Characterization of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Caused by Hantaviruses, Estonia

Irina Golovljova,Alexander Plyusnin,Sirkka Vene,Veera Vasilenko,Åke Lundkvist,Bo Settergren,Tiina Prükk,Vassili Mittženkov,Elviira Seppet

doi:10.3201/eid1311.070221

Abstract

Thirty cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) due to Puumala virus (PUUV), Saaremaa virus (SAAV), and Dobrava virus infection were confirmed in Estonia. Except for the levels of serum creatinine, no remarkable differences were found in the clinical course of HFRS caused by PUUV and SAAV.

Highlights

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an endemic zoonosis in Eurasia
In contrast to Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, where a milder hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Puumala virus (PUUV) and a more severe form caused by Dobrava virus (DOBV) have been reported [4,5], no severe forms of HFRS have been observed in Estonia far
Because at least 2 hantaviruses, PUUV and Saaremaa virus (SAAV), circulate in Estonia, our main aim was to describe the clinical courses of HFRS caused by different hantaviruses

Summary

Introduction

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an endemic zoonosis in Eurasia. In Europe, HFRS is caused by 3 hantaviruses: Puumala virus (PUUV), carried by the bank vole (Myodes glareolus); Dobrava virus (DOBV), carried by the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis); and Saaremaa virus (SAAV), carried by the striped field mouse (A. agrarius) [1]. Our first report of HFRS in Estonia included cases caused by PUUV and SAAV [6]. The Study During 1999–2004, serum samples from 321 patients with suspected HFRS were analyzed by using ELISA. Convalescent-phase serum samples were collected from 25 patients, and the causative hantavirus was typed by focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) as described earlier [7].

Results

Conclusion