Reversible Splenium Lesion of the Corpus Callosum in Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Failure Syndrome

This is the first case of virus-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy in which the pathogen was Hantaan virus. A 53-yr-old man presented fever, renal failure and a hemorrhagic tendency and he was diagnosed with hemorrhagic fever with renal failure syndrome (HFRS). In the course of his illness, mild neurologic symptoms such as dizziness and confusion developed and magnetic resonance images revealed a reversible lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum. This case suggests that HFRS patients with neurologic symptoms like dizziness and mental slowing should be considered to have structural brain lesions and to require brain imaging studies.

Interferon-Stimulated Genes Response in Endothelial Cells Following Hantaan Virus Infection

The regulation mechanism of interferon (IFN) and IFN-stimulated genes is a very complex procedure and is dependent on cell types and virus species. We observed molecular changes related to anti-viral responses in endothelial cells during Hantaan virus (HTNV) infection. We found that there are two patterns of gene expression, the first pattern of gene expression being characterized by early induction and short action, as in that of type I IFNs,' and the other being characterized by delayed induction and long duration, as those of IRF-7, MxA, and TAP-1/2. Even though there are significant differences in their induction folds, we found that all of IFN-alpha/beta , IRF- 3/7, MxA, and TAP-1/2 mRNA expressions reached the peak when the viral replication was most active, which took place 3 days of post infection (d.p.i.). In addition, an interesting phenomenon was observed; only one gene was highly expressed in paired genes such as IFN-alpha/beta??(3/277-folds), IRF-3/7 (2.2/29.4-folds), and TAP- 1/2 (26.2/6.1-folds). Therefore, IFN-beta, IRF-7, and TAP-1 seem to be more important for the anti-viral response in HTNV infection. MxA was increased to 296-folds at 3 d.p.i. and kept continuing 207-folds until 7 d.p.i.. The above results indicate that IFN-beta works for an early anti-viral response, while IRF7, MxA, and TAP-1 work for prolonged anti-viral response in HTNV infection.

Primary Humoral Immune Responses to Formalin Inactivated Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Vaccine (Hantavax(R)): Consideration of Active Immunization in South Korea

The efficacy of a formalin-inactivated hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) vaccine and the effectiveness of a related vaccination program have not been previously evaluated. We measured the primary immune responses to Hantavax by plaque reduction neutralizing antibody test (PRNT), hemagglutination inhibition test (HAI), ELISA and high density particle agglutination test (HDPA) in order to confirm a possible biological efficacy through independent substantiation of experimental results and to compare the results with previous studies. Following two doses of primary vaccination, the seroconversion rate of PRNT and HAI antibody was 33.3% (10/30)[95% C.I. 17.3-52.5%] and 26.7% (8/30) [95% C.I. 12.3-45.9%], respectively. The correlation between PRNT and HAI antibody showed a statistical significance (r=0.58, p 0.01). The seroconversion rate of HDPA and ELISA were both 76.7% (23/30) [95% C.I. 57.7-90.1%], which correlated well with each other(r=0.58, p 0.01). In our study, Hantavax elicited low neutralizing antibody responses, at least in the volunteers samples that we tested. The vaccination program, including the vaccine itself, that has been adopted by the national immunization program to protect against HFRS in Korea should be re-evaluated and re-formulated to produce a higher protective immune response rate.

A severe case of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Singapore.

The incidence of human hantavirus infection in Singapore is low. Hitherto, only 2 cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) have been reported. A third case is reported here of a ragman who had the classical manifestations of HFRS, confirmed by serology. In addition, his condition was complicated by liver dysfunction and neurological disturbance. After a protracted stay, the patient was finally discharged from hospital 5 months after the onset of his severe illness.

