Brazilian hemorrhagic fever
| Sabiá virus | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group V ((-)ssRNA) |
| Family: | Arenaviridae |
| Genus: | Arenavirus |
| Species | |
|
Sabiá virus | |
| Brazilian hemorrhagic fever | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| ICD-10 | A96.8 |
Brazilian hemorrhagic fever (BzHF) is an infectious disease caused by the Sabiá virus, an Arenavirus.[1] The Sabiá virus is one of the arenoviruses from South America to cause hemorrhagic fever.[2] It shares a common progenitor with the Junin virus, Machupo virus, Tacaribe virus, and Guanarito virus.[2] It is an enveloped RNA virus and is highly infectious and lethal.[3] Very little is known about this disease, but it is thought to have be transmitted by the excreta of rodents.[1][3]
There have only been three documented infections of the Sabiá virus, only one of which occurred naturally and the other two cases occurred in the clinical setting.[1] The only naturally occurring case was in 1990, when a female agricultural engineer who was staying in the neighborhood of Jardim Sabiá near São Paulo, Brazil contracted the disease. She presented with hemorrhagic fever and died.[1] Her autopsy showed liver necrosis.[1] A virologist who was studying the woman's disease contracted the virus but survived.[1] Ribavirin was not given in these first two cases.[1] Four years later, in 1994, a researcher was exposed to the virus in a level 3 biohazard facility at Yale University when a centrifuge bottle cracked, leaked, and released aerosolized virus particle.[1][4] He was successfully treated with ribavirin.[1][5]
Ribavirin is thought to be effective in treating the illness, similar to other arenaviruses.[1][5] Compared to the patients who did not receive ribavirin, the patient who was treated with it had a shorter and less severe clinical course.[1] Symptomatic control such as fluids to address dehydration and bleeding may also be required.[5]
The Sabiá virus is a Biosafety Level 4 pathogen.[3]
This virus has also been implicated as a means for bioterrorism, as it can be spread through aerosols.[6]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Barry, M.; Russi, M.; Armstrong, L.; Geller, D.; Tesh, R.; Dembry, L.; Gonzalez, J. P.; Khan, A. S.; Peters, C. J. (1995). "Treatment of a Laboratory-Acquired Sabiá Virus Infection". N Engl J Med 333 (5): 317–318. doi:10.1056/NEJM199508033330505. PMID 7596373.
- 1 2 GONZALEZ, JEAN PAUL J. (1996). "Genetic Characterization and Phylogeny of Sabiá Virus, an Emergent Pathogen in Brazil". Virology 221 (2): 318–324. doi:10.1006/viro.1996.0381.
- 1 2 3 NRT Quick Reference Guide: Brazilian Hemorrhagic Fever (BzHF)
- ↑ Gandsman, E. J.; Aaslestad, H. G.; Ouimet, T. C.; Rupp, W. D. (1997). "Sabia virus incident at Yale University". American Industrial Hygiene Association journal 58 (1): 51–3. doi:10.1080/15428119791013080. PMID 9018837.
- 1 2 3 http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/arena/2005/SabiaVirus.htm Sabia Virus
- ↑ http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/bioterrorism/backvhf.pdf Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers and Bioterrorism