title: Sindbis virus as a human pathogen-epidemiology, clinical picture and pathogenesis.
abstract: Sindbis virus (SINV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) is an enveloped RNA virus widely distributed in Eurasia, Africa, Oceania and Australia. SINV is transmitted among its natural bird hosts via mosquitoes. Human disease caused by SINV infection has been reported mainly in South Africa and in Northern Europe. Vector mosquito abundance affects the annual incidence of SINV infections with occasional outbreaks of up to 1500 patients. Symptoms include fever, malaise, rash and musculoskeletal pain. In a significant portion of patients the debilitating musculoskeletal symptoms persist for years. Chronic disease after SINV infection shares many features with autoimmune diseases. Currently there is no specific treatment available. Recently SINV infections have been detected outside the previously known distribution range. In this article we will summarize the current knowledge on epidemiology, clinical disease and pathogenesis of SINV infection in man. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adouchief
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Teemu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smura
authors.affiliation: National institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sane
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Virology and Immunology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vapalahti
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Virology and Immunology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurkela
mesh_terms: D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D001717:Birds; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019371:Topography, Medical; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*