Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in shelter dogs and cats in the Republic of Korea

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome is a tick-borne infectious disease. The present study investigated the prevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in shelter dogs and cats in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Blood samples were collected from 426 dogs and 215 cats in animal shelters throughout the ROK in 2016. Of the tested samples, one (0.2%) dog and one (0.5%) cat were positive for SFTSV. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences obtained in the present study showed that the viruses belonged to the J3 clade, which is considered the dominant clade in the ROK. This study reports the first molecular detection of SFTSV in shelter dogs and cats in the ROK.