1/5. Occurrence of renal and pulmonary syndrome in a region of northeast germany where Tula hantavirus circulates.hantavirus species Tula (TULV) is carried by European common voles (Microtus spp.). Its pathogenic potential for humans is unknown. In a rural region of northeast germany, a 43-year-old man became ill with fever, renal syndrome, and pneumonia. Typing of late acute- and convalescent-phase sera by focus reduction neutralization assay revealed the presence of neutralizing antibodies against TULV. Moreover, we detected TULV genetic material in Microtus arvalis animals that were trapped at places only a few kilometers from the home village of the patient. Phylogenetic analysis of completely sequenced genomic S segments from three virus strains grouped them within a third genetic lineage of the TULV species. This is the first case of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and pulmonary involvement which can be associated with TULV infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. rabies virus infection in a pet guinea pig and seven pet rabbits.Raccoon-variant rabies was confirmed in 7 pet rabbits and 1 pet guinea pig in new york State, and postexposure treatment was required in several adults and children. To prevent rabies virus infection, domestic rabbits and pet rodents should be protected from contact with wild animals, including double-cage housing when housed outside. Pet rabbits or rodents with any possible contact with a wild animal, particularly if the rabbit or rodent had wounds of unknown origin, should be quarantined for 6 months for observation, to prevent escape, and to avoid contact with humans, who will require treatment if the rabbit or rodent develops rabies. Bites and scratches to humans from rodents and lagomorphs should be evaluated for potential rabies exposure on an individual basis, with consideration of whether the animal was caged outside or permitted outdoors unsupervised.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Cowpoxvirus infection in the Patagonian cavy (Dolichotis patagonum) emerging disease in an educational animal park the first reported case.Generalized cowpox infection in the Patagonian cavy may represent a threat to the health of immunocompromised persons. We report the first case of cowpoxvirus infection in the Patagonian cavy in an educational animal park. The mara developed extensive pox lesions, shedding large amounts of viral particles. The ending of vaccination programmes against smallpox in the late 1970's may lead to an increase in susceptibility of humans to zoonotic poxviruses.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis outbreak associated with nude mice in a research institute.OBJECTIVE--After an employee at a cancer research institute was diagnosed with lymphocytic choriomeningitis, an investigation was performed to determine the extent of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infections among the institute's employees and to identify risk factors for infection. DESIGN--Retrospective cohort study. SETTING--A US cancer research institute. PARTICIPANTS--Eighty-two of 90 institute employees. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--serum LCMV antibodies. RESULTS--Seven workers (9%) with definite LCMV infection (LCMV IgG antibody titer greater than or equal to 16) and one worker (1%) with probable infection (IgG titer = 8) were identified (10% overall seroprevalence). All infected employees handled animals or animal tissues and were more likely than other animal handlers to have worked with nude mice (Mus musculus) (P less than .02). Among the 31 employees who worked with nude mice at the institute, infected workers were more likely to clean the cages of nude mice (P much less than .001), change their bedding (P less than .01), and change their water (P less than .001). The institute had been injecting nude mice with LCMV-infected tumor cell lines and had recently increased the nude mouse population and the duration of experiments. These changes would have increased the LCMV burden at the facility and were temporally associated with the cluster of LCMV infections in employees. CONCLUSIONS--This LCMV outbreak, the first reported since 1974, is the first associated with nude mice. It illustrates the ongoing hazard LCMV poses in research laboratories. Since the symptoms of LCMV infection can be nonspecific, clinicians should consider this diagnosis in ill patients who report laboratory rodent exposure.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Rabies in the united states and canada, 1983.Primarily as a result of organized canine rabies vaccination, leash laws, and other preventive procedures aimed at the canine population, the number of rabid dogs decreased markedly in the last thirty years (Figure 10). This decrease was accompanied by a similar marked reduction in human rabies (Table 2, Figure 11). As domestic animal rabies declined, rabies in wildlife increased. Since 1958 the number of cases of rabid wildlife surpassed domestic rabies cases, and today they account for over 85% of all reported rabies cases. In 1983, a total of 5,880 laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies in the united states and its territories were reported to CDC-a decline of 398 cases compared with 1982 (7) (Table 1). The total number of cases decreased for the second consecutive year. The 13% decline in 1982 was followed by a 6.4% decline in 1983. This decrease in cases, however, was not reported by all states. The four Mid-Atlantic states--maryland, pennsylvania, Virginia, and west virginia--and the district of columbia actually experienced an 83% increase in cases. These states and the district of columbia reported 1,903 cases in 1983 (compared with 1,040 cases in 1982) which accounted for approximately one-third (32.4%) of all rabies cases nationally.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |