The Bhanja virus is a tick-borne
virus first discovered in a tick (''
Haemaphysalis intermedia
''Haemaphysalis intermedia'', the flat-inner-spurred haemaphysalid, is a hard-bodied tick of the genus ''Haemaphysalis''. It is found in India and Sri Lanka. It is an obligate ectoparasite of mammals. It is a potential vector of Kyasanur Forest ...
'') taken from a paralyzed goat in
Bhanjanagar
Bhanjanagar is a town and a semi-urban region. It is a Notified Area Council in the Ganjam District in the state of Odisha, India. The town, earlier named as Russellkonda (Russell's Hill) after George Russell, President of then board of Reven ...
,
India in 1954.
Bhanja virus in humans was first documented in 1974 when
Charles Calisher Charles Calisher is professor emeritus of microbiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University.
Education and career
Calisher received a bachelor's degree in bacteriology from the Philadelphia Col ...
was working with the virus in a lab and contracted it himself.
His experience with the virus was mild and included symptoms of mild aching in muscles and joints, moderate headache, slight
photophobia. The Bhanja virus is a member of the Bhanja virus serocomplex and is a member of the ''
Bunyavirales'' order.
Transmission
The Bhanja virus is transmitted from ticks and has furthermore mainly been isolated from the ticks of the genera ''
Dermacentor'' and ''
Haemaphysalis'', although it can be transmitted by any
Ixodidae ticks. Bhanja virus is not known to be transmitted between humans.
Hosts
The Bhanja virus has been found in
vertebrate animals, most commonly in sheep, goats, cattle, African hedgehogs (''
Atelerix albiventris''), and African ground squirrels (''
Xerus erythropus
The striped ground squirrel (''Euxerus erythropus'') is a species of squirrel native to Africa. It was first described by Geoffroy in 1803, but the original publication may be unavailable, so that the binomial authority is today more often cit ...
''). It has been known to be pathogenic in small animals and children and can also affect adult humans.
Symptoms
The Bhanja virus produces febrile illness in humans with symptoms including
photophobia, vomiting,
meningoencephalitis, and slight or partial paralysis.
Treatment
Treatment is dependent upon the severity of the symptoms. Due to viral infections not responding to antibiotics, treatment is mainly to reduce the signs and symptoms; for which
acetaminophen
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is a medication used to treat fever and mild to moderate pain. Common brand names include Tylenol and Panadol.
At a standard dose, paracetamol only slightly decreases body temperature; it is inferior ...
is suggested.
Prevention
Prevention is that of any tick bite, avoid excessive foliage and bushy areas. If you do come in contact with these areas, wear long sleeves and pants to cover as much skin as possible. Be specifically careful in areas used to graze or feed goats or sheep.
Location
The Bhanja virus has been isolated in
Europe, including: Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Eastern Slovakia, in
Asia, including: India, Kirghizia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and in
Africa, including Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central Africa, Kenya, Somali. There is a possibility that migratory birds play a role in spreading the virus by carrying infected ticks on them to new regions.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q18357847
Bunyavirales
Unaccepted virus taxa
Tick-borne diseases