# Distribution and Genetic Characteristics of Seoul Virus in Different Organs of Rattus norvegicus

## TL;DR

This study examines how Seoul virus is distributed in different organs of Rattus norvegicus in Hebei Province, China.

## Contribution

The study reveals the organ-specific distribution and genetic stability of Seoul virus in Rattus norvegicus.

## Key findings

- The highest SEOV detection rate was in the liver, followed by the kidneys and lungs.
- Phylogenetic analysis showed all sequences belonged to the S3 subtype with regional clustering.
- Multi-organ sampling is recommended for effective hantavirus surveillance.

## Abstract

To investigate the distribution of hantavirus (HV) in rodent organs, we selected eight counties across four regions in Hebei Province (southern, northern, eastern, and central) as study areas. Rodents were captured using night trapping methods, and organ samples were aseptically collected for HV detection via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and gene sequencing. During the 2022–2023 spring and autumn seasons, 1386 rodents were trapped, including 73 Rattus norvegicus carrying Seoul virus (SEOV). The highest detection rate was observed in the liver (3.84%), followed by the kidneys (3.46%) and lungs (3.09%). Viral load analysis revealed higher SEOV RNA levels in the liver than in the lungs and kidneys. Antibody levels in R. norvegicus may influence the detection of viruses in organs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all sequences belonged to the S3 subtype, exhibiting regional aggregation and genetic stability. Our findings emphasize the necessity of multi-organ sampling for comprehensive HV surveillance and epidemic risk assessment.