Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus found in shelter
By Ouh, In-Ohk·Published in International journal of molecular sciences·2026·Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Genetically Diverse Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Circulates in Shelter and Companion Dogs in South Korea.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in South Korea, including shelter and companion dogs, were tested for a tick-borne virus called severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). Out of 715 dogs, 16 were found to be infected, with a higher number of cases in younger dogs and those living in shelters, especially during autumn. One infected dog had the virus isolated, marking the first time a specific strain of the virus was identified in dogs in the country. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring dogs for this virus, particularly in shelters, to help prevent its spread to humans.
People also search for: dog tick-borne virus symptoms · shelter dog health issues · severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in dogs
Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen that continues to cause a substantial public health burden in South Korea, yet the molecular epidemiology of SFTSV in dogs, particularly shelter populations, remains poorly characterized. To address this gap, blood samples from 715 dogs, including companion and shelter animals, were collected nationwide in 2024 and screened for SFTSV using RT-PCR targeting the S, M, and L genomic segments, followed by sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and virus isolation. SFTSV was detected in 16 dogs (2.2%), with significantly higher prevalence in autumn, in the southern region, in shelter dogs, and in younger animals. A localized cluster of six infected dogs was identified in a southern shelter during autumn, and phylogenetic analysis revealed the circulation of three genotypes (B2, D, and F). Live virus was successfully isolated from one shelter dog, and this isolate belonged to genotype F, representing the first isolation of this genotype from dogs in South Korea. These findings demonstrate that dogs are exposed to genetically diverse SFTSV strains circulating in tick populations and support the use of canine surveillance, particularly in shelters, as part of a One Health approach to monitor and mitigate the risk of SFTSV transmission.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41751899/