infectious diseases
Hantavirus Infection
Introduction
Hantaviridaeare a family of enveloped single-stranded RNA viruses, which consists of at least 4 serotypes with 9 viruses causing 2 major, sometimes overlapping, clinical syndromes: Hemorrhagic Fever With Renal Syndrome None Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome None (See also Overview of Arbovirus, Arenavirus, and Filovirus Infections .) Viruses causing HFRS are Hantaan, Seoul, Dobrava (Belgrade), Saaremaa, Amur, and Puumala. Viruses causing HPS vary by region ( General reference ): Argentina: Andes, Araraquara, Bermejo, Juquitiba, Lechiguanas, Leguna Negra, Maciel, and Oran virus Brazil: Araraquara and Juquitiba virus Chile and eastern Bolivia: Andes virus North America: Sin Nombre, Black Creek Canal, Bayou, and Monongahela virus Panama: Choclo virus Paraguay and Bolivia: Leguna Negra virus Hantaviruses occur throughout the world in wild rodents, which shed the virus throughout life in saliva, urine, and feces. Transmission occurs between rodents. Transmission to humans is through inhalation of aerosols of rodent excreta or, rarely through rodent bites. Human-to-human transmission can occur with Andes virus. Naturally and laboratory-acquired infections are becoming more common. Laboratory diagnosis of hantavirus infection is established by serologic tests and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serologic tests include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western and strip immunoblot assays. Serologic diagnosis in North America must be able to differentiate between Seoul and Sin Nombre virus infections due to potential cross-reactivity. Growth of the virus is technically difficult and requires a biosafety level 3 laboratory. 