Tahyna virus

Tahyna virus ('TAHV') is a viral pathogen of humans classified in the California encephalitis virus (CEV) serogroup of the Orthobunyavirus family in the order Bunyavirales, which is endemic to Europe, Asia, Africa and possibly China. TAHV is maintained in an enzootic life cycle involving several species of mosquito vectors, with hares, rabbits, hedgehogs, and rodents serving as amplifying hosts. History In 1958 a virus transmitted by a mosquito was isolated in the Slovakian village of Ťahyňa. The virus was unknown in Europe and was found to belong to the California group and eventually found to occur in most European countries. In human patients, infection with the Tahyna virus appears with influenza-like symptoms. In some cases, meningoencephalitis and atypical pneumonia were observed but no fatal cases have been reported. There are no significant clinical differences between Tahnya and Inkoo viruses. Infection/Symptoms TAHV causes a non-fatal flu-like illness in humans and is sometimes called Valtice fever. Human TAHV infections generally occur in summer and early fall, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, and nausea. The incubation period of the virus lasts about 3 to 7 days. TAHV disease can progress to involve the central nervous system, but fatalities have not been reported. Human infections are common in endemic areas, with neutralizing antibodies present in 60 to 80% of the elderly population. Diagnosis The diagnosis of orthobunyaviruses is based on serology, either as a rise in IgG-antibody titers, or the presence of IgM antibodies. RT-PCR methods are under development to detect viral RNA in cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with encephalitis.