Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in Hungary

To address a gap in our understanding of viral infections in epidemiologically important rat species, we aimed to detect DNA viruses from the tissues of free-ranging rat populations in Hungary. DNA viruses were identified from the parenchymal organs of 230 <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and &l...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Márton Z. Vidovszky, András Surján, Gábor Földvári, László Egyed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1948
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850037275270840320
author Márton Z. Vidovszky
András Surján
Gábor Földvári
László Egyed
author_facet Márton Z. Vidovszky
András Surján
Gábor Földvári
László Egyed
author_sort Márton Z. Vidovszky
collection DOAJ
description To address a gap in our understanding of viral infections in epidemiologically important rat species, we aimed to detect DNA viruses from the tissues of free-ranging rat populations in Hungary. DNA viruses were identified from the parenchymal organs of 230 <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus rattus</i>, using family-specific pan-PCR assays followed by sequencing of the PCR products. Adeno-, herpes-, circo-, and polyomaviruses were detected, while irido-, pox-, and dependoparvoviruses were not. Adenovirus DNA was present in 6.5% of the samples, herpesvirus and polyomavirus DNA in 12.2%, and circovirus DNA in 1.7%. All detected herpesviruses belonged to the β and γ subfamilies, with a majority being β herpesviruses. Some adenovirus and herpesvirus sequences were novel, while only the known Rattus norvegicus polyomavirus 1 was detected for polyomaviruses. The rare circovirus-positive samples revealed the presence of both rodent and bird circoviruses, indicating the ability of circoviruses to cross species barriers. Our findings show that rats host a variety of DNA viruses, many of which were previously uncharacterized, highlighting the need for further diagnostic studies.
format Article
id doaj-art-5b18cbcea73442aba15fa12ac3606cde
institution DOAJ
issn 1999-4915
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Viruses
spelling doaj-art-5b18cbcea73442aba15fa12ac3606cde2025-08-20T02:56:55ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-12-011612194810.3390/v16121948Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in HungaryMárton Z. Vidovszky0András Surján1Gábor Földvári2László Egyed3HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, 1143 Budapest, HungaryHUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, 1143 Budapest, HungaryInstitute of Evolution, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, 1121 Budapest, HungaryHUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, 1143 Budapest, HungaryTo address a gap in our understanding of viral infections in epidemiologically important rat species, we aimed to detect DNA viruses from the tissues of free-ranging rat populations in Hungary. DNA viruses were identified from the parenchymal organs of 230 <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus rattus</i>, using family-specific pan-PCR assays followed by sequencing of the PCR products. Adeno-, herpes-, circo-, and polyomaviruses were detected, while irido-, pox-, and dependoparvoviruses were not. Adenovirus DNA was present in 6.5% of the samples, herpesvirus and polyomavirus DNA in 12.2%, and circovirus DNA in 1.7%. All detected herpesviruses belonged to the β and γ subfamilies, with a majority being β herpesviruses. Some adenovirus and herpesvirus sequences were novel, while only the known Rattus norvegicus polyomavirus 1 was detected for polyomaviruses. The rare circovirus-positive samples revealed the presence of both rodent and bird circoviruses, indicating the ability of circoviruses to cross species barriers. Our findings show that rats host a variety of DNA viruses, many of which were previously uncharacterized, highlighting the need for further diagnostic studies.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1948free-ranging <i>Rattus norvegicus</i><i>Rattus rattus</i>PCRadenovirusesherpesvirusespolyomaviruses
spellingShingle Márton Z. Vidovszky
András Surján
Gábor Földvári
László Egyed
Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in Hungary
Viruses
free-ranging <i>Rattus norvegicus</i>
<i>Rattus rattus</i>
PCR
adenoviruses
herpesviruses
polyomaviruses
title Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in Hungary
title_full Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in Hungary
title_fullStr Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in Hungary
title_full_unstemmed Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in Hungary
title_short Detection of DNA Viruses in Free-Ranging Rat Populations in Hungary
title_sort detection of dna viruses in free ranging rat populations in hungary
topic free-ranging <i>Rattus norvegicus</i>
<i>Rattus rattus</i>
PCR
adenoviruses
herpesviruses
polyomaviruses
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1948
work_keys_str_mv AT martonzvidovszky detectionofdnavirusesinfreerangingratpopulationsinhungary
AT andrassurjan detectionofdnavirusesinfreerangingratpopulationsinhungary
AT gaborfoldvari detectionofdnavirusesinfreerangingratpopulationsinhungary
AT laszloegyed detectionofdnavirusesinfreerangingratpopulationsinhungary