Lujo mammarenavirus
Lujo mammarenavirus | |
---|---|
Virus classification | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Negarnaviricota
|
Class: | Ellioviricetes |
Order: | Bunyavirales |
Family: | Arenaviridae |
Genus: | Mammarenavirus |
Species: | Lujo mammarenavirus
|
Synonyms[1] | |
|
Lujo is a bisegmented
History
Only 5 cases of this virus have ever been reported; all 5 were identified in September and October 2008, and 4 were fatal. Those infections that proved fatal caused death within 10–13 days of showing symptoms. All four patients in which infection proved fatal first showed signs of improvement and then went into respiratory distress, displayed neurological problems, and had circulatory issues that resulted in collapse.[2] The discovery of this novel virus was described following a highly fatal nosocomial (hospital) outbreak of VHF in Johannesburg.[3][4] The identification of this virus was the first new arenavirus discovered in over 40 years.[5]
The first case was a female travel agent who lived in the outskirts of Lusaka. She developed a fever which grew worse with time. She was evacuated to Johannesburg for medical treatment. Almost two weeks later, the
The Special Pathogens Unit of the NICD-NHLS together with colleagues from the Special Pathogens Unit of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the etiological agent of the outbreak as an Old World arenavirus using molecular and serological tests.[3] Sequencing and phylogenetic investigation of partial genome sequencing indicated that this virus was not Lassavirus and likely a previously unreported arenavirus. This was corroborated by full genome sequencing that was conducted by the NICD-NHLS, CDC and collaborators from Columbia University in New York.[7]
Distribution
The distribution of this newly described arenavirus is uncertain. To date this virus has only been reported from a patient from
Transmission
Viruses from the
Symptoms
VHF symptoms appear similar to other viruses of the same family, such as Lassa fever. The known symptoms include swelling in the neck and face, sore throat, diarrhea, and a rash resembling measles on the face and body. Blood tests of those infected revealed elevated liver values, white blood cell counts that were first low and then elevated over time, and low platelet counts.[8]
Treatment
In-depth research into Lujo virus and its treatment have been difficult because of the lack of economic and cultural stability of the regions where the only known cases have occurred. Under Treatment with oral ribavirin treatment, the patient 5 continued to deteriorate but the treatment shifted to i.v on day 8 it seemed to have cured the only surviving patient with Lujo Virus, but because the 5 affected in 2008 have been the only cases identified, there has not been much opportunity for further research.[9][4]
Phylogenetics
Sequencing of the viral genome has shown that this virus belongs to the Old World arenavirus group. Comparisons with other viral genome sequences showed that this virus is equidistant from other Old World and New World arenaviruses. It is distantly similar to the other pathogenic African arenavirus, Lassa fever virus.[7]
Clinical
This virus has been associated with an outbreak of five cases of VHF in September and October 2008.[3] In four cases (80% of total known infections) the infection was fatal. The fifth case was treated with ribavirin early after onset of clinical disease (was detected through active contact tracing), an antiviral drug which is effective in treating Lassa fever, and survived; however, complete ribavirin's effectiveness against Lujo virus remains unknown but may be useful as adjunctive therapy.[4]
References
- ^ "Lujo Hemorrhagic Fever (LUHF) | CDC". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
- ^ PMID 19861052.
- ^ S2CID 73648784.
- ^ "Discovery of new arenavirus associated with hemorrhagic fever – first identified in nearly four decades". News-Medical.net. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
- ^ "Deadly Bleeding Virus, Previously Unknown, Identified in Study". Bloomberg. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ PMID 19478873.
- ^ a b "Lujo Hemorrhagic Fever (LUHF) Signs and Symptoms". www.cdc.gov. CDC. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
- PMID 25393244.