A survey study on hantavirus, cowpox virus, and Leptospira infections in Microtus hartingi in Kırşehir Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey

Authors: AHMET KÜRŞAT AZKUR, SEDAT KAYGUSUZ, MUHAMMET EREN ASLAN, SERKAL GAZYAĞCI, SERDAR GÖZÜTOK, KUBİLAY TOYRAN

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether hantaviruses, cowpox viruses, or Leptospira infections were prevalent in Microtus hartingi trapped in Kırşehir Province, located in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Leptospira spp. was detected in 20 of the 43 (46.5%) Microtus hartingi kidney samples and confirmed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Five of the 20 Leptospira spp. PCR positive amplicons were sequenced, analyzed, and confirmed as Leptospira spp. This is the first study to genetically characterize Leptospira in Microtus hartingi in Turkey. There was no evidence of cowpox viruses or hantaviruses in Microtus hartingi. Therefore, additional studies are needed.

Keywords: Microtus hartingi, hantavirus, cowpox virus, Leptospira spp., genetic characterization

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