Recent advances in treatment and detection of Rift Valley fever virus: a comprehensive overview

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a newly discovered arboviral pathogen that infects humans and livestock. Numerous outbreaks have occurred in Africa and the Arab Peninsula. Epizootics of RVFV are sporadic and frequently associated with ongoing floods and excessive rainfall. This leads to the development of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which then amplify transmission by other mosquito species (like Anopheles and Culex genera). In animals, it typically results in high rates of death and abortion. In humans, Rift Valley fever (RVF) manifests as clinical symptoms that may vary in intensity from minor to severe. Common symptoms include retinitis, hepatitis, delayed onset encephalitis, and hemorrhagic illness. The possibilities for containing RVFV outbreaks are limited due to the lack of authorized human vaccinations and treatments. Although molecular detection techniques are available, they can only recognize viral nucleic acids during the short viremic phase. There are currently no specific treatments for RVFV infection. Ribavirin is one of the few therapies for viral hemorrhagic fevers, but severe adverse effects restrict its use. Significant studies have been done in recent years on using Nanotechnology to diagnose and treat viruses. This review summarizes the common and recent diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for RVFV, including nanoparticles, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), stem cells, vaccines, and antibody-based therapies.