Discovery and characterization of Sager Creek virus, a new orthohantavirus in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

We report the discovery and characterization of a new orthohantavirus species in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) named Sager Creek virus (SACRV). We performed molecular and ecological characterization of SACRV, including genome sequencing, assessment of its potential to infect human cells, and monitoring of wild vole populations. Phylogenetically, SACRV is most closely related to Prospect Hill virus, another Microtus-borne American orthohantavirus. Cell entry assays of SACRV pseudotypes were successful in both prairie vole and human cells, demonstrating zoonotic potential. Virus prevalence in wild vole populations was approximately 20% throughout the vole reproductive seasons, reflecting the reservoir host capacity of prairie voles to maintain and transmit SACRV in nature. As only the second fully sequenced arvicoline-borne orthohantavirus in the Americas, this discovery also provides insights into global orthohantavirus evolution and distribution, while our molecular and ecological assessments highlight the utility of the prairie vole-SACRV relationship as a model pathogen system.