THE HEARTLAND VIRUS, ANOTHER TICK TO DIE./ EL VIRUS DE HEARTLAND, OTRA GARRAPATA PARA MORIR

The Heartland Virus, another tick to die. !

El Virus de Heartland, otra garrapata para morir. !

EDITORIAL ENGLISH

===================

Hello friends of the network today the DERMAGIC EXPRESS will continue talking about the controversial world of TICKS that today are invading our habitat and causing illness and DEATH by the viruses that transmit. Today it is the turn of the HEARTLAND VIRUS (HRTV), transmitted by the TICK AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM also known as LONE STAR, for the distinctive mark that presents this tick on the back which is similar to a UNIQUE STAR.

The history of this VIRUS begins in year 2.009, June when two farmers were hospitalized in the HEARTLAND MEDICAL CENTER, Saint Joseph Missouri presenting symptoms of FEVER, DIARRHEA, FATIGUE, LEUCOPENIA and TROMBOCYTOPENIA. The doctor who makes the first description of this emerging Virus was Dr. Scott Folk and the vector transmitter was identified as the LONE STAR (AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM) tick, which transmits the virus when it feeds on blood.

The cutaneous manifestation of the bite of this TICKS (AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM) is similar to the classic ERYTHEMA MIGRANS (EM) of the LYME DISEASE and is called STARI wich means SOURTHEN-TICK-RASH-ILLNESS or ERUPTION RASH DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH TICKS OF THE SOURTHEN).

Later, similar cases were identified in: Northwestern Missouri (2.009) 2 cases. TENNESSEE (2,012-2.0130, 6 cases 1 death, MISSOURI, OKLAHOMA (2,014) 3 cases, 1 death, and ARKANSAS (2,017) 1 case. Until Today there have been reported about 20 cases of HEARTLAND VIRUS in North America since its discovery.

The identified VIRUS is a RNA virus of the family BUNYAVIRIDAE, genus PHLEBOVIRUS, species: HEARTLAND VIRUS, the name was given to the virus by the SITE (HEARTLAND) where it was discovered and has generated a NEW and extensive investigation on TICKS and The EMERGING diseases that transmit in addition to the already known LYME DISEASE, POWASSAN VIRUS and others.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) after describing the first cases of HEARTLAND VIRUS began to look for potential hosts and animal reservoirs of the virus. Nowadays 2.017, the virus has not yet been isolated from any domestic or wild animal, but there are studies suggesting that the WHITE-TAILED DEER and RACCOONS could be the hosts of the virus

In fact, in a study conducted in 2,012-2,013 in sera and ticks of 160 mammals (8 species) and 139 birds (26 species) in Missouri antibodies to HEARTLAND VIRUS (HRTV) were found in northern raccoons (42.6 %), Horses (17.4%), white-tailed deer (14.3%), dogs (7.7%), and Virginia opossums (3.8%), but not birds. It is believed, how i told you, that the WHITE-TAILED DEER and RACCOONS are the candidates to be the great hosts of the virus.

In other studies, antibodies to HRTV (HEARTLAND VIRUS) have been found in DEER, RACCOONS, COYOTES and MOOSES, which live in 13 states of the North American continent: FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, INDIANA, GEORGIA, MAINE, and TENNESSEE AND VERMONT.

On the other hand, another virus of the family BUNYAVIRIDAE genus PHLEBOVIRUS called SFTS VIRUS, was described in CHINA in the year of 2.009 and later in North Korea and Japan (2,013). Is a phlebovirus that produced a known clinical condition under the name of SEVERE FEVER WITH TROMBOCYTOPENIA SYNDROME, hence the name of (SFTS), the clinical symptoms of this emerging disease also include diarrhea, vomiting, leucopenia (decreased white blood cells) and increased liver enzymes, with a mortality ranging from 12 And 30%. Symptoms very similar to the disease by the HEARTLAND VIRUS, but with higher mortality in the case of the SFTS VIRUS.

The SFTS VIRUS was isolated in year 2.009 by the scientist Xue-jie Yu and colleagues, from the blood of patients infected with the SFTS virus and the TICKS involved are: IXODIDES, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes nipponensis, Amblyomma testudinarium and Rhipicephalus microplus.

The SFTS VIRUS can also be transmitted from HUMAN TO HUMAN by contact with blood or secretions.

In view of the emergence of these HEARTLAND and SFTS VIRUSES, in EUROPE specifically: GREECE, GERMANY, ESTONIA, PORTUGAL, FRANCE, BELGIUM and SWEDEN searched for PHLEBOVIRUS in TICKS, finding positivity for this virus in a determined percentage, identifying itself in GREECE Under the name of ANTIGONE VIRUS, transmitted by TICK Rhipicephalus sanguineus, collected from goats and sheep, and TICKS Haemaphysalis parva, in PORTUGAL AnLUC VIRUS and in BELGIUM and GERMANY GLABBEEK / OSTERHOLZ complex.

In China, were isolated the PHLEBOVIRUS DABIESHAN and YONGJIA VIRUS from the TICKS: Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haemaphysalis hystricis, whose genome is similar to the ANTIGONE VIRUS, were initially was called under the name LESVOS VIRUS, as it was isolated from Lesvos Island in Greece on it 2,015.

