Viruses, Vol. 11, Pages 529: The Ecology of New Constituents of the Tick Virome and Their Relevance to Public Health
oor
Ticks are vectors of several pathogens that can be transmitted to humans and their geographic ranges are expanding. The exposure of ticks to new hosts in a rapidly changing environment is likely to further increase the prevalence and diversity of tick-borne diseases. Although ticks are known to transmit bacteria and viruses, most studies of tick-borne disease have focused upon Lyme disease, which is caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. Until recently, ticks were considered as the vectors of a few viruses that can infect humans and animals, such as Powassan, Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Crimean&ndas...
Source: Viruses - June 6, 2019 Category: Virology Authors: Kurt J. Vandegrift Amit Kapoor Tags: Review Source Type: research
Seroprevalence of Heartland Virus Antibodies in Blood Donors, Northwestern Missouri, USA.
Abstract
We estimated the seroprevalence of Heartland virus antibodies to be 0.9% (95% CI 0.4%-4.2%) in a convenience sample of blood donors from northwestern Missouri, USA, where human cases and infected ticks have been identified. Although these findings suggest that some past human infections were undetected, the estimated prevalence is low.
PMID: 30511916 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - December 5, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lindsey NP, Menitove JE, Biggerstaff BJ, Turabelidze G, Parton P, Peck K, Basile AJ, Kosoy OI, Fischer M, Staples JE Tags: Emerg Infect Dis Source Type: research
Seroprevalence of Heartland Virus Antibodies in Blood Donors, Northwestern Missouri, USA
N. P. Lindsey et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - December 4, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Heartland Virus Exposure in White-Tailed Deer in the Southeastern United States, 2001-2015.
Abstract
Heartland virus (HRTV) is a North American phlebovirus suspected to be transmitted by the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum. White-tailed deer (WTD) have been shown to develop HRTV-neutralizing antibodies following experimental infection. To further define the geographic distribution of HRTV through retrospective sampling of WTD, sera from the WTD herd health serum archive at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study between 2001 and 2015 were analyzed using serum neutralization. Of 783 serum samples tested, 57 (7.3%) were positive for HRTV-neutralizing antibodies. Deer with moderate t...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - September 24, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Clarke LL, Ruder MG, Mead DG, Howerth EW Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research
Viruses, Vol. 10, Pages 498: Heartland Virus Epidemiology, Vector Association, and Disease Potential
n Staples
First identified in two Missouri farmers exhibiting low white-blood-cell and platelet counts in 2009, Heartland virus (HRTV) is genetically closely related to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), a tick-borne phlebovirus producing similar symptoms in China, Korea, and Japan. Field isolations of HRTV from several life stages of unfed, host-seeking Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, implicated it as a putative vector capable of transstadial transmission. Laboratory vector competence assessments confirmed transstadial transmission of HRTV, demonstrated vertical infection, and showed ...
Source: Viruses - September 14, 2018 Category: Virology Authors: Aaron C. Brault Harry M. Savage Nisha K. Duggal Rebecca J. Eisen J. Erin Staples Tags: Review Source Type: research
Emerging Infectious Diseases: a Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review highlights some of the recent concerning emerging infectious diseases, a number of them specifically that the World Health Organization has categorized as priorities for research.Recent FindingsEmerging and reemerging infectious diseases account for significant losses in not only human life, but also financially. There are a number of contributing factors, most commonly surrounding human behavior, that lead to disease emergence. Zoonoses are the most common type of infection, specifically from viral pathogens. The most recent emerging diseases in the USA areEmergomyces canadensis, the H...
Source: Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports - September 1, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research
Viruses, Vol. 10, Pages 362: Tick –Virus–Host Interactions at the Cutaneous Interface: The Nidus of Flavivirus Transmission
Viruses, Vol. 10, Pages 362: Tick–Virus–Host Interactions at the Cutaneous Interface: The Nidus of Flavivirus Transmission
Viruses doi: 10.3390/v10070362
Authors:
Meghan E. Hermance
Saravanan Thangamani
Tick-borne viral diseases continue to emerge in the United States, as clearly evident from the increase in Powassan encephalitis virus, Heartland virus, and Bourbon virus infections. Tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFVs) are transmitted to the mammalian host along with the infected tick saliva during blood-feeding. Successful tick feeding is facilitated by a complex repertoire of pharmacologically active salivary pr...
