Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an increasing health problem in Brazil because of encroachment of sprawling urban, agricultural, and cattle-raising areas into habitats of subfamily Sigmodontinae rodents, which serve as hantavirus reservoirs. From 1993 through June 2007, a total of 884 cases of HPS were reported in Brazil (casefatality rate 39%). To better understand this emerging disease, we collected 89 human serum samples and 68 rodent lung samples containing antibodies to hantavirus from a 2,500-km-wide area in Brazil. RNA was isolated from human samples and rodent lung tissues and subjected to reverse transcription-PCR. Partial sequences of nucleocapsid protein and glycoprotein genes from 22 human and 16 rodent sources indicated only Araraquara virus and Juquitiba virus lineages. The case-fatality rate of HPS was higher in the area with Araraquara virus. This virus, which may be the most virulent hantavirus in Brazil, was associated with areas that have had greater anthropogenic changes.

Hantaviruses are members of the family Bunyaviridae and are an emerging cause of disease worldwide with high lethality in the Americas. In Brazil, the diagnosis for hantaviruses is based on immunologic techniques associated with conventional RT-PCR. A novel one-step SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR was developed for the detection and quantitation of Araraquara hantavirus (ARAV) and Rio Mamore hantavirus (RIOMV). The detection limit of assay was 10copies/µL of RNA in vitro transcribed of segment S. The specificity of assay was evaluated by melting curve analysis, which showed that the Araraquara virus amplified product generated a melt peak at 80.83 ± 0.89 °C without generating primer-dimers or non-specific products. The assay was more sensitive than conventional RT-PCR and we detected two samples undetected by conventional RT-PCR. The one-step SYBR Green real-time quantitative RT-PCR is specific, sensible and reproducible, which makes it a powerful tool in both diagnostic applications and general research of ARAV and RIOMV and possibly other Brazilian hantaviruses.

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Introduction: Hantavirus pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome (HPCS) is an emerging serious disease in the Americas. Hantaviruses (Bunyaviridae) are the causative agents of this syndrome and are mainly transmitted through inhalation of aerosols containing the excreta of wild rodents. and Akodon sp (1.5%). Nucleotide sequences obtained through RT-PCR from one HPCS patient and one Calomys tener rodent were compared with hantavirus sequences from GenBank, which showed that both were homologous with ARAV. Conclusions: This work corroborates previous studies showing that ARAV is the hantavirus causing HPCS in the Ribeirão Preto region. It also shows that rodents infected with hantavirus represent a constant risk of transmission of this virus to man.

Introduction: According to reports by the Ministry of Health, in the far western region of the State of Santa Catarina, there have been no reports of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a zoonotic disease transmitted by feces of infected rodents. A seroepidemiological study of residents of this region, was conducted, with the aim of determining the presence of hantavirus infections. A total of 340 volunteers of both genus, from the towns of Belmonte and Paraíso, were studied. Methods: The serum of these patients was collected and used to detect IgG antibodies against recombinant N protein of Araraquara hantavirus, by ELISA assay. The positive samples were then titrated and confirmed by immunofluorescence assay. Results: This study demonstrated the presence of IgG antibodies against hantavirus N protein in 3.5% of the population. The most frequent occupation was farm worker, 81% had direct and indirect contact with rodents, 91.7% of positive cases were farm workers, indicating that the probable cause of infection occurred during barn cleaning. These antibodies are noteworthy, given that the levels of antibodies were verified in individuals whose contact with hantavirus may have occurred many years ago. Conclusions: This study shows the circulation of hantavirus in the region, a fact that until now, had not reported. All the serum reagents had contact with the pathogen, but did not develop pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome. It is important to remain alert, because hantavirus is a serious and emerging disease of some relevance. Keywords: Hantavirus. Seroprevalence in Santa Catarina. Morbidity. RESUMO Introdução:De acordo com relatórios do Ministério da Saúde, na região do extremo oeste do Estado de Santa Catarina, não há relatos de síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus, doença zoonótica transmitida por excretas de roedores contaminados. Com a finalidade de demosntrar a infecção por hantavírus, um estudo soroepidemiológico de moradores da região foi realizado. Assim, foi estudado um total de 340 voluntários de ambos os gêneros, dos municípios de Belmonte e Paraíso. Métodos: O soro destes pacientes foi coletado e usado para a detecção de anticorpos IgG contra a proteína N recombinante de hantavírus Araraquara, pelo teste de ELISA. As amostras positivas foram tituladas e confirmadas por imunofluorescência indireta. Resultados: Este estudo demonstrou a presença de anticorpos IgG contra a proteína N hantavírus em 3,5% da população. A ocupação de lavrador foi a mais frequente, e 81% tiveram contato direto e indireto com os roedores, 91,7% dos casos positivos foram os agricultores, a causa provável da infecção foi através da limpeza de celeiros. Estes anticorpos são notáveis, dado que os níveis de anticorpos são encontrados nos indivíduos cujo contato com o hantavírus pode ter ocorrido há muitos anos. Conclusões: Este estudo mostra a circulação de hantavírus na região, um fato que até então não havia relatado, todos os reagentes soro tiveram contato com o patógeno, mas não desenvolveram a síndrome pulmonar e cardiovascu...

Summary:A 30-year-old woman developed veno-occlusive disease of the liver during an allogeneic BMT for acute leukemia. Treatment with recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator and heparin resulted in an incomplete and transient response followed by progressive disease. The patient was then given defibrotide (DF), a mammalian tissue-derived polydeoxyribonucleotide developed for the treatment of a number of vascular disorders, which has thrombolytic and anti-thrombotic properties. No significant bleeding or other major toxicities were observed during treatment and she made a full recovery. At 6 months after the onset of VOD her liver function tests and color flow Doppler ultrasound scan are normal. Our experience supports the preliminary results already obtained with DF. Its efficacy should be evaluated in a prospective randomized fashion.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are blistering autoimmune diseases that depend on interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Viral infections, like herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1/2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein‐Barr virus and dengue virus, could trigger or exacerbate pemphigus. IgM and IgG antibodies against these viruses in serum from PV and PF, their relatives and controls were determined. HSV1/2 expression was evaluated by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and qPCR in affected or not oral mucosa from PV patients compared with uninjured PF mucosa. IgG anti‐HSV1 was higher in the PV group compared with all groups. IgG anti‐CMV resulted higher in PV group compared with PF patients and PV relatives. HSV1 was confirmed by DIF and qPCR on oral samples from patients with PV. Lack of HSV1 expression in the oral mucosa of patients with PF corroborate that immunosuppressive therapy cannot be the main cause for HSV1 replication in PV disease.

Infections by Hantavirus (Bunyaviridae) can cause severe human diseases, such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Eurasia and cardiopulmonary syndrome in the Americas. These diseases are emergent and became a serious public health problem worldwide. Thus, rapid, sensitive and reliable methods for diagnosis of hantavirus infection are necessary in order to manage patients and control this rodent-borne virosis. Serological methods, such as neutralization tests, immunoblots and enzyme immunoassays using hantavirus-recombinant proteins as antigens, are discussed in this article, as well as new methods such as an immunochromatographic test. Hantavirus genome detection by different kinds of reverse transcription-PCR, including the real-time variant, is also discussed.