It remains to be clarified if the latter described PHLEBOVIRUS are involved in diseases that compromise public health, what is truth is that the great importance of these "NEW" and EMERGING VIRUS is that since 2.011 HEARTLAND VIRUS AND SFTS VIRUS are involved In serious diseases in humans causing DEATH in some cases.

A few days ago in July 2,017 in Japan a woman of 50 years died after being bitten by a cat, presenting SEVERE FEVERN WITH TROMBOCYTOPENIA SYNDROME ((SFTS), no bite detected by TICKS, there are not still reports of ANIMAL transmission to HUMAN of the SFTS virus, and it is speculated that this could be the first case of transmission of this virus from contaminated MAMMAL to HUMAN.

The BUNYAVIRIDAE FAMILY does not stay here, there are other diseases caused by these viruses:

1.) HEMORRHAGIC FEVER VIRUS OF CRIMEA IN THE CONGO.

2.) HEMORRHAGIC FEVER OF HANTAVIRUS.

3.) CALIFORNIA ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS.

4.) RIFT VALLEY FEVER.

5.) BWAMBA FEVER.

6.) CACHE VALLEY VIRUS.

7.) VIRUS OF ENCEPHALITIS LA CROSSE (WISCONSIN), which between 2,004 and 2,013 caused 787 cases of which 11 died.

8.) TOSCANA VIRUS, MENINGOENCEPHAFALITIS. MEDITERRANEAN REGION.

9.) UUKUNIEMI VIRUS (UUKV).

And many others, it is said that there are more than 40 variants of BUNYAVIRIDAE, and not all are transmitted TICKS as the case of the TOSCANA VIRUS transmitted by the bite of a PHLEBOTOMUS or sandfly (Phlebotomus Perniciosus) in 68.7% Of cases and described for the first time in ITALY.

The TICK AMBLYOMA AMERICANUM (LONE STAR) transmits in addition to the HEARTLAND VIRUS, the EWINGII ERLICHIA causing the ERLICHIOSIS, also the TULAREMIA and STARI that already comments to you.

What I want to make clear to all MEDICAL and NON-MEDICAL readers with this review is that today there are VIRAL EMERGING diseases transmitted by TICKS, and other VECTORS (PHLEBOTOMUS), go beyond LYME DISEASE, perhaps undiscovered ancestors, But the existing technology has allowed them to be identified. So I continue to keep my opinion on that in the previous reviews.

"... THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THESE ILLNESSES WHERE THE INITIAL ACT IS PRODUCED BY THE BITE OF A TICK, IS TO FIGHT AGAINST IT AND TO AVOID IT THAT ADHERES TO OUR SKIN ... AVOIDING THE BITE ..."

Finally I believe that these EMERGING VIRUSES are not new, maybe they have millennia in the wild, they are not the product of a "BIOLOGICAL WAR", they do not come from another planet, they just always existed, and now with the new technologies the human is discovering them.

In the references the facts in the attached the LONE STAR TICK, distribution in North America and possible animal hosts.

Greetings to all.

Dr. José Lapenta.

EDITORIAL ESPAÑOL
=================
Hola amigos de la red hoy el DERMAGIC EXPRESS continuara hablando sobre el controversial mundo de las GARRAPATAS que hoy día están invadiendo nuestro hábitat y ocasionando enfermedades y MUERTE por los virus que trasmiten. Hoy es le toca el turno al VIRUS DE HEARTLAND(HRTV), transmitido por la GARRAPATA AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM también conocida como LONE STAR (ESTRELLA SOLITARIA), por el distintivo que presenta esta garrapata en el dorso el cual es similar a una UNICA ESTRELLA.

La historia de este VIRUS comienza en el año 2.009, junio cuando dos agricultores fueron hospitalizados en el HEARTLAND MEDICAL CENTER, Saint Joseph Missouri presentando síntomas de FIEBRE, DIARREA, FATIGA, LEUCOPENIA Y TROMBOCITOPENIA, El Dr. quien hace la primera descripción de esta emergente virosis fue el Dr. Scott Folk y el vector transmisor fue identificado como la garrapata ESTRELLA SOLITARIA (AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM), la cual transmite el virus cuando se alimenta de sangre.

La manifestación cutánea de la picadura de esta GARRAPATA (AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM) es parecida al clásico ERITEMA MIGRANS (EM) de la ENFERMEDAD DE LYME y es denominado STARI (SOURTHEN-TICK-RASH-ILLNESS), que significa ENFERMEDAD DE ERUPCION ASOCIADA CON GARRAPATAS EN EL SUR).

Posteriormente fueron identificados casos similares en: Northwestern Missouri (2.009): 2 casos. TENNESSEE (2.012-2.0130, 6 casos 1 muerte, MISSOURI, OKLAHOMA (2.014) 3 casos, 1 muerte, y ARKANSAS (2.017) 1 caso. Se han reportando unos 20 casos del VIRUS DE HEARTLAND en Norte América desde su descubrimiento.

El VIRUS identificado se trata de un ARN virus de la familia BUNYAVIRIDAE, genus PHLEBOVIRUS, especie: HEARTLAND VIRUS, el nombre se le dio al virus por el SITIO (HEARTLAND) donde fue descubierto y ha generado una NUEVA y amplia investigación sobre las GARRAPATAS y las enfermedades EMERGENTES que transmiten además de las ya conocidas ENFERMEDAD DE LYME, VIRUS DE POWASSAN y otras.

