Bouquety, J.C.

Diemer, J.M.

Georges, A.J.

Gonzalez, Jean-Paul

Guerre, L.

Lesbordes, J.L.

Madelon, M.C.

Mathiot, C.C.

Name not available

Status of Hantavirus in the Central African Republic

Horizon / Pleins textes

8 ELSEVIEH 
Paris 1088 
” ANN. Inst. Pasteur/ Viral. c 
1988, 139, 301-304 
BRIEF NOTE 
STATUS OF HANTAVIRUS IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 
J.P. Gonzalez (I) (*), C.C. Makhiol (2), J.C. Bouyuely (3), 
J.M. Diemer (4), L. Guerre (*), J.L. Lesbordes (3), 
M.C. Madelon (*) and A.J. Georges (*) 
(1) Knstitut Fraqais de Rechrrche pour Ie DPveloppetnent 
en Coop&km, ORSTOM, BP 893, Eangui, 
(2) Institut Pasteur, Bungui, 
(3) Centre Nutianul Hospitalier Universituire, Bangui, und 
(4) Minis&e de la Santk, klungui 
The first serological evidence of Hantavirus circulation in Africa was 
reported from the Central African Republic (CAR) as early as 198 1 [S]. More 
recently, we reported serological evidence of infection by a Hantaan-like virus 
in a human population of CAR [l, 31. 5-7 
Since 1985, a continuous survey was routinely made on hospitalized pa- * 
tients based on the clinical picture of renal disfunction of unknown aetiology, 1 
associated or not with a haemorrhagic syndrome. In addition, routine trap- 
ping was carried out at the Bangui harbour on the Ubangui river in order z 
to evaluate the importance of Raftus rut&s as a potential reservoir of the virus. 
Several other rodent species were also tested. 
Serological tests were conducted using immunofluorescent assay (IFA) on 
Vero-infected cells with Hantaan virus strain 76-118, as previously described 
[3], Virus isolation attempts were made by multiple passages on Vero E6 cells ; 
Korean haemorrhagic fever convalescent sera and/or monoclonal antibody 
were made to show the presence of antigen using organ cryosections [II]. 
Of 305 selected patients, 4 seroconverted and 10 had a significant IgG titre 
from 16 to 2,048 (table 1). In one case, we were able to follow the 1gM and 
IgG antibody kinetics [I]. All 5 patients had fever, with oliguria and a high 
creatinine level (> 140 pmol/l); these symptoms improved within 48 h, but 
in all cases an associated hepatitis syndrome @GOT > 400 1U) lasted 5 days 
or more. In all seropositive patients, virus isolation attempts from sera and 
several urine samples were unsuccessful. 
Gq 
08 
ORSTOI~ F0nds Documentaire 
\ II 1 MA1 t989 N” : 96,37S&4 
Submitted September 8. 1987, accepted April 14, 19t38. 
(*I Present address: lnstitut Pasteur, BP 220, Dakar, Senegal. 
TABLE I. - Prevalence of anti-Hantaan-virus 
fluorescent antibodies (IFA) in human sera from CAR. 
Population 
sampled 
_- 
General 
General 
Targeted (hospital 
patients) 
Date of Total Positive 70 
sampling tested 
- 
1982-1984 293 2 
1984-1986 191 t-; 
1985-1987 305 :.: 4:6 
Of 100 R. ruftus trapped over a period of 1 year (November 1985 to 
November 1986), 5 were found seropositive by IFA (IgG titre of 16 to 64). 
From these 5 animals, Hantaan-related virus antigen was demonstrated in 
thin cryosection of kidney. The other organs (lung, liver and spleen) remained 
negative (table II). No viruses were isolated from either the lung, kidney, liver 
or spleen of these 5 specimens. 
TABLE II. - Prevalence of anti-Hantaan-virus 
fluorescent antibodies in rodent sera from CAR (1982-1987). 
Rodent genus Total tested Positive 
Rows loo 5 
Praomys 68 
Mastomys 76 : 
Steatomys 
:: 
1 
MUS 
Lophuromys i 
Others (*) i: 0 
(*) Aerhomys, Thamnomys, Hytotnys, Slochomys. Lemnkcomys, 
As has been observed in preliminary serological studies in Gabon [2], this 
serological investigation in CAR showed a higher antibody prevalence du- 
ring 1984-1986 (7.9 Vo) than during 1982-1984 (0.7 070) [4]. We do not have 
an explanation for these observations. The size of the population sampled 
and possible changes in the technique of preparing the antigen slides must 
be considered. 
_-- -.. _._-_-. --. ----- 
CAR = Central African Republic. 
OFA = immunofluorescent assay. 
