# Surveillance of Shrew-Borne Hantaviruses Expands Viral Host Range in Hungary

## TL;DR

This study found that hantaviruses are present in multiple shrew species in Hungary, expanding the known host range and highlighting public health implications.

## Contribution

The study provides the first molecular evidence of hantavirus infection in three previously unreported shrew species in Hungary.

## Key findings

- Hantavirus RNA was detected in four shrew species in Hungary.
- The highest infection rates were observed in pygmy shrews and Eurasian water shrews.
- The findings reveal co-circulation of hantaviruses in multiple shrew species within the same ecosystems.

## Abstract

Hantaviruses have been categorized as rodent-borne pathogens; however, it has been known for some time that other small animals, including shrews, can also carry these viruses. Understanding which animals carry these viruses is important for public health, but there has been little research on this topic in Hungary. This study aimed to find out how common hantaviruses are in different shrew species in Hungary. Over a five-year period, we found evidence of hantavirus infection in four different species: the Eurasian common shrew, the pygmy shrew, Miller’s water shrew, and the Eurasian water shrew. The findings show that several shrew species in Hungary carry hantaviruses and that these viruses circulate in different species living in the same area. This information is a crucial first step to assessing the potential animal and human health risks and understanding better how these viruses spread in the wild.

Since the late 2000s, a growing diversity of distinct hantaviruses has been identified in shrews across Europe. However, knowledge about shrew-borne hantaviruses in Hungary is limited. This study was initiated to investigate the prevalence and host range of these viruses in shrew populations in Hungary. Between 2007 and 2011, 129 shrew specimens, representing six species, were collected from four locations in Southern Transdanubia. Lung tissues were analyzed for the presence of hantaviral RNA by RT-PCR targeting the L genomic segment. Hantavirus RNA was detected in four shrew species. This study provides the first molecular evidence of hantavirus infection in the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), Miller’s water shrew (Neomys milleri), and the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) in Hungary, while also confirming infection in the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus). The overall prevalence varied among species, with marked detection rates in S. minutus (50%) and N. fodiens (33.3%). Our findings document the co-circulation of hantaviruses in four distinct shrew species within the same ecosystems in Hungary, thereby expanding the known host range for these viruses within the country. This contributes to the understanding of the complex hantavirus landscape in Central Europe and highlights the need for genetic characterization of identified viruses to assess their evolutionary dynamics.