First detection of bat-borne Issyk-Kul virus in Europe
Annika Brinkmann, Claudia Kohl, Aleksandar Radonić, Piotr Wojciech Dąbrowski, Kristin Mühldorfer, Andreas Nitsche, Gudrun Wibbelt, Andreas Kurth
Abstract
Bats have been gaining attention as potential reservoir hosts of numerous viruses pathogenic to animals and man. Issyk-Kul virus, a member of the family Nairoviridae, was first isolated in the 1970s from vespertilionid bats in Central Asia. Issyk-Kul virus has been described as human-pathogenic virus, causing febrile outbreaks in humans with headaches, myalgia and nausea. Here we describe the detection of a novel strain of Issyk-Kul virus from Eptesicus nilssonii in Germany. This finding indicates for the first time the prevalence of these zoonotic viruses in Europe.
Topics & Concepts
VirusVirologyHeadachesOutbreakmyalgiaBiologyMedicineImmunologySurgeryViral Infections and VectorsViral Infections and Outbreaks ResearchViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology