Oropouche (OROV)
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Morphology | Oropouche virus (OROV) is an arbovirus of the Orthobunyavirus genus in the Peribunyaviridae family. OROV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with a spherical lipid-enveloped genome, sized from 80 to 120 nm in diameter. Overall four virus genotypes exist and members of the OROV species go through reassortment events similar to Influenza. |
| Growth Conditions | OROV replicates in numerous cell cultures, including C6/36, Vero, BHK-21, MA III, LCM-MK2, and primary chicken embryo fibroblasts |
| Health Hazards | |
|---|---|
| Host Range | Humans, but can be transmitted to mammals and birds |
| Modes of Transmission | Transmitted to humans predominantly by the biting midge Culicoides paraensis. However, some mosquito species such as Culex quinquefasciatus can become infected as well |
| Signs and Symptoms | Most common symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and a maculopapular rash. Does not often result in death, but can be severe and disabling in severe cases. Most patients feel better within a week of symptom onset. OROV can cause neuroinvasive disease (e.g. encephalitis) after initial illness in up to 4% of patients. |
| Infectious Dose | Unknown |
| Incubation Period | Usually 3-10 days |
| Medical Precautions/Treatment | |
|---|---|
| Prophylaxis | Avoid biting midges and mosquitoes. Use insect repellent (containing DEET, picaridin, or eucalyptus for example) when travelling to areas with OROV. Wear long sleeves and pants. Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens. |
| Vaccines | None publically available |
| Treatment | There is no specific treatment for OROV, and the illness is usually a self-limited. Infected individuals should prevent insect bites for the first week of their illness to prevent transmission to vectors. Treatment for symptoms can include rest, fluids, and use of analgesics and antipyretics. |
| Surveillance | Monitor for symptoms. Confirmation is via detection of the viral RNA in saliva and blood samples. Viral RNA can be noted in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for patients with neuroinvasive disease |
| GWU Requirements | Report all incidents to the Office of Risk Management as well as the Office of Research Safety (ORS) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE. |
| Containment | |
|---|---|
| BSL-3 | Risk Group 3 classification is applied to OROV. Containment Level 3 facilities, equipment, and operational practices for work involving infectious or potentially infectious material. All activities with infectious material should be conducted in a HEPA-filtered biological safety cabinet (BSC) or other appropriate primary containment device in combination with personal protective equipment. Centrifugation of infected materials must be carried out in closed containers placed in sealed safety cups, or in rotors that are unloaded in a biological safety cabinet. Open wounds, cuts, scratches, and grazes should be covered with waterproof dressings. |
| ABSL-3 | All work involving infectious or potentially infectious material should follow the same guidelines as stated above. Additional precautions should be considered with work involving animals. |
| Spill Procedures | |
|---|---|
| Small Spills (<1 liter) | If the spill occurred inside a biological safety cabinet, close the sash and allow the cabinet to operate for 15 minutes before continuing with the spill cleanup.
OROV has no known cases of aerosol transmission, but extra caution should still be taken during a spill outside of a BSC. Leave the room immediately and allow the aerosols to dissipate for 15 minutes. Notify others working in the lab. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels or any absorbent material and apply an EPA registered disinfectant effective against enveloped viruses (alcohols, bleach, Micro-Chem), working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 15-20 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials. |
| Large Spills | Alert lab personnel in the laboratory to the spill and keep people out of the area to prevent spread of the contamination. Check if you have been contaminated or if any of your PPE has been breached. If so follow exposure procedures. Remove any contaminated clothing and place it the biohazard waste. Wash your hands and post a sign on the door. Notify your supervisor of the incident and call ORS (4-8258) for assistance. If the situation involves an imminently life-threatening injury or has catastrophic potential, call 911. |
| Exposure Procedures | |
|---|---|
| Mucus Membrane | Flush eyes, mouth or nose for 15 minutes at eyewash station. |
| Other Exposure | Wash area with soap and water for 15 minutes. |
| Reporting | Report ALL injuries to the PI immediately and reported to the Office of Risk Management at [email protected] IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE. Exposures that involve a bloodborne-pathogen or recombinant DNA also need to be reported to the Office of Research Safety at [email protected]. If the injury requires immediate medical attention, call GWPD at 202-994-6111 or call 911. |
| Medical Monitoring | Seek immediate medical evaluation, treatment, and post exposure follow-up at the Employee Health Office at GWU Hospital (900 23rd St., NW, Suite G-1090, Phone: 202-715-4275). Students should go to the Students Health Office at Marvin Center. After hours treatment can be received at the GWU hospital emergency room. |
| Stability | |
|---|---|
| Disinfection | Susceptible to 70% Ethanol, 10% bleach, 2% glutaraldehyde, 5% Micro-Chem. Sensitive to lipid solvents. |
| Inactivation | Inactivated by temperatures at or exceeding 58° C for 40-60 minutes |
| Survival Outside Host | Unknown |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | |
|---|---|
| Minimum PPE Requirements | At minimum, personnel are required to don gloves, closed toed shoes, lab coat, and appropriate face and eye protection prior to working with OROV. Additional PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs. |
| Additional Precautions | Additional protection may be worn over laboratory clothing when infectious materials are directly handled, such as solid-front gowns with tight fitting wrists, gloves, and respiratory protection. |
| References | |
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