Source: Viruses - July 7, 2018 Category: Virology Authors: Meghan E. Hermance Saravanan Thangamani Tags: Review Source Type: research
Emerging Infectious Diseases: a Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review highlights some of the recent concerning emerging infectious diseases, a number of them specifically that the World Health Organization has categorized as priorities for research.Recent FindingsEmerging and reemerging infectious diseases account for significant losses in not only human life, but also financially. There are a number of contributing factors, most commonly surrounding human behavior, that lead to disease emergence. Zoonoses are the most common type of infection, specifically from viral pathogens. The most recent emerging diseases in the USA areEmergomyces canadensis, the H...
Source: Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports - June 22, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research
Powassan Virus and Other Arthropod-Borne Viruses in Wildlife and Ticks in Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is a tick-borne zoonosis maintained in natural enzootic cycles between ixodid ticks and wild mammals. Reported human cases have increased in recent years; these infections can be fatal or lead to long-term neurologic sequelae. However, both the geographic distribution and the role of common, potential mammalian hosts in POWV transmission are poorly understood, creating challenges to public health surveillance. We looked for evidence of POWV infection among candidate wildlife host species and ticks collected from mammals and birds in southern Ontario. Tissues (including blood)...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - June 4, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Smith K, Oesterle PT, Jardine CM, Dibernardo A, Huynh C, Lindsay R, Pearl DL, Bosco-Lauth AM, Nemeth NM Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research
Heartland Virus and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Immunocompromised Patient, Missouri, USA
A. L. Carlson et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - April 3, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Experimental Infection of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginanus) with Heartland Virus.
In conclusion, this study does not indicate that WTD are a likely reservoir for HRTV in natural settings.
PMID: 29488458 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene)
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - February 26, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Clarke LL, Ruder MG, Mead D, Howerth EW Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research
Heartland Virus Humanized Monoclonal Antibodies for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Development
Heartland virus (HRTV) is a novel tick-borne virus first discovered in 2009 that causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Patients with HRTV often have low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, and abnormal liver function tests which can become severe. Cases of Heartland virus disease have been identified in the Midwestern and southern United States. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat Heartland virus infections. HRTV presents symptoms and generates a similar immune response to other tick-borne viruses, making diagnosis difficult. In order to devel...
Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - January 30, 2018 Category: Research Authors: ajoyprabhu3 Source Type: research
Heartland Virus Humanized Monoclonal Antibodies for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Development
Heartland virus (HRTV) is a novel tick-borne virus first discovered in 2009 that causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Patients with HRTV often have low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, and abnormal liver function tests which can become severe. Cases of Heartland virus disease have been identified in the Midwestern and southern United States. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat Heartland virus infections. HRTV presents symptoms and generates a similar immune response to other tick-borne viruses, making diagnosis difficult. In order to devel...
Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - January 30, 2018 Category: Research Authors: ajoyprabhu3 Source Type: research
Heartland virus NSs protein disrupts host defenses by blocking the TBK1 kinase-IRF3 transcription factor interaction and signaling required for interferon induction [Molecular Bases of Disease]
Heartland virus (HRTV) is a pathogenic phlebovirus related to the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), another phlebovirus causing life-threatening disease in humans. Previous findings have suggested that SFTSV can antagonize the host interferon (IFN) system via viral nonstructural protein (NSs)-mediated sequestration of antiviral signaling proteins into NSs-induced inclusion bodies. However, whether and how HRTV counteracts the host innate immunity is unknown. Here, we report that HRTV NSs (HNSs) also antagonizes IFN and cytokine induction and bolsters viral replication, although no noticeable inclus...
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry - October 6, 2017 Category: Chemistry Authors: Yun-Jia Ning, Kuan Feng, Yuan-Qin Min, Fei Deng, Zhihong Hu, Hualin Wang Tags: Immunology Source Type: research
Heartland virus infection in hamsters deficient in type I interferon signaling: Protracted disease course ameliorated by favipiravir.
Abstract
Heartland virus (HRTV) is an emerging tick-borne virus (Bunyaviridae, Phlebovirus) that has caused sporadic cases of human disease in several central and mid-eastern states of America. Animal models of HRTV disease are needed to gain insights into viral pathogenesis and advancing antiviral drug development. Presence of clinical disease following HRTV challenge in hamsters deficient in STAT2 function underscores the important role played by type I interferon-induced antiviral responses. However, the recovery of most of the infected animals suggests that other mechanisms to control infection and lim...
Source: Virology - August 30, 2017 Category: Virology Authors: Westover JB, Rigas JD, Van Wettere AJ, Li R, Hickerson BT, Jung KH, Miao J, Reynolds ES, Conrad BL, Nielson S, Furuta Y, Thangamani S, Wang Z, Gowen BB Tags: Virology Source Type: research
