Chapare virus, a newly discovered arenavirus isolated from a fatal hemorrhagic fever case in Bolivia
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.A new hemorrhagic fever virus, Chapare virus, was discovered in Bolivia. This finding indicates that two distinct arenaviruses can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in the region.
Area Of Science
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background
- Hemorrhagic fever (HF) outbreaks pose significant public health risks.
- South American arenaviruses are known causes of HF, including Guanarito, Machupo, and Sabiá viruses.
Observation
- A cluster of HF cases occurred in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in late 2003/early 2004.
- A fatal case presented with fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, vomiting, and hemorrhagic manifestations.
- A novel non-cytopathic virus was isolated from patient serum samples.
Findings
- The isolated virus was identified as an arenavirus using immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and molecular sequencing.
- Phylogenetic analysis placed the virus within the New World Clade B arenaviruses.
- Sequence data revealed significant divergence from known arenaviruses, leading to its designation as Chapare virus, closely related to Sabiá virus.
Implications
- The discovery of Chapare virus expands the known etiological agents of HF in Bolivia.
- This highlights the potential for novel arenavirus emergence and circulation in South America.
- Understanding the distinct characteristics of Chapare and Machupo viruses is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of HF cases.