Inclusion Bodies are Formed in SFTSV-infected Human Macrophages / 病毒学报

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.

Flebotomíneos (díptera, psychodidae) em focos urbanos de leishmaniose visceral no estado do Maranhão, Brasil / Sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in urban outbreaks of visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Foram objetos deste estudo a riqueza, a abundância relativa e a frequência mensal das espécies de flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae) em uma área urbana do município de Codó, estado doMaranhão, que registra elevada prevalência de leishmaniose visceral. Os insetos foram capturados com armadilhas luminosas do tipo CDC, das 18 h às 6 h, duas vezes por mês, de junho de 2012 a maio de 2013. Foram coletados 5.722 espécimes de 11 espécies, sendo 10 pertencentes ao gênero Lutzomyia e 1 ao gênero Brumptomyia. A abundância foi maior no peridomicílio (4.009 exemplares:66 por cento machos e 34 por cento fêmeas) do que no intradomicílio (1.713 exemplares: 55,9 por cento machos e 44,1 por cento fêmeas). A espécie mais abundante foi L. longipalpis (97,7 por cento) e juntamente com L. evandroi, L.sordelli e L. termitophila foram as mais constantes ao longo do ano. A frequência dos flebotomíneos mostrou-se maior no período seco (57,9 por cento), elevando-se com o aumento da temperatura média(p=0,0156; r=0,1007) e reduzindo-se com o aumento da umidade relativa do ar (p=0,0001;r=-0,1740). Sugerem-se ações de controle vetorial durante a estação seca quando os flebotomíneossão mais abundantes.

The richness, relative abundance and the monthly frequency of species of sandflies (Diptera,Psychodidae) in an urban area of the municipality of Codo, Maranhão, a state that records a highprevalence of visceral leishmaniasis, was studied. The insects were captured with CDC light traps,from 18 h to 6 h, twice per month from June 2012 to May 2013 and 5,722 specimens of 11 species, 10belonging to the genus Lutzomyia and one to the genus Brumptomyia were collected. The abundancewas higher outdoors (4,009 samples: 66 percent males and 34 percent females) than in households (1,713 samples:55.9 percent males and 44.1 percent females). The most abundant species was L. longipalpis (97.7 percent), whichtogether with L. evandroi, L.sordellii and L. termitophila were more constant throughout the year. Thefrequency of sandflies was higher in the dry season (57.9 percent), rising with increasing mean temperature(p=0.0156, r=0.1007) and showed a decrease with increasing relative humidity (p=0.0001, r=-0.1740).Vector control during the dry season, when sandflies are most abundant, is suggested.

Laishmaniasis cutánea / Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

La leishmaniasis es una enfermedad parasitaria causada por protozoarios intracelulares del género Leishmania. Es transmitida al humano mediante la picadura de flebótomos. Las leish- maniasis está clasificada en diferentes variantes clínicas: cutánea localizada o difusa, mucocutá- nea y visceral. Es una parasitosis común en Latinoamérica y sobre todo en los países en vías de desarrollo, donde el estilo de vida de la pobla- ción aumenta el riesgo de enfermarse, al vivir en zonas de concentración parasitaria natural, con poco acceso a los servicios de salud. Por esa razón, esta afección constituye un serio proble- ma de salud, cuyo conocimiento es de gran importancia para los médicos que se desempe- ñan en estas áreas dentro de países endémicos. Se presenta caso clínico de niño de siete meses de edad con úlcera no pruriginosa de forma circular de 5mm de diámetro en pómulo dere- cho, de cinco meses de evolución. El paciente es residente permanente de La Puerta, Meren- dón, San Pedro Sula, un área montañosa con abundante vegetación. Detectado en el Institu- to Hondureño de Seguridad Social Regional del Norte en el cual el estudio histopatológico evidenció macrófagos con amastigotes de leishmania. Se administró tratamiento con glucantime por veinte días, citándole a la mitad del tratamiento y al concluirlo obteniendo resultados cicatriciales favorables, sin recidivas. Este es uno de muchos casos de leishmaniasis cutánea localizada en San Pedro Sula, con lo que se confirma el incremento en la propagación de este parásito protozoario en este municipio...(AU)

