Heartland virus

The Heartland virus (HRTV) is a tick-borne phlebovirus of the Bhanja virus serocomplex discovered in 2009. The Lone Star Tick transmits the virus to people when feeding on blood. As of 2017, only five Midwestern United States have reported 20 human infections, namely Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee; symptoms resemble those of two other tick-borne infections ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. The reservoir host is unknown, but deer, raccoon, coyotes, and moose in 13 different states have antibody titers against the virus. The Heartland virus (HRTV) was discovered in 2009 in northwestern Missouri by Dr. Scott Folk of Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. The virus was first proven to infect humans in June 2009 when two farmers, living 60 miles (97 km) apart, presented with fever, fatigue, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia.The Lone Star Tick transmits the virus to people when feeding on blood. The Heartland virus is part of the Bunyavirales order of viruses which contain 3 segments of −ssRNA. The genus of the virus is Phlebovirus and the species is the Heartland virus. The SFTS virus from China, discovered in 2011, is a related species causing a similar disease. In 2013, researchers from the CDC and Missouri Western State University first isolated the Heartland virus (HRTV) from the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum). As of 2013 work continued to identify the reservoir host, as HRTV has not been isolated from any wild or domestic animals though many white-tailed deer and raccoon from northwestern Missouri had antibodies to HRTV, suggesting that they may be hosts. In a 2015 retrospective study using convenience samples of different wild animal sera deer, raccoon, coyotes, and moose had antibodies against HRTV. They lived in thirteen states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, but also New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. The infections could have occurred as early as 2003, based on the estimated ages of affected deer. Since the Lone Star tick does not occur in northern New England it is assumed that a second type of tick can carry HRTV. Signs and symptoms include fever in excess of 100.4 °F (38 °C), lethargy (weakness), headaches, muscle pain (myalgia), loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, joint pain (arthralgia), low white blood cell count (leukopenia) and easy bruising due to a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Elevated liver transaminases may also be present. All known human cases have been reported from five U.S. states: Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Most people infected were spending time outdoors in regions where ticks are endemic. Most infections are diagnosed between May and September. People usually report having been bitten by a tick within two weeks prior to seeking health care. Diagnosis is through the elimination of other causes of infectious diseases with related symptoms like ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis or if the patient fails to respond to treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline. RT-PCR may then be used to detect viral ssRNA in the blood. Antibody titers against the virus may also be used to indicate infection with the Heartland virus.