Person-to-Person Transmission of Andes Virus in Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Argentina, 2014

Abstract

Andes virus is unique among hantaviruses because it can be transmitted from person to person. This mechanism was previously supported by epidemiologic data and genetic evidence based only on partial sequences. We used full-length virus sequencing to confirm person-to-person transmission of this virus in a cluster of 3 cases in Argentina in 2014.

Keywords: Andes virus; Argentina; hantavirus; hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; next-generation sequencing; person-to-person transmission; viruses.

Figure 1

Temporal and geographic location of 2 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, southwestern Argentina, 2014. A) Timeline showing contact events, incubation periods, and period of illness for the 3 cases. Asterisks (*) indicate case-patients who died. B) Geographic location of patient residence or sites of exposure. Inset map shows study area in Argentina.

Figure 2

Phylogenetic analysis of hantaviruses based on complete genome of Andes virus (ANDV) isolated from case-patients in Argentina, 2014, and other orthohantaviruses characterized previously. A) Small (S) segment; B) medium (M) segment; C) large (L) segment. We used MrBayes version 3.2.7 (https://nbisweden.github.io/MrBayes) to reconstruct Bayesian maximum clade credibility trees. Numbers along branches are bootstrap values. Bootstrap support was based on 1,000 maximum-likelihood replicates. Scale bars indicate nucleotide substitutions per site. GenBank accession nos.: ANDV-South P1, S: MN850083, M: MN850088, L: MN850093; ANDV-South P2, S: MN850084, M: MN850089, L: MN850094; ANDV-South P3, S: MN850085, M: MN850090, L: MN850095; ANDV-South NRC1, S: MN850086, M: MN850091, L: MN850096; ANDV-South NRC2, S: MN850087, M: MN850092, L: MN850097; ANDV-Orán, S: AF325966, M: AF028024; Laguna Negra virus, S: NC038505, M: NC038506; ANDV-South, S: AF004660, M: AF324901; ANDV-South strain 9717869 Chile, S: AF291702, M: AF291703, L: AF291704; ANDV-Lech, S: AF482714, M: AF028022; ANDV-Bermejo, S: AF482713; Araucaria virus, S: AY740633; Anajatuba virus, S: JX443690; Choclo virus, S: KT983771, M: KT983772, L: EF397003; Sin Nombre virus, S: NC_005216, M: NC_005215, L: NC_005217; Puumala virus, S: NC_005224, M: NC_005223, L: NC_005225; Hantaan virus, S: JQ083395, M: JQ083394, L: JQ083393.