ABSTRACT
To better describe the genetic diversity of hantaviruses associated with human illness in South America, we screened blood samples from febrile patients in Chapare Province in central Bolivia during 2008-2009 for recent hantavirus infection. Hantavirus RNA was detected in 3 patients, including 1 who died. Partial RNA sequences of small and medium segments from the 3 patients were most closely related to Andes virus lineages but distinct (<90% nt identity) from reported strains. A survey for IgG against hantaviruses among residents of Chapare Province indicated that 12.2% of the population had past exposure to >1 hantaviruses; the highest prevalence was among agricultural workers. Because of the high level of human exposure to hantavirus strains and the severity of resulting disease, additional studies are warranted to determine the reservoirs, ecologic range, and public health effect of this novel strain of hantavirus.
Subject(s)
Hantavirus Infections/epidemiology , Hantavirus Infections/virology , Orthohantavirus/classification , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Bolivia/epidemiology , Child , Female , Orthohantavirus/genetics , Orthohantavirus/immunology , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Molecular Sequence Data , Molecular Typing , Phylogeny , Prevalence , Serotyping , Young AdultABSTRACT
A small focus of hemorrhagic fever (HF) cases occurred near Cochabamba, Bolivia, in December 2003 and January 2004. Specimens were available from only one fatal case, which had a clinical course that included fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, and vomiting with subsequent deterioration and multiple hemorrhagic signs. A non-cytopathic virus was isolated from two of the patient serum samples, and identified as an arenavirus by IFA staining with a rabbit polyvalent antiserum raised against South American arenaviruses known to be associated with HF (Guanarito, Machupo, and Sabiá). RT-PCR analysis and subsequent analysis of the complete virus S and L RNA segment sequences identified the virus as a member of the New World Clade B arenaviruses, which includes all the pathogenic South American arenaviruses. The virus was shown to be most closely related to Sabiá virus, but with 26% and 30% nucleotide difference in the S and L segments, and 26%, 28%, 15% and 22% amino acid differences for the L, Z, N, and GP proteins, respectively, indicating the virus represents a newly discovered arenavirus, for which we propose the name Chapare virus. In conclusion, two different arenaviruses, Machupo and Chapare, can be associated with severe HF cases in Bolivia.
Subject(s)
Arenaviruses, New World/isolation & purification , Hemorrhagic Fever, American/virology , Adult , Arenaviruses, New World/classification , Arenaviruses, New World/genetics , Bolivia , Cluster Analysis , Diagnosis, Differential , Fatal Outcome , Genome, Viral , Hemorrhagic Fever, American/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Phylogeny , RNA, Viral/genetics , Sequence Analysis , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Severe Dengue/diagnosis , Viral Proteins , Yellow Fever/diagnosisABSTRACT
Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of viral lower respiratory tract infections among infants and young children. HRSV strains vary genetically and antigenically and have been classified into two broad subgroups, A and B (HRSV-A and HRSV-B, respectively). To date, little is known about the circulating strains of HRSV in Latin America. We have evaluated the genetic diversity of 96 HRSV strains by sequencing a variable region of the G protein gene of isolates collected from 2007 to 2009 in Central and South America. Our results show the presence of the two antigenic subgroups of HRSV during this period with the majority belonging to the genotype HRSV-A2.
Subject(s)
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/isolation & purification , Animals , Base Sequence , Cell Line , Central America , DNA Primers , Humans , Phylogeny , Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/chemistry , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , South AmericaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent influenza antiviral resistance studies reveal an alarming increase in both adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) resistant viral strains worldwide, particularly in Asia, Europe and the United States. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we have evaluated influenza virus resistance in Central and South America. METHODS: Influenza viruses, isolated from symptomatic patients throughout Central and South America in 2005-2008 were analyzed for inhibitor resistance. The M2 and NA genes of influenza viruses were sequenced and resistance was inferred by comparison with published sequences and known resistant mutations. RESULTS: Our results indicate that: (i) resistance to adamantanes was seen in the majority (95.5%) of the influenza A/H3N2 isolates but only in one isolate of the influenza A/H1N1 viruses; (ii) resistance to NAIs began to be detected in A/H1N1 isolates from Central America in 2008; and (iii) none of the influenza B viruses analyzed were resistant to NAIs. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a limited effectiveness of influenza inhibitors due to the detection of resistance among A/H1 and A/H3 viruses.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Viral , Influenza, Human/virology , Neuraminidase/genetics , Orthomyxoviridae/drug effects , Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics , Adamantane/pharmacology , Adamantane/therapeutic use , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Cell Line , Central America , Dogs , Female , Humans , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/classification , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/drug effects , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/classification , Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/drug effects , Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/genetics , Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza, Human/drug therapy , Male , Molecular Sequence Data , Neuraminidase/antagonists & inhibitors , Neuraminidase/chemistry , Orthomyxoviridae/classification , Orthomyxoviridae/genetics , Orthomyxoviridae/isolation & purification , Oseltamivir/pharmacology , Oseltamivir/therapeutic use , Sequence Alignment , South America , Viral Matrix Proteins/chemistryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Human Adenoviruses are recognized pathogens, causing a broad spectrum of diseases. Serotype identification is critical for epidemiological surveillance, detection of new strains and understanding of HAdvs pathogenesis. Little data is available about HAdvs subtypes in Latin America. METHODS: In this study, we have molecularly characterized 213 adenoviruses collected from ILI presenting patients, during 2006-08, in Central and South America. RESULTS: Our results indicate that 161(76%) adenoviruses belong to subgroup C, 45 (21%) to subgroup B and 7 (3%) to subtype E4.
Subject(s)
Adenovirus Infections, Human/epidemiology , Adenovirus Infections, Human/virology , Adenoviruses, Human/classification , Adenoviruses, Human/isolation & purification , Adenoviruses, Human/genetics , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Central America/epidemiology , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Viral/chemistry , DNA, Viral/genetics , Genotype , Humans , Molecular Epidemiology , Phylogeny , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Sequence Homology , South America/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Debido a las consideraciones hechas, respecto a la deficiente infraestructura sanitaria tanto del área hurbana como rural estableciendose como zona de alto riesgo, y considerando las caracteristicas del brote epidemico, sumado a ello el apoyo logistico con que algunos distritos cuentan es que nos permitimos seleccionar un Distrito del Area Urbana del Sud y tres Distritos de Area Rural, V Valle Bajo, VI Chapare Valle Puna, y el VII Capinota, que de acuerdo al análisis previo, justifica el apoyo que ASDI-Suecia ofrece para vigilancia y control de cólera en la Regional de Cochabamba. Como epidemiología regional hemos considerado necesario programar algunos requerimientos que serviran para optimizar las actividades de supervisión, elaboración de instrumentos de trabajo, reciclaje y control del programa. La programación de actividades y requerimientos se presentan en forma separada por distritos, elaborados por cada uno de ellos