The Emergence of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus.
Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly recognized hemorrhagic fever disease found throughout Asia with a case fatality rate between 12% and 30%. Since 2009, SFTS has been reported in China throughout 14 Chinese Provinces. In addition, SFTS has been recognized in South Korea and Japan with the first confirmed cases reported in 2012. A similar disease, caused by the closely related Heartland virus, was also reported in the United States in 2009. SFTS is caused by SFTS virus, a novel tick-borne virus in the family Bunyaviridae, genus Phlebovirus. Unlike other mosquito- and sand...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - August 7, 2017 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Silvas JA, Aguilar PV Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research
Vertebrate Host Susceptibility to Heartland Virus
A. M. Bosco-Lauth et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - November 16, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Transmission of Heartland Virus (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) by Experimentally Infected Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)
Heartland virus (HRTV; Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) is a recently described cause of human illness in the United States. After field studies conducted in 2012 implicated Amblyomma americanum (L.) as a vector of HRTV, we initiated experiments to assess the vector competence of A. americanum. Larval and nymphal ticks were immersed in high-titered suspensions of HRTV, and then tested for virus at various intervals postimmersion. In a later trial larval ticks were immersed in HRTV, followed by engorgement on a rabbit. A subset of postmolt nymphs was tested for HRTV to document transstadial transmission. Putatively infected nymph...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Godsey, M. S., Savage, H. M., Burkhalter, K. L., Bosco-Lauth, A. M., Delorey, M. J. Tags: Vector/Pathogen/Host Interaction, Transmission Source Type: research
Viruses, Vol. 8, Pages 174: Phleboviruses and the Type I Interferon Response
The genus Phlebovirus of the family Bunyaviridae contains a number of emerging virus species which pose a threat to both human and animal health. Most prominent members include Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), sandfly fever Naples virus (SFNV), sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), Toscana virus (TOSV), Punta Toro virus (PTV), and the two new members severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and Heartland virus (HRTV). The nonstructural protein NSs is well established as the main phleboviral virulence factor in the mammalian host. NSs acts as antagonist of the antiviral type I interferon (IFN) system. Recent ...
Source: Viruses - June 21, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Jennifer WuerthFriedemann Weber Tags: Review Source Type: research
Surveillance for Heartland Virus (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) in Missouri During 2013: First Detection of Virus in Adults of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)
During 2013, we collected and tested ticks for Heartland virus (HRTV), a recently described human pathogen in the genus Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae), from six sites in northwestern Missouri. Five sites were properties owned by HRTV patients, and the sixth was a conservation area that yielded virus in ticks during 2012. We collected 39,096 ticks representing five species; however, two species, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (97.6%) and Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (2.3%), accounted for nearly all ticks collected. We detected 60 HRTV-positive tick pools and all were composed of A. americanum: 53 pools of nymphs, six pools of male a...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - May 19, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Savage, H. M., Godsey, M. S., Panella, N. A., Burkhalter, K. L., Ashley, D. C., Lash, R. R., Ramsay, B., Patterson, T., Nicholson, W. L. Tags: Vector-Borne Diseases, Surveillance, Prevention Source Type: research
Media Advisory: Integrated Tick Management Symposium
Annapolis, MD; May 10, 2016 – Tick-borne diseases such as Heartland virus, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are serious public-health threats. In order to address these threats, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Entomological Society of America, the IPM Institute of North America, and the North Central IPM Center will hold the "Integrated Tick Management Symposium: Solving America’s Tick-Borne Disease Problem" in Washington, DC, May 16-17, 2016.
read more (Source: ESA News)
Source: ESA News - May 10, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: rlevine Tags: Press Releases Source Type: research
Novel phleboviruses detected in ticks, Greece
Publication date: Available online 24 February 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Anna Papa, Anastasia Kontana, Katerina Tsioka, Ilias Chaligiannis, Smaragda Sotiraki Since 2009, when severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus and Heartland virus have been identified and associated with disease in humans, the interest on tick-borne phleboviruses is increasing rapidly. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of tick-borne phleboviruses in Greece and compare them with respective ones detected worldwide. Ticks collected from goats and sheep in 60 sites of 13 regional...
Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases - February 25, 2016 Category: Zoology Source Type: research
Development and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against the Nucleoprotein of Heartland Virus.
