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Hantavirus serologies in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia
P G Auwaerter1, D Oldach, L M Mundy
1Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Abstract:
In many patients, the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia is not known but may be caused by previously undescribed pathogens in some cases. The recently identified hantavirus Sin Nombre (SN) causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Because sporadic cases have occurred outside the range of its reservoir (the deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus), an investigation sought to determine whether hantaviruses contributed to cases of community-acquired pneumonia in a large Baltimore hospital. Acute-phase sera from 385 hospitalized patients with pneumonia were examined using an IgG ELISA technique with antigens prepared from several hantaviruses: prototype Hantaan (HTN), Seoul (SEO), Puumala (PUU), Convict Creek (HN107), and SN. Of 385 sera, 8 (2.1%) showed some reactivity with one or more HTN, SEO, or PUU antigens but none had detectable specific IgM antibodies. No sera were reactive with SN or HN107 antigens. Thus, hantaviruses are an uncommon cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the Baltimore area.
Insights
Hantaviruses, including Sin Nombre virus, are rarely the cause of community-acquired pneumonia in Baltimore. A study found only 2.1% of patients had antibodies, indicating hantaviruses are an uncommon pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) etiology is often unknown.
- Hantaviruses, like Sin Nombre virus, can cause severe illness (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome).
- Sporadic hantavirus cases outside typical rodent reservoir ranges prompted investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of hantaviruses in CAP cases in a Baltimore hospital.
- To determine if previously undescribed hantaviruses contribute to pneumonia etiology.
- To assess the prevalence of hantavirus infection in hospitalized pneumonia patients.
Main Methods:
- Examined acute-phase sera from 385 hospitalized CAP patients.
- Utilized IgG ELISA with antigens from Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, Convict Creek, and Sin Nombre hantaviruses.
- Tested for specific IgM antibodies to detect recent infections.
Main Results:
- 8.0% of sera (2.1%) showed reactivity to Hantaan, Seoul, or Puumala antigens.
- No sera reacted with Sin Nombre or Convict Creek antigens.
- No detectable specific IgM antibodies were found in any patient sera.
Conclusions:
- Hantaviruses are an uncommon cause of CAP in the Baltimore area.
- The study did not identify Sin Nombre virus or other tested hantaviruses as significant contributors to CAP.
- Further research may be needed to identify novel pathogens causing CAP.