in Jiangsu

OBJECTIVE To detect RNA and analyze complete genome of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in Jiangsu Province. METHODS Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect RNA of SFTSV in Jiangsu Province 2010. All positive samples were carried on the simple isolated culture to the virus and 8 strains were selected to sequence complete genome, analyzed by software DNA Star and MEGA4. RESULTS 20 cases of human SFTSV infection were confirmed by RT-PCR in 33 doubtful cases besides one positive case of dog. The sequence analysis showed that the homogeneity of M segment shared 95.8%-98.7% nucleotide acid identity, 98.7%-99.7% amino acid identity between these 8 strains and the representative strains of SFTSV isolated from other provinces in China. There were only maximum 27.1% nucleotide acid identity and maximum 7.3% amino acid identity among these 8 strains and the representative strains of Hantavirus and Phlebovirus. The sequence of secondary case was virtually identical with that of primary case. There was a high sequence homogeneity between the dog and the patients. CONCLUSION There is no apparent difference of sequence between Jiangsu Province and other Provinces in China. There exists a huge difference of sequence between SFTSV and other Bunyavirus. SFTSV of person-to-person contact is highly suggestive. The dog is probably one of animal hosts of SFTSV transmission.