Study on serological cross-reactivity of six pathogenic phleboviruses / 病毒学报

This article aimed to study the antigenicity of nucleocapsid proteins (NPs) in six pathogenic phleboviruses and to provide theoretical evidence for the development of serological diagnostic reagents. NPs of six pathogenic phleboviruses were expressed and purified using a prokaryotic expression system and rabbits were immunized with individual recombinant NPs. Cross-reactions among NPs and rabbit sera were determined by both indirect ELISA and Western blotting analyses, and the sera titer was determined by indirect ELISA. Furthermore, sera from SFTS patients were also detected by each recombinant NP as a coating antigen using indirect ELISA. The cross-reactions and the sera titer were subsequently determined. Both the concentration and purity of recombinant NPs of six pathogenic phleboviruses met the standards for immunization and detection. The results of indirect ELISA and Western blotting showed that each anti-phlebovirus NP rabbit immune serum had potential serological cross-reactivity with the other five virus NP antigens. Furthermore, the sera from SFTS patients also had cross-reactivity with the other five NP antigens to a certain extent. Our preliminary study evaluated the antigenicity and immune reactivity of six pathogenic phleboviruses NPs and laid the foundation for the development of diagnostic reagents.

No Detection of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus from Ixodid Ticks Collected in Seoul

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.

Close correlation between development of MODS during the initial 72 h of hospitalization and hospital mortality in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

An emerging infectious disease was identified as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in central China since late March 2009. We found the patients with SFTS had severe clinical symptoms, and progressed rapidly to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) with high fatality rate of 25%-30%. The aim of this study was to assess the significance of risk factors predicting the development of MODS and death in SFTS patients. Consecutive SFTS admissions between May 2009 and September 2011 were analyzed for parameters of organ function during hospitalization using Marshall scoring system for MODS, and platelet counts were recorded on admission and at 24, 48, 72 h and one week after admission. We investigated the kinetics of organ failures and analyzed the association between age, platelet count and development of MODS or death. A total of 92 SFTS patients were enrolled in this study. Among them, 32 patients with dysfunction of over 4 organs were identified, 45% of them died within 72 h, 72% died within 5 days, and 76% died within 7 days after admission. We also found cumulative Marshall score was significantly higher in death patients (11.76±2.05) than in survival patients (4.22±1.98) (P<0.001). In addition, SFTS patients had older age and lower platelet counts in MODS and death groups. Furthermore, we also observed that there was a close correlation between platelet count on admission and Marshall score (P<0.001). High Marshall score, advanced age and lower platelet counts were the main risk factors for the development of MODS, and those factors could predict mortality in SFTS patients, suggesting prompt treatment and close monitoring of severe complications, especially MODS, are of great importance in saving patients' lives.

Epidemic situation and surveillance on SFTS in China, 2011-2012 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the data of surveillance on severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), from 2011 to 2012 in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Descriptive methods were conducted to analyze the surveillance data from 2011 to 2012 which were collected from the internet-based National Notifiable Disease Reporting System.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From 2011 to 2012, a total of 1229 SFTS cases and 107 deaths were reported in China with the average annual incidence rate of 0. 046/100 000 and case fatality rate of 8.7%. Compared to 2011, morbidity of 2012 has increased by 23.5% and mortality has decreased by 32%. 16 provinces reported SFTS cases. More cases occurred in spring and summer seasons,with the peak in May to July, during this period, 69% of the total cases were reported. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 to 85 years, 44.2% of total case was 55 to 70 years old, there were no differences in sex. Of all the cases 86. 8% was farmer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in widely distributed in China, especially in the central and eastern regions, the incidence has obvious seasonal. Surveillance and immigration quarantine should be strengthened.</p>

Recent advance in phlebovirus / 病毒学报

Genus Phlebovirus is single negative-strand RNA virus, and belongs to family bunyaviridae. Its genomes have three segments including L, M and S encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, envelope glycoprotein and nucleoprotein respectively. Phlebovirus is arbovirus and can be disseminated by arthropod. More than 70 types of Phlebovirus so far have been reported, and 68 known serotypes are divided into groups Sandfly fever and Uukuniemi, of which a few members are closely related to human diseases. In addition, new emerging viruses of genus Phlebovirus are discovered recently. In this review, the latest research progress in molecular characteristics, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and emerging viruses of Phlebovirus is summarized.

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome: Tick-Mediated Viral Disease

No abstract available.

