biostudies-literatureUnknown1(1)Zhou CM<h4>Background</h4>Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tick-borne bunyavirus that could cause a severe hemorrhagic fever termed SFTS with a high fatality rate of up to 30%. Importantly, SFTSV is frequently transmitted from person-to-person and patients' blood or excreta are considered as the risk factors for transmission of SFTSV. However, the mechanism of person-to-person transmission of SFTSV is still elusive.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 J mice and a lethal SFTSV mouse model <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> A129 mice were utilized to evaluate whether SFTSV could be transmitted via oral or ocular routes. C57BL/6 J mice were inoculated with cell-cultured SFTSV via oral and ocular inoculation. <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> A129 mice were inoculated with cell-cultured SFTSV or SFTSV infected mouse acute sera via oral and ocular inoculation.<h4>Results</h4>We found that SFTSV antibody positive rates in C57BL/6 J mice were 70% (7/10) and 30% (3/10) in the oral inoculation group and ocular inoculation group, respectively on day 21 post SFTSV inoculation. The mortality rates of <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> mice with oral and ocular inoculation of cell-cultured SFTSV were 100% and 83.33% (5/6), respectively on day 6 post inoculation. The mortality rates of <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> mice with oral and ocular inoculation of SFTSV infected mouse acute serum were 100% and 66.67% (4/6), respectively on day 9 post inoculation.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Together, our results show that SFTSV can be transmitted effectively through oral and ocular membrane, suggesting exposure to SFTS positive excreta may be a high-risk factor of nosocomial transmission of SFTSV in hospitals and/or families. Family members and healthcare workers should be protected properly during taking care of SFTS patients to prevent SFTSV nosocomial infection.Infectious medicine2-6https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10699656biostudies-literatureOral and ocular transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.PMC10699656Qin XRHan HJZhou CMQi RFang LZYu XJLei XYfalseOral and ocular transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.<h4>Background</h4>Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tick-borne bunyavirus that could cause a severe hemorrhagic fever termed SFTS with a high fatality rate of up to 30%. Importantly, SFTSV is frequently transmitted from person-to-person and patients' blood or excreta are considered as the risk factors for transmission of SFTSV. However, the mechanism of person-to-person transmission of SFTSV is still elusive.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 J mice and a lethal SFTSV mouse model <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> A129 mice were utilized to evaluate whether SFTSV could be transmitted via oral or ocular routes. C57BL/6 J mice were inoculated with cell-cultured SFTSV via oral and ocular inoculation. <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> A129 mice were inoculated with cell-cultured SFTSV or SFTSV infected mouse acute sera via oral and ocular inoculation.<h4>Results</h4>We found that SFTSV antibody positive rates in C57BL/6 J mice were 70% (7/10) and 30% (3/10) in the oral inoculation group and ocular inoculation group, respectively on day 21 post SFTSV inoculation. The mortality rates of <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> mice with oral and ocular inoculation of cell-cultured SFTSV were 100% and 83.33% (5/6), respectively on day 6 post inoculation. The mortality rates of <i>IFNAR^-/-</i> mice with oral and ocular inoculation of SFTSV infected mouse acute serum were 100% and 66.67% (4/6), respectively on day 9 post inoculation.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Together, our results show that SFTSV can be transmitted effectively through oral and ocular membrane, suggesting exposure to SFTS positive excreta may be a high-risk factor of nosocomial transmission of SFTSV in hospitals and/or families. Family members and healthcare workers should be protected properly during taking care of SFTS patients to prevent SFTSV nosocomial infection.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2024-11-07T05:53:39.135Z2024-11-07T05:53:39.135ZS-EPMC106996563807497810.1016/j.imj.2021.12.002