Direct transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from farm-raised fur animals to workers in Weihai, China

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2024年5月17日

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Jizhao Li,
Chunping Wang,
Xiang Li,
Guoying Zhang,
Shunzeng Sun,
Zhefeng Wang,
Jian Zhao,
Linqing Xiu,
Nianchen Jiang,
Huajiang Zhang,
Zhenghui Yang,
Jinbo Zhang

摘要

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.