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- Title
Heartland Virus: An Evolving Story of an Emerging Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Disease.
- Authors
Mantlo, Emily K.; Haley, Nicholas J.
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Heartland virus is a tick-borne disease that was first identified in the Midwest United States in 2009. Since then, over 60 human cases of disease and several deaths have been reported. The true prevalence of disease in humans and domestic animals is not well understood. Though the disease is presumed to have an animal reservoir, specific infected animal hosts have not yet been identified. Several diagnostic approaches for Heartland virus infection have been developed, though there are currently no specific treatment or prevention options available. More research needs to be conducted on this newly emerging virus to better understand disease transmission, disease progression, treatment, and to facilitate the development of effective vaccines. Heartland virus (HRTV) is an emerging tick-borne bandavirus that is capable of causing severe disease characterized by acute thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia. The virus is endemic to the eastern United States and is carried by the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Since its discovery in 2009, at least 60 human infections have been recorded across this area, with an overall 5–10% estimated mortality rate. All infections reported thus far have occurred following a known tick bite or exposure to tick-infested areas, but the possibility of nosocomial transmission has not been ruled out. Despite relatively high rates of seroprevalence among certain wildlife species such as white-tailed deer, the reservoir species for HRTV remains unknown, as the virus has never been isolated from any mammalian wildlife species. Furthermore, how the virus is transmitted to its vector species in nature remains unknown, though laboratory studies have confirmed both horizontal and vertical transmission of HRTV in A. americanum. In addition, the recent 2017 introduction of the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) to the US has raised concerns about possible spillover of HRTV into a new tick species that has been confirmed to be a competent vector for HRTV in the laboratory. Thus, an increased awareness of its clinical presentation is needed, and further research is urgently required to establish the natural transmission cycle and develop new countermeasures for this novel zoonotic pathogen.
- Subjects
ZOONOSES; VECTOR-borne diseases; EMERGING infectious diseases; AMBLYOMMA americanum; TICK-borne diseases; LYMPHOPENIA; SEROPREVALENCE; THROMBOCYTOPENIA
- Publication
Zoonotic Diseases (2813-0227), 2023, Vol 3, Issue 3, p188
- ISSN
2813-0227
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/zoonoticdis3030016