Hantaviruses: Immunology, Treatment, and Prevention

Abstract

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne bunyaviruses that are associated with two main clinical diseases in humans: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. It has been suggested that host-related immune mechanisms rather than direct viral cytopathology may be responsible for the principal abnormality (vascular dysfunction) in these syndromes. This review summarizes the current knowledge on hantaviral host immune responses, immune abnormalities, laboratory diagnosis, and antiviral therapy as well as the current approaches in vaccine development.

A unifying hypothesis and a single name for a complex globally emerging infection: hantavirus disease

“…The most important pathogens are Hantaan (HTNV) and Seoul virus (SEOV) in the Far-East (where >90% of worldwide hantavirus infections occur), PUUV and Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) in Europe and Russia, and Sin Nombre (SNV) and Andes virus (ANDV) in the Americas [5]. The first HPS report that appeared in 1994 [3] described "a newly recognized disease" which was of paramount importance for a better understanding of an emerging viral infection in the New World, and generated an explosive surge in hantavirus research.…”

“…Moreover, hantavirus pathogenicity is not determined by the negligible viral tissue damage, but, rather, by the immunological response of the human host, the so-called "cytokine storm" [5,13]. In a series of clinical observations and in vitro experiments, Hayasaka et al and Terajima and Ennis suggested that increased capillary permeability observed in both H(C)PS and HFRS may be caused by a common immunopathological mechanism, i.e.…”

Weil's disease: an unusually fulminant presentation characterized by pulmonary hemorrhage and shock

“…Hantavirus infection is associated with two main clinical diseases in humans: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) [15].…”

“…In HFRS, the clinical course can be divided into five distinct phases and viremia is though to occur subsequent to infection of alveolar macrophage, leading to infection of kidney and lung endothelial cells.Jaundice is not very common [15].…”

Chronic renal failure as a complication of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in 17 years’ old boy

“…Enzyme immunoassays have also been developed, especially for sensitive detection of IgM antibodies [6,7].…”