Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019

Abstract Orthohantavirus hantanense (HTNV) is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by rodents and the causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in East Asia. Long-term reservoir population ecology studies have enhanced our understanding of hantavirus infection patterns and support d...

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Main Authors: Terry A. Klein, Kyungmin Park, Shivani Rajoriya, Heung Chul Kim, Jongwoo Kim, Seung-Ho Lee, Se Hun Gu, William J. Sames, Monica L. O’Guinn, Michael J. Turell, Yu-Jin Kim, Jieun Park, Won-Keun Kim, Jin-Won Song
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16897-3
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author Terry A. Klein
Kyungmin Park
Shivani Rajoriya
Heung Chul Kim
Jongwoo Kim
Seung-Ho Lee
Se Hun Gu
William J. Sames
Monica L. O’Guinn
Michael J. Turell
Yu-Jin Kim
Jieun Park
Won-Keun Kim
Jin-Won Song
author_facet Terry A. Klein
Kyungmin Park
Shivani Rajoriya
Heung Chul Kim
Jongwoo Kim
Seung-Ho Lee
Se Hun Gu
William J. Sames
Monica L. O’Guinn
Michael J. Turell
Yu-Jin Kim
Jieun Park
Won-Keun Kim
Jin-Won Song
author_sort Terry A. Klein
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Orthohantavirus hantanense (HTNV) is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by rodents and the causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in East Asia. Long-term reservoir population ecology studies have enhanced our understanding of hantavirus infection patterns and support disease risk assessments critical for military and civilian populations in HTNV high-risk areas. Here, we evaluated fluctuations in the population dynamics of Apodemus agrarius, the primary reservoir of HTNV, assessed hantavirus seroprevalence, and conducted a descriptive analysis of HFRS disease risks in the Republic of Korea (ROK). From 2000 to 2019, a total of 12,476 small mammals representing 15 species were captured across locations spanning northern to southern regions. A. agrarius was the most frequently collected species in the ROK, with juvenile populations peaking during the late fall/winter seasons. A high proportion of A. agrarius captured at military installations/training sites near the Demilitarized Zone tested seropositive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against HTNV, whereas none of those trapped in Jeollanam Province were seropositive. Risk assessment identified high-risk HFRS zones in northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces. This study provides important insights for forecasting heightened viral transmission risks to humans and implementing targeted mitigation strategies in HFRS high-risk regions of the ROK.
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spelling doaj-art-ebb8e3ca853f4b90a34c803b12e56fa92025-08-24T11:23:00ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-16897-3Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019Terry A. Klein0Kyungmin Park1Shivani Rajoriya2Heung Chul Kim3Jongwoo Kim4Seung-Ho Lee5Se Hun Gu6William J. Sames7Monica L. O’Guinn8Michael J. Turell9Yu-Jin Kim10Jieun Park11Won-Keun Kim12Jin-Won Song13Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, 65th Medical Brigade/US Army MEDDAC-Korea, Unit 15281Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of MedicineDepartment of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym UniversityForce Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, 65th Medical Brigade/US Army MEDDAC-Korea, Unit 15281Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine3rd R&D Institute, Agency for Defense Development3rd R&D Institute, Agency for Defense DevelopmentForce Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, 65th Medical Brigade/US Army MEDDAC-Korea, Unit 15281U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of VirologyU.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of VirologyDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Army HeadquartersDepartment of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, Korea University College of MedicineAbstract Orthohantavirus hantanense (HTNV) is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by rodents and the causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in East Asia. Long-term reservoir population ecology studies have enhanced our understanding of hantavirus infection patterns and support disease risk assessments critical for military and civilian populations in HTNV high-risk areas. Here, we evaluated fluctuations in the population dynamics of Apodemus agrarius, the primary reservoir of HTNV, assessed hantavirus seroprevalence, and conducted a descriptive analysis of HFRS disease risks in the Republic of Korea (ROK). From 2000 to 2019, a total of 12,476 small mammals representing 15 species were captured across locations spanning northern to southern regions. A. agrarius was the most frequently collected species in the ROK, with juvenile populations peaking during the late fall/winter seasons. A high proportion of A. agrarius captured at military installations/training sites near the Demilitarized Zone tested seropositive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against HTNV, whereas none of those trapped in Jeollanam Province were seropositive. Risk assessment identified high-risk HFRS zones in northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces. This study provides important insights for forecasting heightened viral transmission risks to humans and implementing targeted mitigation strategies in HFRS high-risk regions of the ROK.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16897-3Orthohantavirus hantanenseApodemus agrariusRisk assessmentLongitudinal surveillanceRodent bionomics
spellingShingle Terry A. Klein
Kyungmin Park
Shivani Rajoriya
Heung Chul Kim
Jongwoo Kim
Seung-Ho Lee
Se Hun Gu
William J. Sames
Monica L. O’Guinn
Michael J. Turell
Yu-Jin Kim
Jieun Park
Won-Keun Kim
Jin-Won Song
Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019
Scientific Reports
Orthohantavirus hantanense
Apodemus agrarius
Risk assessment
Longitudinal surveillance
Rodent bionomics
title Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019
title_full Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019
title_fullStr Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019
title_full_unstemmed Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019
title_short Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2019
title_sort longitudinal study of orthohantavirus hantanense in apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the republic of korea during 2000 2019
topic Orthohantavirus hantanense
Apodemus agrarius
Risk assessment
Longitudinal surveillance
Rodent bionomics
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16897-3
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