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Chapter 38: Arthropod-Borne and Rodent-Borne Viral Diseases

INTRODUCTION

The arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) and rodent-borne viruses represent ecologic groupings of viruses with complex transmission cycles involving arthropods or rodents. These viruses have diverse physical and chemical properties and are classified in several virus families.

Arboviruses and rodent-borne viruses are classified among the Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Flaviviridae, Reoviridae, and Togaviridae families. The African hemorrhagic fever viruses are classified in the Filoviridae family (Table 38-1, Figure 38-1). A number of the diseases described here are considered emerging infectious diseases (see Chapter 29).

TABLE 38-1Classification and Properties of Some Arthropod-Borne and Rodent-Borne Viruses
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TABLE 38-1 Classification and Properties of Some Arthropod-Borne and Rodent-Borne Viruses
Taxonomic Classification Important Arbovirus and Rodent-Borne Virus Members Virus Properties
Arenaviridae
 Genus Arenavirus New World: Chapare, Guanarito, Junin, Machupo, Sabia, and Whitewater Arroyo viruses. Old World: Lassa, Lujo, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis viruses. Rodent borne Spherical, 50–300 nm in diameter (mean, 110–130 nm). Genome: double-segmented, negative-sense and ambisense, single-stranded RNA, 10–14 kb in overall size. Virion contains a transcriptase. Four major polypeptides. Envelope. Replication: cytoplasm. Assembly: incorporate ribosomes and bud from plasma membrane
Bunyaviridae
 Genus Orthobunyavirus Anopheles A and B, Bunyamwera, California encephalitis, Guama, La Crosse, Oropouche, and Turlock viruses. Arthropod borne (mosquitoes) Spherical, 80–120 nm in diameter. Genome: triple-segmented, negative-sense or ambisense, single-stranded RNA, 11–19 kb in total size. Virion contains a transcriptase. Four major polypeptides. Envelope. Replication: cytoplasm. Assembly: budding into the golgi
 Genus Hantavirus Hantaan virus (Korean hemorrhagic fever), Seoul virus (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome), Sin Nombre virus (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome). Rodent borne
 Genus Nairovirus Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Nairobi sheep disease, and Sakhalin viruses. Arthropod borne (ticks)
 Genus Phlebovirus Heartland virus, Lone Star virus, Rift Valley fever virus, sandfly (Phlebotomus) fever viruses, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), and Uukuniemi viruses. Arthropod borne (mosquitoes, sandflies, ticks)
Filoviridae
 Genus Marburgvirus Marburg viruses Long filaments, 80 nm in diameter × varying length (>10,000 nm), although most average ~1000 nm. Genome: negative-sense, nonsegmented, single-stranded RNA, 19 kb in size. Seven polypeptides. Envelope. Replication: cytoplasm. Assembly: budding from plasma membrane
 Genus Ebolavirus Ebola viruses
Flaviviridae
 Genus Flavivirus Brazilian encephalitis (Rocio virus), dengue, Japanese B encephalitis, Kyasanur Forest disease, louping ill, Murray Valley encephalitis, Omsk hemorrhagic fever, Powassan virus, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile fever, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Arthropod borne (mosquitoes, ticks) Spherical, 40–60 nm in diameter. Genome: positive-sense, single-stranded RNA, 11 kb in size. Genome RNA infectious. Envelope. Three structural polypeptides, two glycosylated. Replication: cytoplasm. Assembly: within endoplasmic reticulum. All viruses serologically related
Reoviridae
 Genus Coltivirus Colorado tick fever virus. Arthropod borne (ticks, mosquitoes) Spherical, 60–80 nm in diameter. Genome: 10–12 segments of linear, double-stranded RNA, 16–27 kbp total size. No envelope. Ten to 12 structural polypeptides. Replication and assembly: cytoplasm (see Chapter 37)
 Genus Orbivirus African horse sickness and bluetongue viruses. Arthropod borne (mosquitoes)
Togaviridae
 Genus Alphavirus Chikungunya, Eastern, Western, and ...

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