Hemorrhagic fever caused by a novel tick-borne Bunyavirus in Huaiyangshan,China
- VernacularTitle:中国淮阳山地区由新蜱传布尼亚病毒引起的出血热
- Author:
Zhang YONG-ZHEN
1
;
Zhou DUN-JIN
;
Xiong YANWEN
;
Chen XIAO-PING
;
He YONG-WEN
;
Sun QIANGZHENG
;
Yu BIN
;
Li JUAN
;
Dai YONG-AN
;
Tian JUN-HUA
;
Qin XIN-CHENG
;
Jin DONG
;
Cui ZHIGANG
;
Luo XUE-LIAN
;
Li WEI
;
Lu SHAN
;
Wang WEN
;
Peng JIN-SONG
;
Guo WEN-PING
;
Li MING-HUI
;
Li ZHEN-JUN
;
Zhang SHAOMIN
;
Chen CHEN
;
Wang YAN
;
Jong D.de MENNO
;
Xu JIANGUO
Author Information
- From: Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2011;32(3):209-220
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Background:From April to July in 2009 and 2010,unexplained severe hemorrhagic fever-like illnesses occurred in farmers from the Huaiyangshan mountains range.Methods:Clinical specimens (blood,urine,feces,and throat swabs) from suspected patients were obtained and stored.Mosquitoes and ticks in affected regions were collected.Virus was isolated from 2 patients and characterized by whole genome sequencing.Virus detection in additional patients and arthropods was done by virus-specific reverse transcription (RT) PCR.Clinical and epidemiological data of RT-PCR confirmed patients were analyzed.Results:An unknown virus was isolated from blood of two patients and from Haemaphysalis ticks collected from dogs.Whole genome sequence analysis identified the virus as a novel member of the family Bunyaviridae,most closely related to the viruses of the genus Phlebovirus within which it forms a separate lineage.Subsequently,infection was confirmed by RT-PCR in 33 of 58 suspected patients.The illness in these patients was characterized by fever,severe malaise,nausea,vomiting,and diarrhea.Prominent laboratory findings included low white cell- and platelet counts,coagulation disturbances,and elevation of liver enzymes.Hemorrhagic complications were observed in 3 cases,5 (15%) patients died.Conclusions:A novel tick-borne Bunyavirus causing life-threatening hemorrhagic fever in humans has emerged in the Huaiyangshan mountain areas of China.Further studies are needed to determine the epidemiology,geographic distribution and vertebrate animal ecology of this virus.