Vectorial competence of phlebotomus papatasi [diptera: psychodidae] to transmit two old world leishmania species: leishmania major and L. tropica

The vectorial competence of Phlebotomus papatasi for two old world Leishmania species, L. major and L. tropica was investigated. Phlebotomus papatasi originally collected from Suez Governorate, were membrane fed on homogenized hamster's lesion infected with L. major, MHOM/EG/06/RTC-63, and L. tropica, MGER/EG/06/RTC-74 identified from patients with suspected CL in Northern Sinai, Egypt. Fed flies were dissected at different time intervals and examined microscopically to determine the infection rate and parasite intensity. The feeding rate of P. papatasi on L. major [58.69%] was found higher than on L tropica [45.99%]. Infection rate with L. major [60.19%] was significantly higher than that with L. tropica [39.73%]. Transmission by bites in case of P. papatasi/L. tropica failed. A characteristic L. major lesion was developed on the foot pads region 120 days post infective bites on healthy hamster. It is therefore concluded that P. papatasi is a much more effective vector for L. major than for L. tropica

Eco-epidemiología de flebovirus (Bunyaviridae, Phlebovirus) transmitidos por flebótomos (Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) / Eco-epidemiology of phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae, Phlebovirus) transmitted by phlebotomus (Phychodidae, Phlebotominae)

En la actualidad la emergencia y re-emergencia de nuevos arbovirus es de gran importancia en salud pública. El género Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae) es parte importante de este grupo de virus constituido en la actualidad por 68 serotipos. La infección causada por Phlebovirus origina una clínica comúnmente compuesta por fiebre, dolor de cabeza y malestar general; rara vez se presentan meningitis o meningoencefalitis, conocida por sus síntomas como la “fiebre del flebótomo”. Estos virus son transmitidos principalmente por dípteros de los géneros Phlebotomus y Lutzomyia de la familia Psychodidae. La dinámica poblacional de los flebovirus indica que su presencia está íntimamente asociada con los sitios donde se encuentra el vector, distribuido en zonas de Asia, África y Europa entre 20° y 45° de latitud, así como en las Américas asociado principalmente a zonas boscosas. Las hembras de estos géneros son hematófagas y capaces de transmitir el virus transovarialmente, por tanto el ciclo del mismo no se encuentra limitado a la transmisión hospedador-reservoriovector, aunado a esto, las larvas de cuarto instar en diapausa mantienen su capacidad infectiva. Actualmente, el diagnóstico se puede realizar por diversas técnicas serológicas y moleculares para algunos virus del grupo, pero dado que éstas no se realizan con frecuencia, los casos suelen pasar desapercibidos.

Arthropod borne diseases in imposed war during 1980

Personnel of military forces have close contact with natural habitat and usually encounter with bite of arthropods and prone to be infected with arthropod borne diseases. The imposed war against Iran was one of the most important and the longest war in the Middle East and even in the world and military people faced various diseases. The aim of this study was to review prevalence of arthropod borne diseases and to collect relevant information and valuable experiences during the imposed war. The present survey is a historical research and cross-sectional study, focused on arthropod fauna, situation of different arthropod borne diseases and also the ways which military personnel used to protect themselves against them. The information was adopted from valid military health files and also interviewing people who participated in the war. Scabies, cutaneous leishmaniasis, sandfly fever and pediculosis were more prevalent among other arthropod -borne diseases in Iran-Iraq war. Measures to control arthropods and diseases at wartime mainly included: scheduled spraying of pesticides, leishmanization and treatment of patients. Although measures used during the war to control arthropods were proper, however, due to needs and importance of military forces to new equipment and technologies, it is recommended to use deltamethrin-impregnated bed net, permethrin treated military uniforms and various insect repellents in future

Sandfly fever in Lebanon

An outbreak of an acute, self-limiting febrile illness characterised by headache, myalgia and polyarthralgia with or without leucopenia occurred in the Akkar, Menieh, Dinnieh districts, North Province, Lebanon, from 1 July to 18 September 2007. On 7th September 2007 the Ministry of Public Health, Lebanon, notified WHO of the outbreak and requested technical support to investigate the event . In response, WHO mobilised a medical epidemiologist/public health physician and a vector control expert to assist the national authorities in conducting risk assessment, outbreak investigation, and advise on control measures. Field activities included collection and shipment of sera for examination at a WHO Collaborating Centre for arbovi ruses, and carried out vector trapping and entomological studies. More than 800 cases and no death were reported during the outbreak period. Acute and convalescent sera tested at in UBIVE Institut Pasteur, Lyon, France, a WHO Collaborating Centre for Arboviruses, confirmed the outbreak as Sandfly fever caused by Phleboviruses, members of the Bunyavirus group