El CDC (Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades) luego de descritos los primeros casos del VIRUS DE HEARTLAND comenzó a buscar los posibles huéspedes y reservorios animales del virus. Hoy día 2.017, todavía no se ha aislado el virus de ningún animal domestico o salvaje, pero hay estudios que sugieren que el CIERVO DE COLA BLANCA y MAPACHES podrían ser los hospedadores del virus

De hecho, en estudio realizado en 2.012-2.013 en los sueros y garrapatas de 160 mamíferos (8 especies) y 139 aves (26 especies) en Missouri se encontraron anticuerpos contra el VIRUS DE HEARTLAND (HRTV) en mapaches del norte (42,6%), caballos (17,4%), ciervos de cola blanca (14,3%), perros (7,7%), Y zarigüeyas o rabipelados de Virginia (3.8%), pero no en pájaros. Se cree que eltson los candidatos a ser los grandes hospedadores del virus.

En otros estudios se han encontrado anticuerpos contra el HRTV( HEARTLAND VIRUS) en CIERVOS, MAPACHES, COYOTES Y ALCES, los cuales viven en 13 estados del continente Americano: FLORIDA, ILINOIS, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CAROLINA DEL NORTE, TEXAS, INDIANA, GEORGIA, MAINE, TENNESSEE Y VERMONT.

Por otra parte, En CHINA en el año de 2.009 y posteriormente en Corea del Norte y Japón (2.013) , se describió otro virus de la familia BUNYAVIRIDAE genus PHLEBOVIRUS denominado SFTS VIRUS, flebovirus que produce una condición clínica conocida bajo el nombre de SINDROME DE FIEBRE SEVERA CON TROMBOCITOPENIA, de allí viene el nombre de (SFTS), los síntomas clínicos de esta emergente enfermedad además incluyen diarrea, vómitos, leucopenia (disminución de glóbulos blancos) y aumento de las enzimas hepáticas, con una mortalidad que oscila entre el 12 y 30%. Síntomas muy parecidos a la enfermedad por el VIRUS DE HEARTLAND, pero con mayor mortalidad en el caso del SFTS VIRUS.

EL VIRUS SFTS fue aislado en el año 2.009 por el científico Xue-jie Yu y colegas, de la sangre de pacientes infectados con el SFTS virus y las GARRAPATAS involucradas son: IXODIDES, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes nipponensis, Amblyomma testudinarium Y Rhipicephalus microplus.

El VIRUS SFTS también puede ser trasmitido de HUMANO A HUMANO por contacto de sangre o saliva.

En vista de la emergencia de estos VIRUS DE HEARTLAND Y SFTS VIRUS, en EUROPA específicamente: GRECIA, ALEMANIA, ESTONIA, PORTUGAL, FRANCIA, BELGICA y SUECIA se hicieron estudios buscando FLEBOVIRUS EN GARRAPATAS encontrándose positividad para FLEBOVIRUS en un determinado porcentaje, identificándose en GRECIA bajo el nombre de ANTIGONE VIRUS, transmitido por la GARRAPATA Rhipicephalus sanguineus, recolectadas de cabras y ovejas, y la GARRAPATA Haemaphysalis parva, en PORTUGAL AnLUC VIRUS y en BELGICA y ALEMANIA complejo GLABBEEK/OSTERHOLZ.

En CHINA fueron aislados los FLEBOVIRUS DABIESHAN y YONGJIA VIRUS de las GARRAPATAS: Haemaphysalis longicornis y Haemaphysalis hystricis, cuyo genoma es similar al VIRUS ANTIGONE, que inicialmente fue conocido bajo el nombre de LESVOS VIRUS, pues fue aislado de la isla Lesvos en Grecia en él año 2.015.

Queda por dilucidar si estos últimos descritos FLEBOVIRUS están involucrados en enfermedades que comprometan la salud pública, lo que sí es cierto es que la gran importancia de ESTOS "NUEVOS" Y EMERGENTES VIRUS, es que desde 2.011 el VIRUS DE HEARTLAND Y SFTS VIRUS están involucrados en enfermedades graves en humanos causando la MUERTE en algunos casos.

Hace pocos días en julio 2.017 en Japón una mujer de 50 años murió luego de ser mordida por un gato, presentando el SINDROME DE FIEBRE SEVERA CON TROMBOCITOPENIA ((SFTS), no se detecto mordida por GARRAPATAS, no hay reportes todavía de transmisión de ANIMAL-HUMANO del virus SFTS, y se especula que este podría ser el primer caso de transmisión de este virus de MAMIFERO contaminado a HUMANO.

La FAMILIA DE LOS BUNYAVIRIDAE no se queda aquí, existen otras enfermedades ocasionadas por estos virus:

1.) VIRUS DE LA FIEBRE HEMORRAGICA DE CRIMEA EN EL CONGO.
2.) FIEBRE HEMORRAGICA DEL HANTAVIRUS.
3.) VIRUS DE LA ENCEFALITIS DE CALIFORNIA.
4.) FIEBRE DEL VALLE DE RIFT.
5.) FIEBRE DE BWAMBA.
6.) VIRUS DEL VALLE DE CACHE.
7.) VIRUS DE LA ENCEFALITIS LA CROSSE (WISCONSIN), el cual entre 2.004 y 2.013 ocasiono 787 casos de los cuales 11 murieron.
8.) TOSCANA VIRUS, MENINGOENCEFALITIS. REGION DEL MEDITERRANEO.
9.) UUKUNIEMI VIRUS (UUKV).
Y muchos otros mas , se dice que hay más de 40 variantes de los BUNYAVIRIDAE, y no todos son transmitidos por GARRAPATAS, como el caso del VIRUS TOSCANA transmitido por la picadura de un FLEBOTOMO o mosquito (Phlebotomus Perniciosus) en el 68,7% de los casos y descrito por primera vez en ITALIA.

