Direct Transmission of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus from Farm-raised Fur Animals to Workers in Weihai, China

Overview

Journal Virol J

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2024 May 17

PMID 38760812

Authors

Jizhao Li

Chunping Wang

Xiang Li

Guoying Zhang

Shunzeng Sun

Zhefeng Wang

Jian Zhao

Linqing Xiu

Nianchen Jiang

Huajiang Zhang

Zhenghui Yang

Jinbo Zhang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease. SFTS virus (SFTSV) is transmitted by tick bites and contact with the blood or body fluids of SFTS patients. Animal-to-human transmission of SFTS has been reported in Japan, but not in China. In this study, the possible transmission route of two patients who fed and cared for farm-raised fur animals in a mink farm was explored.

Method: An epidemiological investigation and a genetic analysis of patients, animals and working environment were carried out.

Results: It was found that two patients had not been bitten by ticks and had no contact with patients infected with SFTS virus, but both of them had skinned the dying animals. 54.55% (12/22) of the farm workers were positive for SFTS virus antibody. By analyzing the large, medium and small segments sequences, the viral sequences from the two patients, animals and environments showed 99.9% homology.

Conclusion: It is suspected that the two patients may be directly infected by farm-raised animals, and that the virus may have been transmitted by aerosols when skinning dying animals. Transmission by direct blood contacts or animal bites cannot be ignored.

Citing Articles

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