<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To observe cytopathogenic effect of
Hantaan virus (HV) on cultured
human bone marrow cells.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>
Light and
transmission electron microscopy and direct immunofluorescent
technique were applied to study
cellular structure especially ultrastructural changes of
bone marrow cells from
patients with
Hantaan virus infection.
Bone marrow cells of one
healthy volunteer were also studied as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The
antigen of HV was found in
bone marrow cells of 20 of 27
HFRS patients by the
aid of direct immunofluorescent
technique. It was found that the
granulocytes had the highest percentage of HV
antigen positive
cells (76%), followed by
monocytes (65%),
lymphocytes (40%),
megakaryocytes (20%) and the lowest was found in
erythrocytes (3.7%). The
injury of
cell membrane after
infection with HV was significantly more severe than that in the
control group under the
light and
electron microscopy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study demonstrated that HV could attack
human bone marrow cells and cause cytopathogenic effect on them.</p>