Genomic and #Clinical #Analysis of a #Fatal Human #Lyssavirus irkut Case: Evidence for a Natural Focus in the Russian Far East
Abstract In this report, we document and analyze a case in which the Irkut virus (IRKV) (Mononegavirales: Rhabdoviridae) caused a fatal human case following a bat bite in June 2021. Unfortunately, the available data did not permit a detailed taxonomic classification of the carrier bat ( Chiroptera ). The event occurred in the southwestern part of the Sikhote-Alin mountain region (Russian Far East) covered by the Ussuri taiga forest . The symptoms of the illness began with the following: fever ; pronounced psychomotor and motor agitation ; tremor of the lower jaw and tongue ; aphasia; dyslexia; and dysphagia . These rapidly developed, leading to a severe and fatal encephalitis . The patient was not vaccinated for rabies and did not receive rabies immunoglobulin. Using brain sections prepared from the deceased, molecular diagnostics were performed: immunofluorescence (polyclonal anti-rabies immunoglobulin) indicating the presence of the lyssavirus antigen ; and RT-PCR indicating traces o...