First Human Isolate of Hantavirus (Andes virus) in the Americas

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 renal syndrome from a human and the first such isolation of hantavirus before symptoms of that syndrome or HPS began.

Hantavirus Fever without Pulmonary Syndrome in Panama

“…Some of the negative RT-PCR assays may indicate sample collection after rapid viral clearance in a mild infection. As noted in one Andes virus infection, 20 the absence of IgM-positive assays in the presence of positive PCR assays may represent very early infection. The lack of follow-up samples also prevents unequivocable diagnosis in those subjects without IgG serology performed.…”

Human pathogenic hantaviruses and prevention of infection

“…A recent prospective study showed that viral RNA could be detected in peripheral blood cells for up to 2 weeks before the onset of symptoms 15 and the infectious virus was isolated from a seronegative, asymptomatic child 2 days before he developed HCPS. 18 Thus, the virus could be spread by asymptomatic patients to other parts of the world. However, an influenza-like pandemic scenario seems to be unlikely because human-to-human transmission of ANDV appears to be very inefficient, occurs mainly within households, and requires relatively intimate interpersonal contact.…”

Complete sequence of the genome of the human isolate of Andes virus CHI-7913: comparative sequence and protein structure analysis

“…We report here the complete genomic sequence of the Chilean ANDV CHI-7913, whose isolation from a 10-year-old HPS patient has been recently described (Galeno, et al, 2002). A preliminary account of this work has been reported (Tischler et al, 2002).…”

“…The Andes virus used in this study was isolated from a 10-year-old patient who died of HPS (ANDV CHI-7913) and has been described previously (Galeno et al, 2002). Vero E6 cells were originally provided by Dr. B. Hjelle, and were grown in Eagles minimal essential medium (MEM).…”