Hantaan virus infection among human and rat populations in Alexandria

Hantaan virus has recently been identified as the cause of the rodent borne viral zoonosis collectively termed Hantavirus disease [HVD]. Although the disease is mainly endemic in two main areas, clinical forms as well as positive antibody testing from healthy persons throughout the world have been reported denoting a worldwide presence. Rattus species are almost universally implicated as hantavirus reservoirs. Screening for hantavirus antibodies was done on 637 samples of human sera and 861 rodent sera trapped from 26 locations throughout the city of Alexandria, Egypt. ELISA assays were performed and 12.2% of humans were found seropositive with no effect of age, duration of work at sea or residence on seropositivity 12.8% of rodents were seropositive with Rattus norvegicus showing the highest prevalence and with no influence of sex, age or habitat. A significant association was found between the east district and seropositivity to Hantaan in rodents

Infecçäo humana por Hantavirus no Brasil. Regiäo Sudeste / Human infection by Hantavirus in Brazil Southeast region

Descrevem-se os resultados da investigaçäo sorológica conduzida, de 1986 a 1990, em grupos populacionais humanos dos Estados de Säo Paulo e Paraná, Brasil, que apresentavam estreito contato com ratos urbanos ou com roedores e outros pequenos mamíferos silvestres, com o objetivo de identificar infecçäo humana causada por Hantavírus, agentes etiológicos da febre hemorrágica com síndrome renal. O isolamento da Hantavirus de Rattus norvegicus capturado em Belém, Pará em 1981/1983 despertou o interesse em investigar infecçäo humana no país por esses agentes etiológicos. Os resultados sorológicos de 1063 pessoas mostraram presença de anticorpos anti-Hantavirus em 32 delas, evidenciados por testes imunoenzimático e de imunofluorescência usando-se antígenos dos vírus Haantan, Seoul, Puumala, e em 5 delas, por testes de neutralizaçäo com reduçäo em placa. Uma dessas pessoas apresentou alto título, em todos os testes, para o vírus Seoul. Trata-se de um morador da zona rural da regiäo do Vale do Ribeira, que nasceu, sempre viveu no local e nunca viajou para fora do Estado de Säo Paulo. Discute-se a importância médico-sanitária desse achado e dos resultados positivos obtidos com os testes imunoenzimático e de imunofluorescência em portuários de Paranaguá, Estado do Paraná, em doentes internados com suspeita de leptospirose em Hospital de Säo Paulo e em moradores da área rural

Hantavirus infection in laboratory and wild rodents in Argentina

Se determinó la presencia de anticuerpos anti-Hantavirus en sueros provenientes de roedores salvajes (de zonas urbanas y de campo) y de laboratorio para estudiar la existencia o no de infección con Hantavirus en la Argentina. Se utilizaron las técnicas de inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IF) y de reducción de placas por neutralización (PRNT). Ciento dos sueros correspondían a roedores de laboratorio pertenecientes a 2 bioterios de Mendoza y a 2 de Buenos Aires; 31 sueros fueron rcogidos de ratas urbanas capturadas en el puerto de Buenos Aires y 30 sueros pertenecían a cricétidos salvajes capturados en campos de Buenos Aires y Mendoza (Tabla 1). Se detectaron anticuerpos anti-Hantavirus en colonias de Rattus norvegicus de 3 de los 4 bioterios estudiados (22,5%) en estos mismos lugares. Previamente se habían detectado anticuerpos en sueros humanos por lo que, descartando otros orígenes para la infección, se determinó que las ratas de laboratorio son los candidatos más probables de diseminación del virus en humanos en estos ambientes. En las ratas del puerto de la ciudad de Buenos Aires no se encontraron anticuerpos ni por IF ni por PRNT. En las colonias de ratones y cricéticos de laboratorio no se encontró infección con Hantavirus, mientras que en cricétidos salvajes se demostró la presencia de Hantavirus tanto en Buenos Aires como en Mendoza. En la naturaleza se encontraron anticuerpos séricos anti-Hantavirus en un cricétido reservorio del virus Junín (agente etiológico de la fiebre...