La GARRAPATA AMBLYOMA AMERICANUM (ESTRELLA SOLITARIA) transmite además del VIRUS DE HEARTLAND, LA ERLICHIA EWINGII causante de la ERLICHIOSIS, también la TULAREMIA y el STARI que ya les comente.

Lo que quiero dejar claro para todos los lectores MEDICOS y NO MEDICOS con esta revisión es que hoy día, hay enfermedades EMERGENTES VIRALES transmitidas por GARRAPATGAS, y otros VECTORES (FLEBOTOMOS), van más allá de la ENFERMEDAD DE LYME, quizá ancestrales no descubiertas, pero la tecnología existente actualmente ha permitido IDENTIFICARLAS. De modo que sigo manteniendo mi opinión que deje en las revisiones previas.

" ... LA MEJOR MANERA DE EVITAR ESTAS ENFERMEDADES DONDE EL ACTO INICIAL ES PRODUCIDO POR LA MORDEDURA DE UNA GARRAPATA, ES LUCHAR CONTRA ELLA Y EVITAR QUE SE ADHIERA A NUESTRA PIEL...EVITANDO LA MORDIDA..."

Finalmente creo que estos EMERGENTES VIRUS, no son nuevos, quiza tienen milenios en la naturaleza, no son producto de una "GUERRA BIOLOGICA" tampoco vienen de otro planeta, simplemente siempre existieron, y ahora con las nuevas tecnologias el humano los esta descubriendo.

En las referencias los hechos en el adjunto la GARRAPATA ESTRELLA SOLITARIA, distribución en Norte América y posibles vectores.

Saludos a todos.

Dr. José Lapenta.

=======================================================================

REFERENCIAS BIBLIOGRAFICAS/ BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

=======================================================================

1.) Differential Antagonism of Human Innate Immune Responses by Tick-Borne Phlebovirus Nonstructural Proteins.

2.) Molecular identification of novel phlebovirus sequences in European ticks.

3.) Novel Clinical and Pathologic Findings in a Heartland Virus-Associated Death.

4.) Heartland virus-associated death in tennessee.

5.) Notes from the field: Heartland virus disease - United States, 2012-2013.

6.) A reported death case of a novel bunyavirus in Shanghai, China.

7.) Heartland Virus Neutralizing Antibodies in Vertebrate Wildlife, United States, 2009-2014.

8.) Serological investigation of heartland virus (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) exposure in wild and domestic animals adjacent to human case sites in Missouri 2012-2013.

9.) Ulcerative Lesions with Hemorrhage in a Patient with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia

10.) Phlebovirus meningoencephalis complicated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia: a case report.

11.) Case of tick-borne illness, Heartland virus, found in Arkansas resident

12.) Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) in the North: STARI Following a Tick Bite in Long Island, New York

13.) Death from Tick-borne Virus (SFTS)

14.) Novel phlebovirus detected in Haemaphysalis parva ticks in a Greek island.

15.) Generic amplification and next generation sequencing reveal Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus AP92-like strain and distinct tick phleboviruses in Anatolia, Turkey.

16.) Toscana virus encephalitis following a holiday in Sicily.

==================================================================

1.) Differential Antagonism of Human Innate Immune Responses by Tick-Borne Phlebovirus Nonstructural Proteins.

=====================================================================

mSphere. 2017 Jun 28;2(3). pii: e00234-17. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00234-17. eCollection 2017 May-Jun.

Rezelj VV1, Li P1, Chaudhary V2, Elliott RM1, Jin DY2, Brennan B1.

Author information

MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

School of Biomedical Science, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China.

Abstract

In recent years, several newly discovered tick-borne viruses causing a wide spectrum of diseases in humans have been ascribed to the Phlebovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae family. The nonstructural protein (NSs) of bunyaviruses is the main virulence factor and interferon (IFN) antagonist. We studied the molecular mechanisms of IFN antagonism employed by the NSs proteins of human apathogenic Uukuniemi virus (UUKV) and those of Heartland virus (HRTV) and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), both of which cause severe disease. Using reporter assays, we found that UUKV NSs weakly inhibited the activation of the beta interferon (IFN-β) promoter and response elements. UUKV NSs weakly antagonized human IFN-β promoter activation through a novel interaction with mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy studies. HRTV NSs efficiently antagonized both IFN-β promoter activation and type I IFN signaling pathways through interactions with TBK1, preventing its phosphorylation. HRTV NSs exhibited diffused cytoplasmic localization. This is in comparison to the inclusion bodies formed by SFTSV NSs. HRTV NSs also efficiently interacted with STAT2 and impaired IFN-β-induced phosphorylation but did not affect STAT1 or its translocation to the nucleus. Our results suggest that a weak interaction between STAT1 and HRTV or SFTSV NSs may explain their inability to block type II IFN signaling efficiently, thus enabling the activation of proinflammatory responses that lead to severe disease. Our findings offer insights into how pathogenicity may be linked to the capacity of NSs proteins to block the innate immune system and illustrate the plethora of viral immune evasion strategies utilized by emerging phleboviruses. IMPORTANCE Since 2011, there has been a large expansion in the number of emerging tick-borne viruses that have been assigned to the Phlebovirus genus. Heartland virus (HRTV) and SFTS virus (SFTSV) were found to cause severe disease in humans, unlike other documented tick-borne phleboviruses such as Uukuniemi virus (UUKV). Phleboviruses encode nonstructural proteins (NSs) that enable them to counteract the human innate antiviral defenses. We assessed how these proteins interacted with the innate immune system. We found that UUKV NSs engaged with innate immune factors only weakly, at one early step. However, the viruses that cause more severe disease efficiently disabled the antiviral response by targeting multiple components at several stages across the innate immune induction and signaling pathways. Our results suggest a correlation between the efficiency of the virus protein/host interaction and severity of disease.

