View source for Biology:Bhanja virus

{{Short description|Species of virus}}
{{Virusbox
| parent = Bandavirus
| species = Bhanja bandavirus
}}

The '''Bhanja virus''' is a tick-borne [[Biology:Virus|virus]] first discovered in a tick (''[[Biology:Haemaphysalis intermedia|Haemaphysalis intermedia]]'') taken from a paralyzed goat in Bhanjanagar, {{wipe|India}} in 1954.<ref name="Zdenek Hubálek 2009">{{cite journal |vauthors=Hubálek Z |title=Biogeography of tick-borne bhanja virus (bunyaviridae) in Europe |journal=Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis |volume=2009 |pages=372691 |date=2009 |doi=10.1155/2009/372691 |pmid=20182535 |pmc=2825549|doi-access=free }}</ref> Bhanja virus in humans was first documented in 1974 when Charles Calisher was working with the virus in a lab and contracted it himself.<ref name = "Goo">{{cite journal|vauthors=Calisher CH, Goodpasture HC |title=Human infection with Bhanja virus |journal=Am J Trop Med Hyg |volume=24 |issue=6 Pt 1 |pages=1040–2 |date=1975 |doi=10.4269/ajtmh.1975.24.1040 |pmid=812372 }}</ref> His experience with the virus was mild and included symptoms of mild aching in muscles and joints, moderate headache, slight [[Medicine:Photophobia|photophobia]]. The Bhanja virus is a member of the Bhanja virus serocomplex and is a member of the ''[[Biology:Bunyavirales|Bunyavirales]]'' order.<ref name="Zdenek Hubálek 2009"/><ref name="ictv9">{{cite web |last1=Plyusnin |first1=A. |last2=Beaty |first2=B.J. |last3=Elliott |first3=R.M. |last4=Goldbach |first4=R. |last5=Kormelink |first5=R. |last6=Lundkvist |first6=Å. |last7=Schmaljohn |first7=C.S. |last8=Tesh |first8=R.B |title=ICTV 9th Report (2011) Negative Sense RNA Viruses (2011) Negative Sense RNA Viruses ''Bunyaviridae'' |url=https://ictv.global/report/chapter/peribunyaviridae |website=International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) |access-date=20 December 2019 |language=en |quote=List of other related viruses which may be members of the family ''Bunyaviridae'' but have not been approved as species}}</ref>

==Transmission==
The Bhanja virus is transmitted from ticks and has furthermore mainly been isolated from the ticks of the genera ''[[Biology:Dermacentor|Dermacentor]]'' and ''[[Biology:Haemaphysalis|Haemaphysalis]]'', although it can be transmitted by any [[Biology:Ixodidae|Ixodidae]] ticks. Bhanja virus is not known to be transmitted between humans.<ref name="Zdenek Hubálek 2009"/>

==Hosts==
The Bhanja virus has been found in [[Biology:Vertebrate|vertebrate]] animals, most commonly in sheep, goats, cattle, African hedgehogs (''Atelerix albiventris''), and African ground squirrels (''[[Biology:Xerus erythropus|Xerus erythropus]]''). It has been known to be pathogenic in small animals and children and can also affect adult humans.<ref>{{cite book |first=Heinz |last=Mehlhorn |chapter=8. The Huge Risks Due to ''Hyalomma'' Ticks |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vr1GYBzjuH8C&pg=PA181 |title=Arthropods as Vectors of Emerging Disease |publisher=Springer |date=2012 |isbn=9783642288425 |pages=181, 183 |url=}}</ref>

==Symptoms==
The Bhanja virus produces febrile illness in humans with symptoms including [[Medicine:Photophobia|photophobia]], vomiting, meningoencephalitis, and slight or partial paralysis.<ref name="Zdenek Hubálek 2009"/>

==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 is suggested.<ref name="Goo"/>

==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.<ref>{{cite book |author=Armed Forces Pest Control Board Washington DC |last2=Gingrich |first2=John B. |last3=Harlan |first3=Harold J. |last4=Perkins |first4=Peter V. |last5=Trosper |first5=James H. |chapter=V. Militarily Important Vector-Borne Diseases with Short Incubation Periods (<15 days) §N. Bhanja Virus |title=Regional Disease Vector Ecology Profile: Central Europe |publisher=Defense Pest Management Information Analysis Center, Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Forest Glen Section, Walter Reed Army Medical Center |date=2001 |id=ADA514062 |pages=113–5 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA514062.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919062522/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA514062.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=September 19, 2021}}</ref>

==Location==
The Bhanja virus has been isolated in [[Earth:Europe|Europe]], including: Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Eastern Slovakia, in [[Earth:Asia|Asia]], including: India, Kirghizia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and in [[Earth:Africa|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.<ref name="twycrosszoo">{{cite web|url=http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/Bhanja_virus_Inf.htm|title=Bhanja Virus Infection in Hedgehogs and Bears (Viral Disease Link)|publisher=wildpro.twycrosszoo.org|access-date=2014-07-25|archive-date=2017-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619005326/http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/Bhanja_virus_Inf.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Zoonotic viral diseases}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q18357847}}

[[Category:Bunyavirales]]
[[Category:Tick-borne diseases]]

{{Sourceattribution|Bhanja virus}}