First human isolate of Hantavirus (Andes virus) in the Americas

Galeno, H; Mora J.; Villagra E.; Fernandez, J; Hernández J.; Mertz, GJ; Ramírez E.

Abstract

We isolated Andes virus (formal name: Andes virus [ANDV], a species in the genus Hantavirus), from serum of an asymptomatic 10-year-old Chilean boy who died 6 days later of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The serum was obtained 12 days after his grandmother died from HPS and 2 days before he became febrile. No hantavirus immunoglobulin (Ig) G or IgM antibodies were detected in the serum sample. After three blind passages, ANDV antigens were detected in Vero E6 cells by immunofluorescence assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and ANDV RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A fragment of the virus genome showed 96.2% nucleotide identity with that of prototype ANDV. To our knowledge, this is the first isolation of any agent of hemorrhagic fever with HPS from a human and the first such isolation of hantavirus before symptoms of that syndrome or HPS began.

Más información

Título según WOS: First human isolate of Hantavirus (Andes virus) in the Americas
Título según SCOPUS: First human isolate of hantavirus (Andes virus) in the Americas
Título de la Revista: EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Volumen: 8
Número: 7
Editorial: CENTER DISEASE CONTROL
Fecha de publicación: 2002
Página de inicio: 657
Página final: 661
Idioma: English
Notas: ISI, SCOPUS