Novel arenavirus infection in humans, United States

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Aug;17(8):1417-20. doi: 10.3201/eid1708.110285.

Abstract

Immunoglobulin G against Whitewater Arroyo virus or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was found in 41 (3.5%) of 1,185 persons in the United States who had acute central nervous system disease or undifferentiated febrile illnesses. The results of analyses of antibody titers in paired serum samples suggest that a North American Tacaribe serocomplex virus was the causative agent of the illnesses in 2 persons and that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was the causative agent of the illnesses in 3 other antibody-positive persons in this study. The results of this study suggest that Tacaribe serocomplex viruses native to North America, as well as lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, are causative agents of human disease in the United States.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Arenaviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Arenaviridae Infections / virology
  • Arenaviruses, New World / classification
  • Arenaviruses, New World / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G