=====================================================================

2.) Molecular identification of novel phlebovirus sequences in European ticks.

=====================================================================

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2017 Aug;8(5):795-798. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.06.005. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Prinz M1, Fuchs J1, Ehrmann S2, Scherer-Lorenzen M2, Kochs G1, Panning M3.

Author information

Institute for Virology, Medical Center- University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Department of Geobotany, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Institute for Virology, Medical Center- University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: marcus.panning@uniklinik-freiburg.de.

Abstract

In recent years the number of newly described tick-borne phleboviruses has been steadily growing. Some of these novel viruses are highly pathogenic in humans, e.g. the Heartland and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus. We aimed to analyse ticks sampled across Europe to investigate the diversity of phleboviruses using a comprehensive PCR-based screening approach. A total of 4387 ticks were collected from the vegetation in regions of France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and Estonia, respectively. Ticks were pooled and 22/979 pools tested positive using a PCR targeting the large (L) segment of phleboviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of a 500-bp fragment of the L segment showed a distinct novel clade provisionally named Glabbeek/Osterholz group (Belgium and Germany). In addition, sequences from ticks sampled in France clustered together with the recently described Antigone virus from Greece and AnLuc from Portugal. Our results extend the current diversity of phleboviruses in Europe. Future research should address the ecological processes driving the occurrence of phleboviruses and the impact of these novel phleboviruses for public health.

=====================================================================

3.) Novel Clinical and Pathologic Findings in a Heartland Virus-Associated Death.

======================================================================

Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Feb 15;64(4):510-512. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw766.

Fill MA1,2, Compton ML3, McDonald EC3, Moncayo AC2, Dunn JR2, Schaffner W4, Bhatnagar J5, Zaki SR5, Jones TF2, Shieh WJ5.

Author information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Health Policy, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Abstract

We describe an investigation into a Heartland virus (HRTV)-associated death in Tennessee with novel clinical and pathologic findings. HRTV can cause rapidly fatal, widely disseminated infection with multisystem organ failure in patients without substantial comorbidities. We identified viral antigen in multiple organ tissues where it was not detected previously.

Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2017. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

=====================================================================

4.) Heartland virus-associated death in tennessee.

=====================================================================

Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Sep 15;59(6):845-50. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu434. Epub 2014 Jun 9.

Muehlenbachs A1, Fata CR2, Lambert AJ3, Paddock CD1, Velez JO3, Blau DM1, Staples JE3, Karlekar MB4, Bhatnagar J1, Nasci RS3, Zaki SR1.

Author information

Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Department of Pathology.

Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Heartland virus (HRTV) is a tick-borne phlebovirus recently described in Missouri that is associated with fever, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The virus has also been detected in Ambylomma americanum ticks.

METHODS:

Here we report the first fatal case of HRTV disease in an 80-year-old Tennessee resident. He was hospitalized with fever, confusion, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia and developed multiorgan failure and hemorrhage. A tick-borne illness was suspected and testing for ehrlichiosis was negative. He died on hospital day 15, and autopsy specimens were tested for various pathogens as part of an unexplained death evaluation.

RESULTS:

HRTV antigens were detected in postmortem spleen and lymph nodes by immunohistochemistry, and HRTV was detected in premortem blood by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and by isolation in cell culture.

CONCLUSIONS:

This case demonstrates that HRTV infection can cause severe disease and death and expands the geographic range of HRTV within the United States.

=====================================================================

5.) Notes from the field: Heartland virus disease - United States, 2012-2013.

=====================================================================

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014 Mar 28;63(12):270-1.

Pastula DM, Turabelidze G, Yates KF, Jones TF, Lambert AJ, Panella AJ, Kosoy OI, Velez JO, Fisher M, Staples E; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Abstract

Heartland virus is a newly identified phlebovirus that was first isolated from two northwestern Missouri farmers hospitalized with fever, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in 2009. Based on the patients' clinical findings and their reported exposures, the virus was suspected to be transmitted by ticks. After this discovery, CDC worked with state and local partners to define the ecology and modes of transmission of Heartland virus, develop diagnostic assays, and identify additional cases to describe the epidemiology and clinical disease. From this work, it was learned that Heartland virus is found in the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Six additional cases of Heartland virus disease were identified during 2012-2013; four of those patients were hospitalized, including one with comorbidities who died.

=====================================================================

6.) A reported death case of a novel bunyavirus in Shanghai, China.

