Lujo virus
Encyclopedia
Lujo is a bisegmented RNA virus
and a member of the Arenaviridae. Its name was suggested by the Special Pathogens Unit of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service (NICD-NHLS) by using the first two letters of the names of the cities involved in the 2008 outbreak of the disease, Lusaka
(Zambia) and Johannesburg
(Republic of South Africa). It is the second pathogenic arenavirus to be described from the African continent, in addition to the lassavirus.
In addition, a cleaner and a nurse that had contact with the first patient also fell ill. A second nurse was infected through contact with the paramedic. The outbreak was highly fatal with 4 of 5 identified cases resulting in death.
The Special Pathogens Unit of the NICD-NHLS together with colleagues from the Special Pathogens Unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the etiological agent of the outbreak as an Old World arenavirus using molecular and serological tests. Sequencing and phylogenetic investigation of partial genome sequencing indicated that this virus was not Lassavirus and likely a previously unreported arenavirus. This was corroborated by full genome sequencing that was conducted by the NICD-NHLS, CDC and collaborators from the Columbia University in New York.
and a subsequent nosocomial outbreak in South Africa
.
has shown that this virus belongs to the Old World
arenavirus group. Comparisons with other viral genome sequences showed that this virus is equidistant from other Old World and New World
arenaviruses. It is distantly similar to the other pathogenic African arenavirus, Lassa fever
virus.
early after onset of clinical disease (was detected through active contact tracing), an antiviral drug
which is effective in treating Lassa fever
, and survived; however, ribavirin's effectiveness against Lujo virus remains unknown.
RNA virus
An RNA virus is a virus that has RNA as its genetic material. This nucleic acid is usually single-stranded RNA but may be double-stranded RNA...
and a member of the Arenaviridae. Its name was suggested by the Special Pathogens Unit of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service (NICD-NHLS) by using the first two letters of the names of the cities involved in the 2008 outbreak of the disease, Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
(Zambia) and Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
(Republic of South Africa). It is the second pathogenic arenavirus to be described from the African continent, in addition to the lassavirus.
History
The discovery of this novel virus was described following a highly fatal nosocomial outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever in Johannesburg. The first case was a female travel agent who lived in the outskirts of Lusaka. She suffered from fever-like illness, which grew worse with time. She was evacuated to Johannesburg for medical treatment. Almost two weeks later, the paramedic that nursed the patient on the flight to South Africa, also fell ill and was also brought to Johannesburg for medical treatment. At this time the connection between these two patients was recognized by the attending physician in the Johannesburg hospital. Together with the NICD-NHLS the clinical syndrome of viral heamorrhagic fever was recognized and specimens from the second patient submitted for laboratory confirmation.In addition, a cleaner and a nurse that had contact with the first patient also fell ill. A second nurse was infected through contact with the paramedic. The outbreak was highly fatal with 4 of 5 identified cases resulting in death.
The Special Pathogens Unit of the NICD-NHLS together with colleagues from the Special Pathogens Unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the etiological agent of the outbreak as an Old World arenavirus using molecular and serological tests. Sequencing and phylogenetic investigation of partial genome sequencing indicated that this virus was not Lassavirus and likely a previously unreported arenavirus. This was corroborated by full genome sequencing that was conducted by the NICD-NHLS, CDC and collaborators from the Columbia University in New York.
Distribution
The distribution of this newly described arenavirus is uncertain. To date this virus has only been reported from a patient from ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and a subsequent nosocomial outbreak in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Phylogenetics
Sequencing of the viral genomeGenome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
has shown that this virus belongs to the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
arenavirus group. Comparisons with other viral genome sequences showed that this virus is equidistant from other Old World and New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
arenaviruses. It is distantly similar to the other pathogenic African arenavirus, Lassa fever
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria, in the Yedseram river valley at the south end of Lake Chad. Clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a decade but had not been connected...
virus.
Clinical
This virus has been associated with an outbreak of five cases of viral haemorrhagic fever in September and October 2008. In four cases (80% of total known infections) the infection was fatal. The fifth case was treated with ribavirinRibavirin
Ribavirin is an anti-viral drug indicated for severe RSV infection , hepatitis C infection and other viral infections. Ribavirin is a prodrug, which when metabolised resembles purine RNA nucleotides...
early after onset of clinical disease (was detected through active contact tracing), an antiviral drug
Antiviral drug
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics for bacteria, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses...
which is effective in treating Lassa fever
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria, in the Yedseram river valley at the south end of Lake Chad. Clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a decade but had not been connected...
, and survived; however, ribavirin's effectiveness against Lujo virus remains unknown.