ABSTRACT
Arenaviruses are enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses that are maintained in nature primarily in rodent reservoirs. Phylogenetically, the arenaviruses are organized into Old or New World groups (Clegg, 2002). At least nine arenaviruses are known to cause severe human diseases. Of the New World viruses, Junin (JUNV), Machupo (MACV), Guanarito (GTOV), Sabia (SABV), and Chapare viruses are etiologic agents of hemorrhagic fever (HF) syndromes in South America while White Water Arroyo virus (WWAV) was linked to fatal hemorrhagic infections in North America (Buchmeier et al., 2007; Delgado et al., 2008). In the Old World group, Lassa (LASV) (Frame et al., 1970) and Lujo (Briese et al., 2009; Paweska et al., 2009) viruses are responsible for severe HF syndromes in Africa, while lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), which is found throughout the world, can cause aseptic meningitis in immunocompetent individuals (Armstrong and Lillie, 1934).
