arbovirus syndromes
Last reviewed 01/2018
Arbovirus was originally a general term for a virus transmitted by arthropods (mosquitoes, sandflies and ticks). Some similar viruses can also be transmitted from rodents.
Arboviruses cause three main syndromes:
- fever and rash (with or without myalgia/arthralgia and lymphadenopathy); usually benign
- encephalitis; some types often fatal
- viral haemorrhagic fever; severe, often fatal
Arboviruses consist of RNA which is mostly single-stranded, but some are double-stranded eg Reoviridae.
Dengue is a typical mosquito-spread arbovirus infection causing clasical dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever.