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04:23
A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease
Published on: April 28, 2019
Fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever imported into Germany
J Schmidt-Chanasit1, K Tenner-Racz, D Poppert
1Department of Virology, Clinical Virology Laboratory, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. jonassi@gmx.de
Infection
|October 18, 2011
Summary
The first fatal imported dengue virus (DENV) infection in Germany occurred in a traveler returning from Ecuador. Postmortem analysis revealed DENV secondary infection and gallbladder wall thickening, leading to fatal bleeding.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Tropical Medicine
- Pathology
Background:
- Dengue virus (DENV), an arthropod-borne flavivirus, causes dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever.
- Imported cases of DENV infections are a growing concern in non-endemic regions.
Observation:
- A female traveler returning from Ecuador presented with fever and abdominal pain.
- She underwent cholecystectomy for suspected acute acalculous cholecystitis.
- Postoperatively, severe spontaneous abdominal wound bleeding led to death.
Findings:
- Postmortem examination confirmed a DENV secondary infection.
- Extensive edema caused gallbladder wall thickening (GBWT).
- The fatal bleeding was linked to the DENV infection and gallbladder pathology.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for severe outcomes of imported DENV infections.
- It underscores the importance of considering DENV in febrile travelers returning from endemic areas.
- The findings suggest a potential link between DENV infection, gallbladder inflammation, and hemorrhagic complications.
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