Thailand orthohantavirus infection in patients with chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology in Sri Lanka

Chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) reported in Sri Lanka and other countries is a mysterious and serious disease. Recently, we reported a high seroprevalence of antibodies to a hantavirus antigen among CKDu patients in Girandurukotte, Badulla district, Sri Lanka. However, the type of hantavirus with which the residents were infected was not determined. In this study, a total of 89 seropositive sera were examined to identify their serotypes using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay, a truncated-N-protein-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a cross-neutralization test. These results indicated that the residents in this area were frequently infected with Thailand orthohantavirus or an antigenically related virus.