Registros de lutzomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) en nuevas localidades de Colombia / Records of lutzomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) in new localities of Colombia

Introducción: Los insectos del género Lutzomyia son vectores biológicos de bacterias, protozoarios y virus que atacan tanto a los seres humanos como a los animales. Tienen importancia sobre todo por cuanto las hembras, que son hematófagas, transmiten las diversas formas de leishmaniasis. En Colombia diferentes estudios han comunicado la distribución geográfica de estos dípteros. Con el presente trabajo se informan las especies en distintas localidades y se incluyen varios lugares sin registros conocidos antes. Materiales y métodos: Los ejemplares de este estudio se capturaron cuando pretendían picar a los colectores y con trampas donde el cebo era la luz o un animal. Varios especimenes se atraparon en sitios de reposo. A los flebótomos así obtenidos se les trató con diversos sistemas para poder disecarlos y montarlos entre lámina y laminilla a fin de hacer las identificaciones hasta especie. Resultados: A partir del estudio de 716 representantes, 124 machos y 592 hembras del género Lutzomyia, en 46 sitios de 29 municipios, 11 departamentos, fue posible identificar 33 especies. Discusión: Se amplía en forma considerable la distribución geográfica de los miembros del género Lutzomyia en varios sitios de Colombia. Se menciona la importancia de algunas especies antropofílicas en su responsabilidad como transmisores de enfermedades, sobre todo de las distintas leishmaniasis y se destaca la necesidad de estudios sistemáticos y taxonómicos a fin de fijar sus papeles en la diseminación de agentes patógenos que afectan a los seres humanos.

Introduction: Phlebotomine sand flies are biological vectors of bacteria, protozoa and viruses attacking both human beings and animals. Sand flies are important since females have haematophagous habits and transmit various types of leishmaniases. In Colombia different studies have given the geographic distribution of these insects. This paper reports the finding of species in several localities and includes some places with no previous records. Material and methods: Specimens were captured while attempting to bite on collectors and with traps (light bait and animal bait). Other specimens were trapped in resting places. Sand flies were processed with different techniques regularly used for dissecting and mounting them for species identification. Results: From the study of 716 specimens, 124 males and 592 females, of the genus Lutzomyia in 46 places from 29 municipalities, in 11 departments (= states, provinces) it was possible to identify 33 species. Discussion: The geographic distribution of the genus Lutzomyia is being greatly extended to new Colombian localities. The importance of some anthropophilic species as vectors of diseases, mainly leishmaniases is discussed. The necessity of systematic and taxonomic studies to know the role of these insects in the transmission of pathologies affecting humans is emphasized.

Seroprevalence of three emerging arboviral infections in Kuwaiti nationals

Diseases caused by dengue, s and fly fever and hanta viruses pose a major health risk in many countries. We determined the threat of these arboviral infections through a serologic using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] based tests. Hantavirus-specific antibodies were also detected using immunofluorescence. Of 499 samples tested for dengue virus IgG antibodies l4% were as positive for dengue positive by all the ELISA tests. Among the 42 showing strong IgG reactivity, only 1 was positive for dengue virus IgM antibodies. All samples tested for IgG antibodies to s and fly fever virus were negative. Hantavirus antibodies were detected in 11% of the 46 samples from high-risk individuals. The low prevalences suggest that at present these infections are not a serious problem in Kuwait

Flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) no estado de Roraima, Brasil: I. espécies coletadas nas regiões sul e central / Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the state of Roraima, Brazil: I. Species collected in the southern and central regions

Durante 1987, nas regiões sul e central do Estado de Roraima, foram realizadas coletas de flebotomineos nas bases de árvores e em armadilhas CDC colocadas a 1,5 e 10m de altura do solo. Foram obtidos 2812 espécimes, de 45 espécies: 35 na região sul e 27 na região cental; 18 espécies foram comuns as duas áreas e 21 estão sendo aqui assinaladas pela primeira vez no Estado. A presente publicação eleva a 54 o número de espécies conhecidad no Estado.