=====================================================================

Virol J. 2013 Jun 7;10:187. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-10-187.

Pan H1, Hu J, Liu S, Shen H, Zhu Y, Wu J, Zhang X, Zhou X, Wang C, Qu J, Yuan Z.

Author information

Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No 1380, West Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200336, China.

Abstract

This paper describes the first case of infection with a recently described novel bunyavirus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), in Shanghai, China. The case is originally from Chizhou City, Anhui province within an endemic area for SFTSV. We describe the etiology, epidemiological characteristics, clinical diagnosis and treatment of this fatal case. This case is unique because major cause of death was renal failure, whereas other reported cases have been due to hemorrhage. The investigation and response to this case provides meaningful insight for the early and rapid diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in non-endemic regions in China and globally.

=====================================================================

7.) Heartland Virus Neutralizing Antibodies in Vertebrate Wildlife, United States, 2009-2014.

=====================================================================

Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 Oct;21(10):1830-3. doi: 10.3201/eid2110.150380.

Riemersma KK, Komar N.

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

=====================================================================

8.) Serological investigation of heartland virus (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) exposure in wild and domestic animals adjacent to human case sites in Missouri 2012-2013.

====================================================================

Bosco-Lauth AM1, Panella NA1, Root JJ1, Gidlewski T1, Lash RR1, Harmon JR1, Burkhalter KL1, Godsey MS1, Savage HM1, Nicholson WL1, Komar N1, Brault AC2.

Author information

Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Arboviral Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado; Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Rickettsial Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Abstract

Heartland virus (HRTV; Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) has recently emerged as a 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 2 human case residences in Andrew and Nodaway Counties in northwest Missouri. HRTV-specific neutralizing antibodies were identified in northern raccoons (42.6%), horses (17.4%), white-tailed deer (14.3%), dogs (7.7%), and Virginia opossums (3.8%), but not in birds. Virus isolation attempts from sera and ticks failed to detect HRTV. The high antibody prevalence coupled with local abundance of white-tailed deer and raccoons identifies these species as candidate amplification hosts.

=====================================================================

9.) Ulcerative Lesions with Hemorrhage in a Patient with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia

=====================================================================

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2016 Nov 22;69(6):525-527. Epub 2016 Jan 8.

Syndrome Observed via Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Kaneyuki S1, Yoshikawa T, Tani H, Fukushi S, Taniguchi S, Fukuma A, Shimojima M, Kurosu T, Morikawa S, Saijo M.

Author information

Department of Internal Medicine, Dohi Hospital.

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a novel bunyavirus infection caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV, family Bunyaviridae, genus Phlebovirus) with a high case fatality rate. A previously healthy 72-year-old man showed symptoms of fever, general fatigue, and altered consciousness. He was hospitalized for treatment. On day 3, considering the day on which fever appeared first during the disease course as day 0, he had bloody emesis. An emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination revealed multiple ulcerative lesions with continuously oozing hemorrhage in the stomach. He died on day 7. He was retrospectively diagnosed as having SFTS, Although it was less likely that the gastric ulcerative lesions were directly induced by SFTSV replication, it was evident that hemorrhagic emesis might occur in the patient in association with the pathophysiology of SFTS. The real-time imaging of gastric ulcerative lesions in a patient with SFTS is reported.

=====================================================================

10.) Phlebovirus meningoencephalis complicated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia: a case report.

=====================================================================

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2011 May;11(5):595-6. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0041. Epub 2010 Jun 24.

Anagnostou V1, Sdouga M, Volakli H, Violaki A, Papa A.

Author information

A' Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Abstract

In June 2004 an 8-year-old boy was admitted to a hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece, because of high fever, tachypnea, hypotonia, diarrhea, and tonoclonic convulsions. Phlebovirus infection was diagnosed by IgG seroconversion to Toscana virus. As IgM antibodies were not detected, it is suggested that this was an acute infection caused by a phlebovirus virus distinct from Toscana virus. Complication by a hospital-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia resulted in 2 months of hospitalization. Slight ataxia was still present on discharge.

=====================================================================

11.) Case of tick-borne illness, Heartland virus, found in Arkansas resident

=====================================================================

Heartland Virus in Arkansas

by lymecoordinator56 Madison Area Lyme support

Source:http://www.thv11.com/mb/news/local/case-of-tick-borne-illness-heartland-virus-found-in-arkansas-resident/454950576

Lone star tick, Thinkstock

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (July 7, 2017) -- Arkansas has identified its first case of Heartland virus, a relatively new tick-borne disease, in an individual living in the northwest part of the state.

People become infected with Heartland virus through the bite of the Lone Star tick. Patients are most likely to be diagnosed with Heartland virus from May to September. Heartland virus causes a flu-like illness, including fever, headache, muscle aches, diarrhea, appetite loss, and feeling very tired. Most cases have low numbers of cells that fight infection and low numbers of cells that help blood clot. There is no vaccine or drug to prevent or treat the disease.

"It's a flu-like illness where you're stiff, you're achy, you run a fever, you've got headaches, this one often has diarrhea, which isn't always the case with some of the others, loss of appetite," said Dr. Sue Weinstein, the state public health veterinarian. "It can get quite serious. A lot of patients with this are hospitalized, but most recover. There's only been one death in the nation and that was in someone who was quite elderly and other medical issues at the time."

