Bunyaviridae Infections ; pathology ; Fever ; virology ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; virology ; Orthobunyavirus ; classification ; pathogenicity ; Thrombocytopenia ; virology

Larvae, nymphs, and adult stages of 3 species of ixodid ticks were collected by tick drag methods in Seoul during June-October 2013, and their infection status with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus was examined using RT-PCR. During the period, 732 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 62 Haemaphysalis flava, and 2 Ixodes nipponensis specimens were collected. Among the specimens of H. longicornis, the number of female adults, male adults, nymphs, and larvae were 53, 11, 240, and 446, respectively. Ticks were grouped into 63 pools according to the collection site, species, and developmental stage, and assayed for SFTS virus. None of the pools of ticks were found to be positive for SFTS virus gene.
Animals ; Female ; Fever/virology ; Humans ; Ixodidae/*classification/*virology ; Larva/pathogenicity ; Male ; Phlebotomus Fever/virology ; Phlebovirus/*isolation & purification ; Republic of Korea ; Thrombocytopenia/virology ; Tick Infestations/*virology

Ebolavirus ; pathogenicity ; Endemic Diseases ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans

BACKGROUNDHemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is endemic in Junan county, Shandong Province, China. We conducted geographic information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis with the objective of estimating the spatial distribution of rodent populations and their hantavirus infection patterns, to describe the spatial relationships of hantavirus strains in small ecological areas and to identify key areas in endemic areas of HFRS for future public health planning and resource allocation.

METHODSRodent sampling was conducted in seven villages in Junan county from February 2006 to January 2007 using field epidemiological surveillance. Dynamics of hantavirus infection and population densities in rodents were investigated. Spatial statistical techniques including Ripley' L index and nearest neighbour hierarchical (NNH) clustering analysis were conducted to reveal the spatial structure of rodent populations in seven villages. Phylogenetic analysis and two-dimensional minimal spanning tree (2-D MST) models were employed to describe the spatial relationship of hantavirus strains.

RESULTSData showed that Mus musculus was the most common species in our study area, followed by Rattus norvegicus. Ripley's L index and NNH analysis showed that the spatial distribution of all captured rodents, Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus in seven villages were clustered and there were hotspot areas of rodent distribution. The branches of 2-D MSTs had similar topologies to those of corresponding phylogenetic trees, and hantavirus strains exhibited obvious connective traces in seven villages.

CONCLUSIONSThese results contribute to the understanding of the spatial distribution of rodent populations and hantavirus infection patterns in small areas, and identify priority areas within the epidemic areas for the development of a better prevention strategy against hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in a small ecological area.

Animals ; Geographic Information Systems ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Rats ; Rodentia ; virology

Animals ; Bunyaviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Fever ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Orthobunyavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Thrombocytopenia ; epidemiology ; virology

Animals ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Yellow Fever ; virology ; Yellow fever virus ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the infective status and natural distribution of Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever (XHF; Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, CCHF) in ticks, rodents and livestock in the Tarim Basin.

METHODSThe pathogenic materials of ticks or rodents' viscera and blood samples of sheep were inoculated into sucking mouse of 24 to 48-hour old. Materials with typical clinic symptoms were identified with RPHA and IFA. RT-PCR was taken to detect special S gene segment of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in the objective material.

RESULTSAll the samples of ticks, rodents' viscera and blood samples of sheep from 21 counties (cities) in the Tarim Basin were divided into 422 groups and inoculated into sucking mouse at laboratory. 49 materials with typical clinic symptoms were obtained. The morbidity rate with typical clinic XHF was high in Bachu, Yuli, Yutian and Ruoqiang. There were 43 samples identified with RPHA with 6 positive samples and positive rate of 1.4%. The materials with positive RPHA were found in Yuli, Luntai and Yutian. 42 samples were identified with IFA and 13 positive samples with the positive rate of 3.1%. The positive materials of IFA were found in Bachu, Yuli, Minfeng, Luntai and Yutian. 32 samples were detected with RT-PCR and there were 31 samples with special S gene segment of CCHFV (329- 548 nt). The positive materials was widely distributed in Aksu, Awat, Bachu, Luopu, Yuli, Minfeng, Qiemo, Ruoqiang, Luntai and Yutian. The highest infective rate was in Hyalomma asiaticum kozlovi, and followed by sheep. S gene segment was detected in viscera of M. meridianus.

CONCLUSIONXHF relied on the river in the southern part of Xinjiang and distributed in the areas with Populus euphratica shrub in desert and oasis in the Tarim Basin. The main vector and host were Hyalomma asiaticum kozlovi. Livestock such as sheep, camel, L. yarkandensis, M. meridianus and Euchoreutes naso could serve as the deposited host of XHF.

Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Morbidity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rodentia ; virology ; Ticks ; virology

The severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a new member in the genus Phlebovirus of the family Bunyaviridae identified in China. The SFTSV is also the causative pathogen of an emerging infectious disease: severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Using immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy, the intracellular distribution of nucleocapsid protein (NP) in SFTSV-infected THP-1 cells was investigated with serial doses of SFTSV at different times after infection. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrafine intracellular structure of SFTSV-infected THP-1 cells at different times after infection. SFTSV NP could form intracellular inclusion bodies in infected THP-1 cells. The association between NP-formed inclusion bodies and virus production was analyzed: the size of the inclusion body formed 3 days after infection was correlated with the viral load in supernatants collected 7 days after infection. These findings suggest that the inclusion bodies formed in SFTSV-infected THP-1 cells could be where the SFTSV uses host-cell proteins and intracellular organelles to produce new viral particles.
Cell Line ; China ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies, Viral ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Macrophages ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Phlebotomus Fever ; virology ; Phlebovirus ; genetics ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Thrombocytopenia ; virology

Dengue fever is an acute febrile disease caused by the dengue virus, which belongs to the flaviviridae family, and this virus is transmitted by the bite of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. It occurs in the tropical climates of the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, India, Africa and the subtropical zone of America. Imported cases of Dengue fever and Dengue hemorrhagic fever are rapidly increasing as many Koreans are now traveling abroad. Liver injury is usually detected by laboratory investigation according to a surveillance protocol. Although liver injury by dengue virus has been described in Asia and the Pacific islands, the pathogenic mechanisms are not yet fully clarified. It is usually expressed in a self-limiting pattern and the patient has a complete recovery. We report here on a case of a young woman who presented with general weakness, nausea and significant elevation of the aminotransferase levels, and she was diagnosed with dengue fever.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever/complications/*diagnosis/virology ; Dengue Virus/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human/*diagnosis/virology ; Humans

No abstract available.
Animals ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings/virology ; Phlebotomus Fever/*etiology/prevention & control/transmission ; Phlebovirus/isolation & purification/physiology ; Ticks/*virology