Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Maranhão, Brazil | CDC EID

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Volume 16, Number 12–December 2010
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Hantaviruses and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Maranhão, Brazil

Elizabeth S. Travassos da Rosa, Elba R. Sampaio de Lemos, Daniele B. de Almeida Medeiros, Darlene B. Simith, Armando de Souza Pereira, Mauro R. Elkhoury, Wellington S. Mendes,1 José R.B. Vidigal, Renata C. de Oliveira, Paulo S. D'Andrea, Cibele R. Bonvícino, Ana C.R. Cruz, Márcio R.T. Nunes, and Pedro F. da Costa Vasconcelos Comments to Author
Author affiliations: Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil (E.S. Travassos da Rosa, D.B. de Almeida Medeiros, D.B. Simith, A. de Souza Pereira, A.C.R. Cruz, M.R.T. Nunes, P.F. da Costa Vasconcelos); Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (E.R. Sampaio de Lemos, R.C. de Oliveira, P.S. D'Andrea); Pan American Health Organization, Brasília, Brazil (M.R. Elkhoury); Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil (W.S. Mendes); State Health Secretariat, São Luís (J.R.B. Vidigal); National Institute of Cancer, Rio de Janeiro (C.R. Bonvicino); and Pará State University, Belém, Brazil (A.C.R. Cruz, P.F. da Costa Vasconcelos)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
To confirm circulation of Anajatuba virus in Maranhão, Brazil, we conducted a serologic survey (immunoglobulin G ELISA) and phylogenetic studies (nucleocapsid gene sequences) of hantaviruses from wild rodents and persons with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. This virus is transmitted by Oligoryzomys fornesi rodents and is responsible for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in this region.

Hantaviruses (family Bunyaviridae, genus Hantavirus) cause a viral zoonosis transmitted by rodents belonging to the families Muridae and Cricetidae. Each hantavirus is predominantly associated with a specific rodent species in a specific geographic region. However, infection of other rodent species can occur as a spillover phenomenon (1).

Hantavirus disease has 2 recognized clinical forms, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) (2). The respiratory form of the disease was described in June 1993 during an epidemic of severe respiratory disease caused by Sin Nombre virus in the United States (3). A few months later, 3 HPS cases were identified in 3 siblings in Juquitiba, São Paulo State, Brazil (4). During 1993–2009, a total of 1,246 HPS cases (264 in the Amazon region) were reported in Brazil, and new hantaviruses were identified (Juquitiba virus, Castelo dos Sonhos virus, Araraquara virus, Anajatuba virus, and Rio Mearim (5).

During 2003–2005, an ecoepidemiologic study was conducted in the municipality of Anajatuba, Maranhão, Brazil, to identify reservoirs of hantaviruses after identification of 3 HPS cases (6). Two new hantaviruses, Anajatuba virus and Rio Mearim virus, were isolated from Oligoryzomys fornesi (rice rat) rodents and Holochilus sciureus (marsh rat) rodents, respectively, and genetically characterized (5). To confirm circulation of Anajatuba virus in Maranhão, Brazil, we conducted a serologic survey (immunoglobulin [Ig] G ELISA) and phylogenetic studies (nucleocapsid gene sequences) of hantaviruses obtained from wild rodents and persons with HPS.

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Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Maranhão, Brazil | CDC EID

Suggested Citation for this Article

Travassos da Rosa ES, Sampaio de Lemos ER, de Almeida Medeiros DB, Simith DB, de Souza Pereira A, Elkhoury MR, et al. Hantaviruses and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Maranhão, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Dec [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/12/1952.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1612.100418



1Deceased.

Comments to the Authors

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Pedro F. da Costa Vasconcelos, Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ministry of Health, SVS/MS, Rod. BR 316, Km 07, SNº, Bairro, Levilândia, 66030-000 Belém, Brazil; email: pedrovasconcelos@iec.pa.gov.br