Maladie de la forêt Kyasanur

Kyasanur Forest disease is caused by Kyasanur forest disease virus, a tick-borne flavivirus genetically close to the Russian spring-summer encephalitis group that produces hemorrhagic fever rather than encephalitis ^[2][1]. It was isolated in 1957 from samples of dead wild primates and humans during an outbreak in Karnataka, India ^[1].

The disease frequently presents as a hemorrhagic syndrome, distinguishing it from related tick-borne flavivirus infections that typically cause neurologic disease ^[1]. Its association with illness in wild primates is also a notable feature of the described outbreaks ^[1].

The disease was first documented as a severe outbreak in spring 1957 among people and wild nonhuman primates near the Kyasanur forest in Karnataka, India ^[1]. Estimated annual incidence in India is 400–500 cases, with most knowledge derived from studies in the late 1950s and early 1960s ^[1]. A 2012 report indicated possibly the largest number of cases since 2005, underscoring persistent knowledge gaps ^[1].

The probable tick vector of Kyasanur forest disease virus is Haemaphysalis spinigera ^[1]. The virus is maintained in a tick-borne transmission cycle and was associated with infection in wild nonhuman primates as well as humans ^[1].

A vaccine is currently in use in India for Kyasanur Forest disease, though its long-term efficacy may warrant further improvement ^[1]. Avoidance of tick exposure via the identified vector Haemaphysalis spinigera is implied by the tick-borne transmission route ^[1].

1. 1 Holbrook MR et al. Kyasanur forest disease. Antiviral Res. 2012 Dec. PMID: 23110991. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.10.005. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23110991/
2. 2 Gritsun TS et al. Tick-borne flaviviruses. Adv Virus Res. 2003. PMID: 14714436. doi: 10.1016/s0065-3527(03)61008-0. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14714436/