2004-2005年中国肾综合征出血热疫情分析

目的 分析2004-2005年中国(未包括香港、澳门、和台湾地区,下同)肾综合征出血热(HFRS)的疫情概况、疫区分布及流行特点.方法 收集近两年来中国HFRS的疫情资料并进行分析.结果 2005年与2004年比较,全国总体疫情平稳并有所下降,有新疫区的出现,也有个别省份报告发病数增加.结论 近年来中国HFRS发病基本上处于一种平稳略有下降的趋势,应继续加强监测并采取综合性防制措施.     

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels in Dobrava/Belgrade Virus Infections

The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) were estimated in 102 serum samples from 63 hospitalized Greek patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Dobrava/Belgrade virus. Significantly higher VEGF levels were seen in the severe when compared with non-severe cases (mean values 851.96 pg/mL and 326.75 pg/mL, respectively; p = 0.003), while a significant difference was observed among groups based on the day after the onset of illness. In both severe and non-severe cases, VEGF peaked in the second week of illness; however, elevation of VEGF in the severe cases started later and remained high until convalescence, suggesting that the role of VEGF was associated with repair of vascular damage rather than with increased permeability.     

Phylogeographic Diversity of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Hantaviruses in Slovenia

Slovenia is a very diverse country from a natural geography point of view, with many different habitats within a relatively small area, in addition to major geological and climatic differences. It is therefore not surprising that several small mammal species have been confirmed to harbour hantaviruses: A. flavicollis (Dobrava virus), A. agrarius (Dobrava virus–Kurkino), M. glareolus (Puumala virus), S. areanus (Seewis virus), M. agrestis, M. arvalis and M. subterraneus (Tula virus). Three of the viruses, namely the Dobrava, Dobrava–Kurkino and Puumala viruses, cause disease in humans, with significant differences in the severity of symptoms. Due to changes in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome cases (HFRS) epidemiology, a detailed study on phylogenetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of pathogenic and non-pathogenic hantaviruses circulating in ecologically diverse endemic regions was performed. The study presents one of the largest collections of hantavirus L, M and S sequences obtained from hosts and patients within a single country. Several genetic lineages were determined for each hantavirus species, with higher diversity among non-pathogenic compared to pathogenic viruses. For pathogenic hantaviruses, a significant geographic clustering of human- and rodent-derived sequences was confirmed. Several geographic and ecological factors were recognized as influencing and limiting the formation of endemic areas.     

Novel strain of Andes virus associated with fatal human infection, central Bolivia

To better describe the genetic diversity of hantaviruses associated with human illness in South America, we screened blood samples from febrile patients in Chapare Province in central Bolivia during 2008-2009 for recent hantavirus infection. Hantavirus RNA was detected in 3 patients, including 1 who died. Partial RNA sequences of small and medium segments from the 3 patients were most closely related to Andes virus lineages but distinct (<90% nt identity) from reported strains. A survey for IgG against hantaviruses among residents of Chapare Province indicated that 12.2% of the population had past exposure to >1 hantaviruses; the highest prevalence was among agricultural workers. Because of the high level of human exposure to hantavirus strains and the severity of resulting disease, additional studies are warranted to determine the reservoirs, ecologic range, and public health effect of this novel strain of hantavirus.     

High Diversity of RNA Viruses in Rodents,Ethiopia

We investigated synanthropic small mammals in the Ethiopian Highlands as potential reservoirs for human pathogens and found that 2 rodent species, the Ethiopian white-footed mouse and Awash multimammate mouse, are carriers of novel Mobala virus strains. The white-footed mouse also carries a novel hantavirus, the second Murinae-associated hantavirus found in Africa.     

Multiple synchronous outbreaks of puumala virus, Germany, 2010

To investigate 2,017 cases of hantavirus disease in Germany, we compared 38 new patient-derived Puumala virus RNA sequences identified in 2010 with bank vole-derived small segment RNA sequences. The epidemic process was driven by outbreaks of 6 Puumala virus clades comprising strains of human and vole origin. Each clade corresponded to a different outbreak region.     

Review: Viral infections and mechanisms of thrombosis and bleeding

Viral infections are associated with coagulation disorders. All aspects of the coagulation cascade, primary hemostasis, coagulation, and fibrinolysis, can be affected. As a consequence, thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, hemorrhage, or both, may occur. Investigation of coagulation disorders as a consequence of different viral infections have not been performed uniformly. Common pathways are therefore not fully elucidated. In many severe viral infections there is no treatment other than supportive measures. A better understanding of the pathophysiology behind the association of viral infections and coagulation disorders is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies. This is of special importance in case of severe complications, such as those seen in hemorrhagic viral infections, the incidence of which is increasing worldwide. To date, only a few promising targets have been discovered, meaning the implementation in a clinical context is still hampered. This review discusses non‐hemorrhagic and hemorrhagic viruses for which sufficient data on the association with hemostasis and related clinical features is available. This will enable clinicians to interpret research data and place them into a perspective. J. Med. Virol. 84:1680–1696, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in Argentina, 1995-2008

We report a large case series of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in Argentina that was confirmed by laboratory results from 1995 through 2008. The geographic and temporal distribution of cases by age, sex, fatality rate, and risk factors for HPS was analyzed. A total of 710 cases were unequally distributed among 4 of the 5 Argentine regions. Different case-fatality rates were observed for each affected region, with a maximum rate of 40.5%. The male-to-female ratio for HPS case-patients was 3.7:1.0; the case-fatality rate was significantly higher for women. Agriculture-associated activities were most commonly reported as potential risk factors, especially among men of working age. Although HPS cases occurred predominantly in isolation, we identified 15 clusters in which strong relationships were observed between members, which suggests ongoing but limited person-to-person transmission.     

首次从我国大绒鼠中检测到类似Tula样汉坦病毒

目的了解云南省鼠类携带汉坦病毒情况及其分子特征。方法在居民区和野外捕鼠,用直接免疫荧光试验检测鼠肺中汉坦病毒抗原,阳性鼠肺用RT-PCR法扩增汉坦病毒汉滩型和汉城型的S基因片段,并进行核苷酸序列测定和分析。结果 2006年9-10月在云南省泸西县共捕获鼠类4属6种267只,其中居民区146只,优势鼠种为黄胸鼠;野外121只,优势种为大绒鼠。居民区鼠类汉坦病毒带病毒率为0.85%(1/117),阳性鼠为黄胸鼠;野外鼠类汉坦病毒带病毒率为6.67%(6/90),阳性鼠为大绒鼠和高山姬鼠。对7份阳性鼠肺作RT-PCR扩增,结果从来自大绒鼠的LX378标本中检测到汉滩型病毒S片段核酸,其序列分析结果显示与Tula汉坦病毒Koziky/5276Ma/94株(AJ223601)核苷酸和氨基酸同源性最高,分别为81%、89.8%,而与汉滩型76-118株、汉城型L99株的核苷酸(氨基酸)同源性分别为73.9%(80.9%)、74.4%(77.9%)。结论首次从我国大绒鼠中检测到类似Tula样汉坦病毒的核酸序列,有关该类汉坦病毒在云南的分布、宿主动物和致病性以及全基因序列特征尚需进一步研究。