Shrew-borne Thottapalayam Virus: An Indian Perspective

In 1964, a field study yielded the isolation of Thottapalayam virus (TPMV). This was first report of presence of this virus from Asian house shrew (Suncusmurinus) in Tamil Nadu state of India. TMPV has been an exception to all other known Hantaviruses (HTNV), since rest of the HTNV has been associated with the Muridae rodents. This covers over 700 species of rodents. The presence of this virus has been reported from India, Nepal, Vietnam, and China and possibility of discovering in other countries exists. In the last few years, studies have discovered many shrew-borne HTNV from across the globe. Direct relevance of human health and this virus could not be established till now. Discovery of novel TPMV from shrew has suggested that this reservoir also can participate in maintaining this virus in nature and perhaps in its transmission. Unlike other human pathogenic HTNV, the public health importance of TMPV is still unknown. This article focuses on the present information regarding epidemiology, genome analysis, reservoir host, possible human infection of TMPV and need for active surveillance in India.