Isolation and characterization of Tula virus, a distinct serotype in the genus

A Vero E6 cell culture isolate of Tula virus (TUL), a hantavirus first detected in European common voles (hficrotus arvalis and hr. rossiaemeridionolis) by RT-PCR was obtained after initial passaging of TULinfected vole lung samples in laboratory-colonized hl. arvalis. TUL was defined as a classical serotype by a cross-focus-reduction neutralization test (FRNT) and was also shown to be distinct from other hantaviruses by haemagglutination inhibition assay. The sequences of S, M and partial L genome segments of the isolate were determined: the S segment was 9 9 . 9 % identical to the original rodent-derived sequence. Serological evidence for a previous TUL infection was obtained from the serum of a blood donor living near a TUL focus in Moravia, Czech Republic, showing at least a 16-fold higher FRNT titre to TUL as compared to Puumala or other hantaviruses.