HFRS = haemorrhagic fever with renal 
syndrome. 
As has been shown in Senegal [7], H. ruttus seems to be lhe best virus reser- 
voir candidate; in our experience, the relatively low antibody prevalence in 
both human and rodent populations confirms the low level of endemicity, 
Nevertheless, haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Africa ap- 
pears to be mild and characterizeci by an episode of fever with fugacious renal 
dysfunction; in our experience, hepatitis seems to be associated, but no link 
has been demonstrated in the pathogenesis; however, while our patients with 
HFKS meet our criteria of selection, such criteria do nol appear to be rele- 
vant if we compare seroprevalence in general with that of targeted populations. 
In conclusion, these observations and those previously reported [2, 3, 6, 
71 show that Hantaan-like viruses are present in Africa, particularly in West 
Africa. The clinical picture appears to be atypical and positive diagnosis 
depends upon biological tests. More investigations are needed to determine 
if the virus is spreading on the continent. Major efforts are needed in the 
isolation of African strains. 
KEY-WORDS : Hantavirus, Central African Republic ; Nuttus ruttus. 
Aprb la mise en Cvidence, en 1982, d’anticorps sptcifiyues diriges centre l 
les virus Hantaan dans les populations humaines de RCA, des ktudes ont &C * 
entreprises pour en determiner la prevalence et un Cveniuel niveau d’end& 
mie. D’une part, une surveillance des patients a perrnis de dkmontrer l’exis- 
tence d’un syndrome associant fikvre, insuffisance r&ale passagire et ht+patite 
d’Ctiopathog&ie impr&ise, Cvoluant rapidement vers la gutrison; d’autre part, 
des captures de rongeurs semblent designer Rutius ruttus comme rCservoir 
de virus. Des enqu&es de sCroprCvalence dans les populations humaines et 
animales restent toutefois en faveur d’un niveau d’end&nicitC faible. 
MWS-ct.Bs: Hantavirus, RCpublique Cenlrafricaine; Kurfus ruffus. 
I  
KEFEKENCES 
111 COLJLAIJD, X., CMNAIH, E., C;HOHG~~, A.J., Ror I.IN, P. Xr GOW(AI LI, J.P., First 
human case of haemorrhagic fever with re11a1 sylidrolnc in the (‘entral 
African Republic. Truns. roy. SW. Imp. Med. Hyg., 1987, 81, X55. 
121 DUIWNI, A., GONXAI tz, !.P., Gttr~c;~s, A.J. Cyr IVAIUOI~I~, B., Seroepiderniology 
;E l-l..,$aan-related virus In Gabon. TrTruns. ray. SOL’. troy. Med. Hyg., 1987, 
, * 
304 J.P. GONZALEZ AND COLL. 
[3] GONZALEZ, J.P., MCCORMICK, J.B., SALUZZO, J.F. & GEORCES, A.J., Les fikvres 
hemorragiques africaines d’origine virale en RCpublique Centrafricaine. Cab. 
ORSTOM skr. Entomo. Mkd. Parasitoi., 1983, 21, 199-130. 
(41 GONZALEZ, J.P., MCCORMICK, J.B., BAUDON, D., GAUTIJN, J.P., MECINIEH, 
D.M.Y., DOURNON, E. & GEORCES, A.J., Serological evidence for a 
Hantaan-related virus in Africa. Lancet, 1981, 11, 1036-1037. 
[S] LEE, P.W., GIBBS, C.J. & SVEDMYR, A., Antibody to Korean Haemorrhagic 
Fever virus in man in parts of the World where haemorrhagic fever with 
renal syndrome is not known. Lancet, 1981, II, 240-256. 
[6] ROLLIN, P., MATHIOT, Ch., NAWROCKA, E.. RAVAOALIMALALA, V.E., COULANGES, 
P., SUREAU, P. & MCCORMICK, J.B., La fikre hemorraglque avec syndrome 
r&al B Madagascar. Premiere enqu@te sCroCpidCmiologique sur les popula- 
tions de rats. Arch. Inst. Pasteur Madagascar, 1985, 52, 18 1-186. 
[7] SALUZZO, J.F., DI~OUTTE, J.P., ADAM, F., BALER., S.P. 6t MCCORMICK, J.B., 
Serological evidence for Hantaan-related virus infection in rodents and man 
in Senegal. Trans. roy. Sot. trop. Med. Hyg., 1985, 79, 874-875. 
[8] TSAI, T.F., BAUER, S.P., SASSO, D.R., MCCORMICK, J.B., BRADFORD, H., 
CARAWAY, D.V.M., MCFARLAND, L.M., MEDRANO, 0. & SOULIE, G.., 
Preliminary evidence that Hantaan or a closely related virus is enzootic m 
domestic rodents. New Engl. J. Med., 1982, 307, 623-624. 


Status of Hantavirus in the Central African Republic

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Name not available

Horizon / Pleins textes