Hantaviruses: Clinical, Microbiologic, and Epidemiologic Aspects

Abstract

Hantaviruses comprise a genus of the family Bunyaviridae. Bunyaviruses are enveloped viruses with a negative-sense, tripartite RNA genome. Hantaviruses are etiologic agents for two acute and severe illnesses of man, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Each hantavirus is primarily associated with a single rodent host species or genus, and is transmitted to man through accidental inhalation or ingestion of virus-contaminated rodent excreta. The distribution of hantaviruses is worldwide. HFRS is caused by infection with Hantaan, Seoul, Dobrava/Belgrade, and Puumala hantaviruses, all of which are enzootic in murid rodents of Old World origin. HPS is caused by any of several hantavirus species associated with indigenous New World rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae, family Muridae. HFRS and HPS have numerous common epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. Common features include fever, myalgia, thrombocytopenia, neutrophilia, and a profound capillary leak syndrome associated with hypotension, decreased cardiac output, and shock. Worldwide, HPS is much less common than HFRS but is associated with a higher mortality rate. Recovery from hantavirus disease is generally complete, although chronic renal insufficiency may be a rare sequel of HFRS.

A survey of hantavirus antibody in small-mammal populations in selected United States National Parks.

“…The only autochthonous New-World hantavirus recognized prior to 1993 was Prospect Hill virus, associated with the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). 15 Recently, Bloodland Lake virus was described from the prairie vole, 25 and Isla Vista virus from the California vole (M. californicus), 4 and a genetically distinct hantavirus has been described from M. montanus. 26 No distinct hantavirus has been described from the red-backed vole.…”

Serological study of hantavirus in man in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain

“…This region is dotted with numerous rural municipalities dedicated principally to agriculture; in comparison, the central area is typically urban, and the north-western area combines both urban and rural municipalities, with cattle-raising being an important activity. In general, hantavirus infection affects rural populations more than urban ones [1].…”

“…There are numerous species of hantaviruses that may cause disease in man. Their distribution is world-wide, with particular endemic areas being south-eastern Asia, northern and eastern parts of Europe and, more recently, south-western USA [1].…”

Serologic Investigation of Hantavirus Infection in Patients with Previous Thrombocytopenia, and Elevated Urea and Creatinine Levels in an Epidemic Region of Turkey

“…Farmers are also at risk because of increased contact with rodents and their surroundings (4,30,37,38). Crowcroft et al (39) reported that Hantavirus infection was 6.1 times more frequent in people spending more than 16 h a day in forests (OR ＝ 1.9-19.5; P ＝ 0.03).…”