Data from: How Bank Vole-PUUV Interactions Influence the Eco-Evolutionary Processes Driving Nephropathia Epidemica Epidemiology—An Experimental and Genomic Approach

<strong>Abstract: </strong>In Europe, Puumala virus (PUUV) is responsible for nephropathia epidemica (NE), a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Despite the presence of its reservoir, the bank vole, on most of French territory, the geographic distribution of NE cases is heterogeneous and NE endemic and non-endemic areas have been reported. In this study we analyzed whether bank vole-PUUV interactions could partly shape these epidemiological differences. We performed crossed-experimental infections using wild bank voles from French endemic (Ardennes) and non-endemic (Loiret) areas and two French PUUV strains isolated from these areas. The serological response and dynamics of PUUV infection were compared between the four cross-infection combinations. Due to logistical constraints, this study was based on a small number of animals. Based on this experimental design, we saw a stronger serological response and presence of PUUV in excretory organs (bladder) in bank voles infected with the PUUV endemic strain. Moreover, the within-host viral diversity in excretory organs seemed to be higher than in other non-excretory organs for the NE endemic cross-infection but not for the NE non-endemic cross-infection. Despite the small number of rodents included, our results showed that genetically different PUUV strains and in a lesser extent their interaction with sympatric bank voles, could affect virus replication and diversity. This could impact PUUV excretion/transmission between rodents and to humans and in turn at least partly shape NE epidemiology in France.**摘要：** 在欧洲，普马拉病毒（Puumala virus, PUUV）可引发流行性肾病（nephropathia epidemica, NE），该病属于肾综合征出血热（hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, HFRS）的轻症亚型。尽管其储存宿主红背䶄（bank vole）广泛分布于法国大部分领土，但NE病例的地理分布并不均一，法国已被划定为NE流行区与非流行区。本研究旨在探讨红背䶄与PUUV的互作是否可部分塑造这种流行病学差异。我们采用来自法国NE流行区（阿尔登省）与非流行区（卢瓦雷省）的野生红背䶄，以及从这两个区域分离的两株法国PUUV毒株，开展交叉感染实验，并对四种交叉感染组合的血清学应答以及PUUV感染动态进行了比较分析。受实验条件限制，本研究的实验动物数量较少。基于该实验设计，我们观察到：感染流行区PUUV毒株的红背䶄，其血清学应答更强，且排泄器官（膀胱）中可检测到PUUV。此外，在NE流行区相关的交叉感染组中，排泄器官内的宿主体内病毒多样性似乎高于其他非排泄器官；而在NE非流行区相关的交叉感染组中则未观察到此现象。尽管本研究纳入的啮齿类动物数量有限，但结果表明：遗传背景不同的PUUV毒株，以及其与同域分布红背䶄的互作（后者影响程度相对较弱），均可影响病毒的复制与多样性。这一现象可能会影响PUUV在啮齿类动物之间以及向人类的排泄与传播，进而至少部分地塑造法国NE的流行病学特征。