Abstract
Heartland virus (HRTV), a phlebovirus first isolated from two Missouri farmers in 2009, has been proposed to be transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Amblyomma americanum ticks. It is closely related to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) from China, another previously unrecognized phlebovirus that has subsequently been associated with hundreds of cases of severe disease in humans. To expand diagnostic capacity to detect HRTV infections, 20 hybridoma clones secreting anti-HRTV murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed using splenocytes from HRTV-inoculated AG...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - October 26, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Calvert AE, Brault AC Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research
Heartland Virus Neutralizing Antibodies in Vertebrate Wildlife, United States, 2009-2014.
Abstract
Since its discovery in 2009, the tickborne Heartland virus (HRTV) has caused human illness in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee USA. To better assess the geographic distribution of HRTV, we used wildlife serology as an indicator. This retrospective evaluation determined that HRTV is widespread within the central and eastern United States.
PMID: 26401988 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - September 26, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Riemersma KK, Komar N Tags: Emerg Infect Dis Source Type: research
Further Characterization of Rio Grande Virus and Potential for Serological Cross Reactivity with other Phleboviruses
Publication date: May–July 2015 Source:New Horizons in Translational Medicine, Volume 2, Issues 4–5 Author(s): M Szymczak, W Reeves, M Miller Members of the genus Phlebovirus (family Bunyaviridae) are new and emerging disease pathogens of humans and animals. Newly identified viruses include Heartland virus (HRTV), Lone Star virus in the USA, and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome virus in Asia. Assays to support surveillance, epidemiologic studies, and diagnosis of these viruses may also detect related viruses within the genus, confounding interpretation. Rio Grande virus (RGV) was isolated in 1973 f...
Source: New Horizons in Translational Medicine - September 13, 2015 Category: Research Source Type: research
Heartland Virus Neutralizing Antibodies in Vertebrate Wildlife, United States, 2009–2014
K. K. Riemersma and N. Komar (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - September 11, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Update and Commentary on Four Emerging Tick-Borne Infections
Publication date: June 2015 Source:Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, Volume 29, Issue 2 Author(s): Gary P. Wormser, Bobbi PrittTeaser Emerging tick-borne infections continue to be observed in the United States and elsewhere. Current information on the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features, and treatment of infections due to Ehrlichia muris–like agent, deer tick virus, Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato, and Heartland virus is provided and critically reviewed. More research is needed to define the incidence and to understand the clinical and the laboratory features of these infections. There is also...
Source: Infectious Disease Clinics of North America - July 17, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Update and Commentary on Four Emerging Tick-Borne Infections
Emerging tick-borne infections continue to be observed in the United States and elsewhere. Current information on the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features, and treatment of infections due to Ehrlichia muris–like agent, deer tick virus, Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato, and Heartland virus was provided and critically reviewed. More research is needed to define the incidence and to understand the clinical and the laboratory features of these infections. There is also a growing need for the development of sensitive and specific serologic and molecular assays for these infections that are easily accessible to clinicia...
Source: Infectious Diseases Clinics of North America - May 19, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Gary P. Wormser, Bobbi Pritt Source Type: research
Update and Commentary on Four Emerging Tick-Borne Infections Ehrlichia muris–like Agent, Borrelia miyamotoi, Deer Tick Virus, Heartland Virus, and Whether Ticks Play a Role in Transmission of Bartonella henselae
Publication date: June 2015 Source:Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, Volume 29, Issue 2 Author(s): Gary P. Wormser , Bobbi PrittTeaser Emerging tick-borne infections continue to be observed in the United States and elsewhere. Current information on the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features, and treatment of infections due to Ehrlichia muris–like agent, deer tick virus, Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato, and Heartland virus was provided and critically reviewed. More research is needed to define the incidence and to understand the clinical and the laboratory features of these infections. There is also...
Source: Infectious Disease Clinics of North America - May 19, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Serological Investigation of Heartland Virus (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) Exposure in Wild and Domestic Animals Adjacent to Human Case Sites in Missouri 2012-2013.
Abstract
Heartland virus (HRTV; Bunyaviridae, Phlebovirus) has recently emerged as the causative agent of human disease characterized by thrombocytopenia and leukopenia in the United States. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum L.) has been implicated as a vector. To identify candidate vertebrate amplification hosts associated with enzootic maintenance of the virus, sera and ticks were sampled from 160 mammals (8 species) and 139 birds (26 species) captured near two human case residences in Andrew and Nodaway Counties in northwest Missouri. HRTV-specific neutralizing antibodies were identified in north...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - April 13, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Bosco-Lauth AM, Panella NA, Root JJ, Gidlewski T, Lash RR, Harmon JR, Burkhalter KL, Godsey MS, Savage HM, Nicholson WL, Komar N, Brault AC Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research
