Viruses, Vol. 15, Pages 805: Puumala Hantavirus Infections Show Extensive Variation in Clinical Outcome

Viruses, Vol. 15, Pages 805: Puumala Hantavirus Infections Show Extensive Variation in Clinical Outcome Viruses doi: 10.3390/v15030805 Authors: Antti Vaheri Teemu Smura Hanna Vauhkonen Jussi Hepojoki Tarja Sironen Tomas Strandin Johanna Tietäväinen Tuula Outinen Satu Mäkelä Ilkka Pörsti Jukka Mustonen The clinical outcome of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) infection shows extensive variation, ranging from inapparent subclinical infection (70–80%) to severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), with about 0.1% of cases being fatal. Most hospitalized patients experience acute kidney injury (AKI), histologically known as acute hemorrhagic tubulointerstitial nephritis. Why this variation? There is no evidence that there would be more virulent and less virulent variants infecting humans, although this has not been extensively studied. Individuals with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles B*08 and DRB1*0301 are likely to have a severe form of the PUUV infection, and those with B*27 are likely to have a benign clinical course. Other genetic factors, related to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene and the C4A component of the complement system, may be involved. Various autoimmune phenomena and Epstein-Barr virus infection are associated with PUUV infection, but hantavirus-neutralizing antibodies are not associated with lower disease severity in PUUV HFRS. Wide individual differences occur in ocular and central nervous system (CNS)...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Opinion Source Type: research