week 5- Disease spread by rodent ( Hantavirus)

Question 1

What are Hantaviruses caused by or in another word “ What are the common reservoirs”

Answer 1

Hantaviruses are diseases caused by Rodents.

please note that reservoirs is defined as: A reservoir host or reservoir of infection, an alternate or passive host or carrier that harbors pathogenic organisms, without injury to itself and serves as a source from which other individuals can be infected.
Source:http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Reservoir

Question 2

True or False

1) hantaviruses are diseases caused by rodents and they are fairly new .

Answer 2

false , Hantaviruses are ancient viruses that date back to~30 million years ago  
Ancient viruses ( oldest been around)  they do not cause any diseases in the rodents.

Question 3

True or False

Hantaviruses cause sever disease in the Rodents ( common reservoir of hantaviruses).

Answer 3

False these viruses cause no diseases in the Rodent.

Question 4

Name the two diseases that we have discussed in the class that it is caused by Hantaviruses?

Answer 4

1) Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)

2) Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Question 5

What are the causative agents for Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) ?

Answer 5

1) Hantaan virus 
      Asia
      Occasionally Europe
2) Dobrava virus
       Balkans
3) Puumala virus
 4) Seoul virus 

please not that causative agents are defined as:
Causative agents:
The term disease causative agent usually refers to a biological agents pathogen that causes a disease. Technically, the term can also refer to a toxin or toxic chemical that causes illness such as parasites or bacteria.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease_causative_agent

Question 6

What are some symptoms of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)?

Answer 6

Abrupt onset fever
Severe abdominal or low back pain
Nausea
Hemorrhage

Question 7

What are some severe symptoms of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)?

Answer 7

Low blood pressure from loss of fluid )
Vascular leakage
Kidney failure ( this is the major one )
Shock

Question 8

What is the other name for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Answer 8

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome

Question 9

What are the causative agents of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Answer 9

1)Sin Nombre virus
North America

2) Andes virus
South America

Question 10

What are symptoms caused by Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)?

Answer 10

HPS symptoms
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Myalgia ( muscle pain) 
Malaise ( not feeling well) 
Dizziness

Question 11

What are some severe symptoms caused by Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)?

Answer 11

Leakage of fluid into alveoli ( the more sever symptoms )
Hypoxia
Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)

Question 12

True or false

HPS mortality is low

Answer 12

False the mortality is high , 50% mortality rate in the initial outbreak.

Question 13

What is the specific vector of the Sin

Nombre virus which is the causative agent of HPS?

Answer 13

Deer mice which is a rodent.

Question 14

What is the mode of transmission of hantaviruses of any kind among mice themselves ?

Answer 14

1) It is through direct penetration ( biting during mice fights) . it is chronic and no signs.
2) inhalation

Question 15

How do human get infected by hantaviruses( mode of transmission )

Answer 15

Through inhalation ( Aerosolized excreta)

Question 16

What are some risk factors associated with hantaviruses?

Answer 16

Rural areas has the highest prevelance.
High numbers of rodents
Cleaning rodent excreta( for example, sweeping can cause inhalation transmission ).

Question 17

True or false

1) Person-person transmission is suspected for some cases of Andes virus but not very strong evidence.
2) In US, no known transmission between people

Answer 17

True

True

Question 18

Explain how immune responses are important for hantaviruses illness

Answer 18

Virus does not directly damage infected cells most of diseases is due to immune system response to this viruses.

Mediators of immune response probably responsible for disease

CD8+ T-cells kill infected cells and induce vascular leakage ( these cells are killed .endothelial cells lining of the blood vessels are killed by this virus so leakage of blood of cells occurs.

CD4+ T-cells secrete IFN-ɣ leads
Activates macrophages. Release additional cytokines results in
Inflammatory response in lungs.

Question 19

How do you treat hantaviruses?

Answer 19

Supportive care
Maintaining fluid balance
Management of hypoxia ( low level of oxygen )
Treatment of shock

Question 20

How do you prevent hantaviruses?

Answer 20

No vaccine

Education
Cleaning up rodent excreta

Rodent control in homes
Keeping food and grain protected from rodents
Cleaning dishes soon after use
Avoiding leaving pet food out at night

Question 21

Are hantaviruses infections high in some seasons? why ?

Answer 21

Seasonal
Peaks in spring/summer
Because when rodent population rises.

Question 22

True or false
HFRS
First identified in an outbreak during the Korean War (1951).

Answer 22

True

Question 23

when was HPS first identified ? How many outbreaks in us occurred?

Answer 23

HPS first identified 1993.

Outbreak in 4-corners region of USA

Question 24

How do you diagnose Hantaviruses?

Answer 24

Elisa and PCR