Evidence of circulation of Laguna Negra-like hantavirus in the Central West of Brazil: Case report

Abstract Background Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has been reported with increasing frequency in some Brazilian regions, but information about viral genetic identification is still limited. Recently, the state of Mato Grosso, in the Legal Amazon of Brazil, experienced a growing number of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) cases but the genetic characterization of the causative hantavirus is still missing. Objectives Our goal was to identify the hantavirus strain involved in a fatal HPS case in the Central region of Brazil. Study design Nested RT-PCR was conducted on blood clot samples from an HPS patient from Mato Grosso. PCR-positive samples were sequenced, and the resulting sequences were compared with reference samples. Viral antigens were detected by immunohistological analyses in lung and liver tissues. Results Analyses of the viral RNA isolated from the patient identified a Laguna Negra (LN)-like virus as the causative agent and histological analysis of lung sections were compatible with the genetic characterization. Conclusions This is the first report of circulation and human infection by a Laguna Negra-like hantavirus in Brazil.