Pathogenicity and virulence of Rodent-Borne Orthohantaviruses

The Orthohantavirus genus in the family Hantaviridae includes viruses that cause zoonotic diseases in humans known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Exposure of humans to these viruses occurs through inhalation of aerosols of urine, feces, and saliva of rodents, who are the reservoirs for pathogenic orthohantaviruses. The clinical courses of HFRS and HPS are characterized by initial high fever and body pain with severe HFRS or HPS leading to renal failure, pulmonary failure, or both. The underlying pathogenic mechanism of both diseases includes vascular dysregulation leading to vessel leakage and shock.