any of a family (Arenaviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses having a dense outer lipid envelope covered by numerous club-shaped projections and including the causative agents of lymphocytic choriomeningitis and Lassa fever
any of various RNA-containing viruses of the family Arenaviridae, usu. transmitted to humans by contact with excreta of infected rodents
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Arena-viirusnakkus võib kulgeda kahes vormis – hemorraagilises või neuroloogilises. Neuroloogiline vorm kulgeb aseptilise meningiidi, meningo-entsefaliidi või entsefaliidina. Hemorraagilise vormi haigusnähud on palavik, peavalu, neelupõletik, köha, rindkere- ja kõhuvalu, oksendamine. Lisaks võib esineda nina, igemete, tupe, konjunktiivi jm verejookse ning nahalöövet. Kõrgeimat suremust (kuni 30%) põhjustab Guanarito-viirusnakkus, muude viirusnakkuste korral on see 5–20%.
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The arenavirus family consists of a single genus, Arenavirus, which contains more than 20 different species. Arenaviruses are widely distributed in animals and can cause serious disease in humans. The arenaviruses are evolutionarily adapted to specific rodent hosts, which generally show no signs of viral infection and thus act as reservoirs for the virus. Rodents excrete the virus in feces, urine, and saliva. When humans come into contact with food or soil contaminated by these rodent excreta, viral infection may occur, leading to disease. The arenaviruses cause the diseases Lassa fever (Lassa virus; occurring in West Africa), Argentine hemorrhagic fever (Junin virus), Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (Machupo virus), Brazilian hemorrhagic fever (Sabiá virus), and Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (Guanarito virus).
Arena-viirused levivad inimestele a) näriliste uriini ja roojaga kokkupuutel (toidu saastumisel), b) näriliste kuivanud väljaheidetega saastunud tolmu sissehingamisel, c) haigelt inimeselt tervele vere jm kehavedelikega või nende aerosooliga.
