Puumala virus
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| Puumala virus | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group V ((-)ssRNA) |
| Family: | Bunyaviridae |
| Genus: | Hantavirus |
| Species: | Puumala virus |
Puumala virus is a species of hantavirus, and causes nephropathia epidemica. It is common in northern Europe and Russia, especially in Scandinavia and Finland
The bank vole (Myodes glareolus) acts as a reservoir for the virus, and nephropathia epidemica therefore peaks at the same time the population of these voles, typically every 3 to 4 years. People like farmers, exposed to the dust from droppings of these animals are infected by inhalation. [1]
It has been theorized that Puumala virus has lethal effects on its host when present in rodents, which is uncommon of other members of genus Hantavirus.[2]
The virus was found and named in 1980 by two Finnish researchers Markus Brummer-Korvenkontio and Antti Vaheri.
Puumala is a municipality in Finland.
[edit] References
- ^ Rose A, Vapalahti O, Lyytikäinen O, Nuorti P. Patterns of Puumala virus infection in Finland. Euro Surveill. 2003;8(1):pii=394.
- ^ The abstract of study: Eva R Kallio, Liina Voutilainen, Olli Vapalahti, Antti Vaheri, Heikki Henttonen, Esa Koskela, Tapio Mappes: Endemic hantavirus infection impairs the winter survival of its rodent host. Ecology. 01/09/2007; 88(8):1911-6. ISSN: 0012-9658
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