In 2009, two people admitted to Heartland Hospital in Missouri were later found to be infected with this virus. Both recovered, but the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services began working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn more about the virus.

To date, more than 20 cases of Heartland virus disease have been identified in several states in Southeast and South Central United States, so it is not surprising that Arkansas has a case. Most patients require hospitalization for their illness but fully recover. One patient has died. The Arkansas patient has recovered fully.

Arkansas has some of the highest rates in the nation for tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), Ehrlichiosis, and Tularemia. Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease may also occur. People who work or do activities outside, where they are exposed to ticks or insects, are more likely to be infected.

Preventing bites from ticks and mosquitoes are the best way to prevent these and other infections:

-Use insect repellents

-Wear long sleeves and pants

-Avoid bushy and wooded areas

-Perform thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors

For more information, visit healthy.arkansas.gov.

=====================================================================

12.) Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) in the North: STARI Following a Tick Bite in Long Island, New York

=====================================================================

Henry M. Feder, Jr Diane M. Hoss Lawrence Zemel Sam R. Telford, III Feliciano Dias Gary P. Wormser

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 53, Issue 10, 15 November 2011, Pages e142–e146,

Source:https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cir553

Published: 15 November 2011

Abstract

The most common clinical manifestation of Lyme disease is the characteristic rash, erythema migrans (EM). In the 1980s EM-like eruptions were reported in Missouri and other southeastern states. The EM-like eruptions, which were of unknown etiology, often followed the bite of the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the rash is called STARI (southern tick-associated rash illness). Although the Lone Star tick is found in the Lyme disease–endemic areas of New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, STARI has been reported only once from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. We report a child from Connecticut who visited Long Island, New York, and developed a rash that was thought to be EM. Because the patient failed to respond to antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease, an investigation ensued, and the diagnosis of STARI was established.

=====================================================================

13.) Death from Tick-borne Virus (SFTS)

=====================================================================

by lymecoordinator56 madyson lyme support group

Source:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40713172 July 25, 2017 BBC News

A Japanese woman died last year of a tick-borne disease after being bitten by a stray cat, Japan's health ministry says, in what could be the first such mammal-to-human transmission.

The unnamed woman in her 50s had been helping the apparently sick cat.

Ten days later she died of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), which is carried by ticks.

With no tick bite detected, doctors assume the illness could have been contracted via the cat.

"No reports on animal-to-human transmission cases have been made so far," a Japanese health ministry official told the AFP news agency.

"It's still not confirmed the virus came from the cat, but it's possible that it is the first case," the official added.

SFTS is a relatively new infectious disease emerging in China, Korea and Japan.

The virus is said to have fatality rates of up to 30% and is especially severe in people over 50.

According to Japanese media, SFTS first occurred in the country in 2013.

Japan's health ministry said last year's death was still a rare case but warned people to be careful when in contact with animals in poor physical condition.

Globally, tick bites are widely associated with transmitting Lyme disease which can lead to severe illness and death if left untreated.

**For more on Thrombocytopenia Syndrome** Source:https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/11/14-0888_article

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly emerging infectious disease. Symptoms and laboratory abnormalities are fever, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), leukocytopenia (low white blood cell count), and elevated liver serum enzyme levels. Multiorgan failure occurs in severe cases, and 6%–30% of case-patients die. The syndrome is caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV) (genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae). SFTS case-patients were first reported in China (1) and more recently were reported in Japan (2) and South Korea (3). Two case-patients with symptoms consistent with a similar virus, Heartland virus, were reported in the United States (4).

Ixodid tick species are implicated as vectors of SFTSV (1,5,6). One study described a SFTSV prevalence in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks, a major vector of SFTSV, of 0.46% minimum infection rate in South Korea (7); in another study, SFTSV was detected in ticks that had bitten humans (6). From these studies, we realized that SFTSV was common throughout the country. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SFTS in South Korea and isolate the SFTSV to analyze its phylogenetic properties.

The major signs and symptoms of the 35 case-patients, including fever (100%), gastrointestinal symptoms (74%), fatigue (74%), thrombocytopenia (100%), and leukocytopenia (100%), were similar to those of case-patients in China and Japan (9).

For more on Bunyaviridae viruses: source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunyaviridae

*The enveloped RNA viruses are found in hematophagous arthropods (blood sucking) and include mosquitos, ticks, midges, flies, or sandflies as well as rodents except for Hantaviruses which are transmitted through contact with deer mice feces.

*Examples of Bunyaviridae viruses: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Hanta Virus or Hantavirus Hemorrhagic Fever, California encephalitis virus, Rift Valley fever, Bwamba Fever, Cache Valley Virus, and La Crosse Virus (Wisconsin). According to the CDC, between 2004 and 2013 there were 787 total cases of La Crosse encephalitis and 11 deaths in the U.S.[7] Looking at the distribution of cases across the United States by state, between 2004 and 2013 the most cases of La Crosse encephalitis was in North Carolina. North Carolina had 184 total cases, followed by Ohio with 178 total cases.[8] Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Crosse_encephalitis

*There was a Hantavirus outbreak at Yosemite in 2012.

=====================================================================

14.) Novel phlebovirus detected in Haemaphysalis parva ticks in a Greek island.

=====================================================================

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2017 Jan;8(1):157-160. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.10.012. Epub 2016 Oct 29.

