Seroprevalence of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus in Hedgehog from China

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, an emerging hemorrhagic fever, is caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), a tick-borne bunyavirus. Information regarding SFTSV animal hosts is very limited. In this study, we showed that 64% (9/14) of hedgehogs in Shandong Province, China were seropositive to SFTSV antibody, suggesting that hedgehog could be a vertebrate parasitifer for SFTSV.