Hantavirus Infections in Humans and Animals, China

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a serious public health problem in the People’s Republic of China. Although 7 sero/genotypes of hantaviruses have been found in rodents, only Hantaan virus (carried by Apodemus agrarius mice) and Seoul virus (carried by Rattus norvegicus rats) reportedly cause disease in humans. During 1950–2007, a total of 1,557,622 cases of HFRS in humans and 46,427 deaths (3%) were reported in China. HFRS has been reported in 29 of 31 provinces in China. After implementation of comprehensive preventive measures, including vaccination, in the past decade in China, incidence of HFRS has dramatically decreased; only 11,248 HFRS cases were reported in 2007. Mortality rates also declined from the highest level of 14.2% in 1969 to ≈1% during 1995–2007. However, the numbers of HFRS cases and deaths in China remain the highest in the world.     

Aleutian Mink Disease Virus and Humans

Reports of a possible relationship between Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (AMDV) and human infection are rare. However, 2 mink farmers with vascular disease and microangiopathy similar to that in mink with Aleutian disease were found to have AMDV-specific antibodies and AMDV DNA. These findings raise the suspicion that AMDV may play a role in human disease.     

Lead Review Article Biochemical Features of Grain Legume Allergens in Humans and Animals

Peanuts and soybeans are the major legumes involved in human food allergy, although some data exist on adverse reactions to temperate legumes including pea, green bean, sweet lupin, and lentil. An increasing number of legume proteins or glycoproteins have been characterized as food allergens. Limited data tend to indicate that they are usually different from legume inhalent allergens. Cross-recognition among legume allergens is immunochemically frequent but clinically less common. A common feature to most legume allergens is their natural resistance to thermal, chemical, and in some way, proteolytic denaturation. Finally, other mammals including preruminant calves, and piglets at the time of weaning, are prone to gut immune-mediated reactions to soybean and pea proteins.     

Shuni Virus in Cases of Neurologic Disease in Humans,South Africa

We describe Shuni virus (SHUV) detection in human neurologic disease cases in South Africa. SHUV RNA was identified in 5% of cerebrospinal fluid specimens collected during the arbovirus season from public sector hospitals. This finding suggests that SHUV may be a previously unrecognized cause of human neurologic infections in Africa.     

泉州市莱姆病的发现及蜱媒与宿主的调查研究

[目的]凋查泉州市莱姆病的病原、传播媒介、宿主动物及人群感染情况。[方法]以流行病学、血清学、病原学等疗法调查泉州市部分地区人群感染以及鼠类、野兔及牛等动物体表的蜱类,用PCR法检测其伯氏疏螺旋体DNA。[结果]首次确认泉州市存在莱姆病病例,安溪、永春等县林区人群存在感染,从粒形硬蜱中检出伯氏疏螺旋体DNA;从黄毛鼠、白腹巨鼠及野兔查出特异性抗体。[结论]从流行病学和病原学上证实泉州市存在莱姆病及其媒介与宿主,是当地一种新发现的人兽共患传染病。     

Humans and animals: increasing contacts, increasing infections

Changes in the zoonotic infections that affect Americans stem primarily from shifting patterns of animal-human interaction, the crossover of species-specific organisms, and the importation or identification of new organisms. Although Lyme disease is not, strictly speaking, zoonotic, it leads off this review by virtue of its epidemic or near-epidemic prevalence in many areas.