Genetic and pathogenic diversity of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in South Korea

• DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.129531
• Publication Date: 2019-12-26T17:00:54Z
• Authors: Seok-Min Yun; Su-Jin Park; Young-Il Kim; Sun-Whan Park; Min-Ah Yu; Hyeok-Il Kwon; Eun-Ha Kim; Kwang-Min Yu; Hye Won Jeong; Jungsang Ryou; Won-Ja Lee; Youngmee Jee; Joo-Yeon Lee; Young Ki Choi
• Keywords: Case fatality rate; Phlebovirus

To investigate nationwide severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection status, we isolated SFTSVs from patients suspected (SFTS) in 207 hospitals throughout South Korea between 2013 and April 2017. A total of 116 were 3137 SFTS-suspected patients, an overall 21.6% case fatality rate. Genetic characterization revealed that at least 6 genotypes co-circulating Korea, multiple reassortments among them. Of these, the genotype B-2 strains most prevalent, followed by F genotypes. Clinical epidemiologic investigations B associated highest rate, while caused only one 10 patients. Further, ferret studies demonstrated varying clinical manifestations mortality rates different SFTSV, which suggests this could exhibit genotype-dependent pathogenicity.