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A cluster of cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus infection in China, 1996: A retrospective serological study.
- Source :
-
PLoS neglected tropical diseases [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] 2018 Jun 25; Vol. 12 (6), pp. e0006603. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Jun 25 (Print Publication: 2018). - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background: A cluster of eleven patients, including eight family members and three healthcare workers with fever and thrombocytopenia occurred in Yixing County, Jiangsu Province, China, from October to November 1996. However, the initial investigation failed to identify its etiology. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SFTS bunyavirus (SFTSV), which was first discovered in 2009. The discovery of novel SFTSV resulted in our consideration to test SFTSV on the remaining samples of this cluster in September 2010.<br />Methodology/principal Findings: We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological and clinical data of this cluster. The first case, one 55-year-old man with fulminant hemorrhagic diseases, died on October 14, 1996. His younger brother (the second case) developed similar hemorrhagic diseases after nursing him and then died on November 3. From November 4 to November 15, nine other patients, including six family members and three medical staffs, developed fever and thrombocytopenia after exposure to the second case. The sera of six patients were collected on November 24, 1996. IgM antibodies against SFTSV were detected in all of the six patients' sera using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while IgG antibodies were detected in one patient's serum using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). We also found that IgG antibodies against SFTSV were still detected in four surviving patients' sera 14 years after illness onset.<br />Conclusions and Significance: The mysterious pathogen of the cluster in 1996 was proved to be SFTSV on the basis of its epidemiological data, clinical data and serological results. It suggests that SFTSV has been circulating in China for more than 10 years before being identified in 2009, and SFTSV IgG antibodies can persist for up to 14 years.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Bunyaviridae Infections virology
China epidemiology
Cluster Analysis
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Phlebovirus isolation & purification
Retrospective Studies
Thrombocytopenia virology
Young Adult
Bunyaviridae Infections epidemiology
Phlebovirus immunology
Thrombocytopenia epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1935-2735
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PLoS neglected tropical diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29940000
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006603