Virus

Arenaviridae

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Arenaviridae, Arenavirus, Old World Arenavirus, New World Arenavirus, Tacaribe Complex Virus

  • See Also
  1. Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Arenaviridae are a family of viruses causing Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
    1. Arenaviridae primarily cause Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (except LCMV)
    2. Arenaviridae are Enveloped, helical, segmented, single stranded RNA Viruses
    3. Arenaviridae infect rodents as main reservoir, and transmit to humans via contact with urine
  2. Arenaviridae are Anti-Message Sense RNA Viruses (Negative Stranded, -ssRNA)
    1. Anti-Message sense RNA (-ssRNA) need to first be transcribed into +ssRNA
    2. RNA dependent RNA Polymerase (RNA replicase, RdRp)
      1. RdRp is an enzyme carried by the -ssRNA virus within its capsid
      2. RdRp transcribes -ssRNA into +ssRNA within the host cell
    3. Translation follows +ssRNA transcription from -ssRNA (by RdRp)
      1. As with mRNA, +ssRNA translated by host ribosomes into Protein
  • Types
  • Old World Arenaviruses
  1. Lassa Virus
    1. Viral Hemorrhagic Fever in West Africa
  2. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
    1. Rodent-borne virus (mice)
    2. Although included in old world viruses, found worldwide
    3. Presentations
      1. Asymptomatic illness
      2. Influenza-like illness
      3. Benign Aseptic Meningitis
      4. Severe meningoencephalomyelitis
  • Types
  • New World Arenaviruses (Tacaribe virus group)
  1. Viral Hemorrhagic Fever causes primarily in South America
  2. Viruses
    1. Amapari virus (Brazil)
    2. Guanarito (Venezuela)
    3. Junin Virus (Argentina)
    4. Machupo virus (Bolivia)
    5. Sabia Virus (Brazil)