A member of the Vesiculovirus

[munnaf141579]

PATHOGENESIS/TOXICITY: Most human infections with VSV appear to be subclinical (1,6,8). In patients with clinical manifestations, the initial symptom is high fever that is often biphasic. Later symptoms are “flu-like,” including severe malaise, headaches, myalgia, arthralgia, retrosternal pain, eye pain, and nausea (1,3,6,7). A hemorrhaging course similar to dengue fever has occasionally been observed (6). Vesicle formation on the oral mucosa, lips, and nose is possible, but these are rare symptoms of vesicular stomatitis (VS)(3,6,7). Most human cases of VS have been diagnosed in laboratory workers (3). In the laboratory, VSV has been engineered to attack cancer cells or to stimulate immunity against diseases such as AIDS or influenza (8).

EPIDEMIOLOGY: VS occurs in North and South America, Africa and Asia, but not in central Europe (6). Serological studies indicate that the prevalence of infection may be high in some populations in enzootic areas. For is telegram available in south korea example, in a rural locality in Panama, more than 90% of the adult population is affected (3); however, the precise frequency of VS is not well established, as the disease often goes unnoticed due to its benign course.



HOST RANGE: Humans (1,2,4,5,6,8), horses (2,4,6,8), cattle, pigs, mules (2,6), sand flies (5,6), grasshoppers (4) and rodents (2).

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Bite of an infected sand fly(1,5,7,8); by direct contact with skin abrasions; by contact with infected domestic animals; or by inhalation of aerosols via the nasopharyngeal route(1,3). The virus has also been transmitted by accidental self-inoculation or inhalation of aerosols in a laboratory(3,8).

INCUBATION PERIOD: A wide range of incubation periods has been reported from 30 hours(1,6) to 6 days(7).