Papa A1, Kontana A2, Tsioka K2, Saratsis A3, Sotiraki S3.

Author information

Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: annap@med.auth.gr.

Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Veterinary Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Foundation, NAGREF Campus, PO Box 60272, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Abstract

During the last decade the number of novel tick-borne phleboviruses has increased rapidly, especially after the identification of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome and Heartland viruses which can cause severe disease in humans. A novel virus, Antigone virus was recently detected in ticks collected from the mainland of Greece. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of tick-borne phleboviruses in an island in Greece. During November 2015, 31 ticks were collected from sheep in Lesvos island. Phleboviral RNA was detected in 12/22 adult Haemaphysalis parva ticks. The virus was provisionally named Lesvos virus after the name of the island. Phylogenetic analysis of a 1108-bp L RNA fragment revealed that the Lesvos virus sequences cluster together with Dabieshan and Yongjia tick viruses detected in China in H. longicornis and H. hystricis ticks, respectively. Further studies are needed to investigate its exact distribution, epidemiology and virulence. It is expected that the research studies on tick biology and pathogen-tick-host interactions will allow a better understanding of the virus life cycle and the elucidation of the possible role of the novel tick-borne phleboviruses in public health.

=====================================================================

15.) Generic amplification and next generation sequencing reveal Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus AP92-like strain and distinct tick phleboviruses in Anatolia, Turkey.

======================================================================

Parasit Vectors. 2017 Jul 14;10(1):335. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2279-1.

Dinçer E1, Brinkmann A2, Hekimoğlu O3, Hacıoğlu S4, Földes K4, Karapınar Z5, Polat PF6, Oğuz B5, Orunç Kılınç Ö7, Hagedorn P2, Özer N3, Özkul A4, Nitsche A2, Ergünay K8,9.

Author information

Mersin University, Advanced Technology Education, Research and Application Center, 33110, Mersin, Turkey.

Robert Koch Institute; Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), 13353, Berlin, Germany.

Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Hacettepe University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Ankara University, 06110, Ankara, Turkey.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Yuzuncu Yil University, 65080, Van, Turkey.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Harran University, 63200,, Sanlıurfa, Turkey.

Yuzuncu Yil University, Ozalp Vocational School, 65080, Van, Turkey.

Robert Koch Institute; Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), 13353, Berlin, Germany. ekoray@hacettepe.edu.tr.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. ekoray@hacettepe.edu.tr.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ticks are involved with the transmission of several viruses with significant health impact. As incidences of tick-borne viral infections are rising, several novel and divergent tick- associated viruses have recently been documented to exist and circulate worldwide. This study was performed as a cross-sectional screening for all major tick-borne viruses in several regions in Turkey. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was employed for virus genome characterization. Ticks were collected at 43 locations in 14 provinces across the Aegean, Thrace, Mediterranean, Black Sea, central, southern and eastern regions of Anatolia during 2014-2016. Following morphological identification, ticks were pooled and analysed via generic nucleic acid amplification of the viruses belonging to the genera Flavivirus, Nairovirus and Phlebovirus of the families Flaviviridae and Bunyaviridae, followed by sequencing and NGS in selected specimens.

RESULTS:

A total of 814 specimens, comprising 13 tick species, were collected and evaluated in 187 pools. Nairovirus and phlebovirus assays were positive in 6 (3.2%) and 48 (25.6%) pools. All nairovirus sequences were closely-related to the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) strain AP92 and formed a phylogenetically distinct cluster among related strains. Major portions of the CCHFV genomic segments were obtained via NGS. Phlebovirus sequencing revealed several tick-associated virus clades, including previously-characterized Antigone, Lesvos, KarMa and Bole tick viruses, as well as a novel clade. A wider host range for tick-associated virus strains has been observed. NGS provided near-complete sequences of the L genomic segments of Antigone and KarMa clades, as well as Antigone partial S segment. Co- infections of CCHFV and KarMa or novel phlebovirus clades were detected in 2.1% of the specimens.

CONCLUSIONS:

Widespread circulation of various tick-associated phlebovirus clades were documented for the first time in Anatolia. Genomes of CCHFV AP92 strains were identified in previously unexplored locations. NGS provided the most detailed genomic characterization of the Antigone and KarMa viruses to date. The epidemiological and health-related consequences must be elucidated.

=====================================================================

16.) Toscana virus encephalitis following a holiday in Sicily.

=====================================================================

Osborne JC1, Khatamzas E2, Misbahuddin A3, Hart R1, Sivaramakrishnan A4, Breen DP5.

Author information

Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK.

Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust, Oxford, UK.

Essex Centre for Neurological Sciences, Queen's Hospital, Romford, UK.

Department of Microbiology, Queen's Hospital, Romford, UK.

Department of Neurology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

Abstract

We report a case of Toscana virus encephalitis. This emerging pathogen is among the three most common causes of meningoencephalitis in Europe during the warm season, yet remains under-recognised. Doctors should consider Toscana virus infection in patients presenting with neurological symptoms who have a relevant exposure history during the summer months

========================================================================

Produced by Dr. Jose Lapenta R. Dermatologist

Maracay Estado Aragua Venezuela 2.017

Telf: 02432327287-02432328571

Follow @dermagicexpress

DERMAGIC EXPRESS / Dermatologia y Bibliografia - Dermatology & bibliography

domingo, 13 de agosto de 2017