Abstrakt
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are caused by wide and various groups of viral pathogens. They belong to four viral families: Filoviridae, Arenaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Bunyaviridae.
Although they all belong to RNA viruses, many biological differences can be found between each representative. Rapid diagnosis is of high importance, especially for the initiation of adequate treatment of the infected persons, as well as the establishment of necessary epidemiological countermeasures.
However, the development or routine usage of laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of VHF pathogens is complicated mostly because work with the causative agents of VHFs is limited to facilities with the highest biosafety level, BSL 4. In this chapter, we summarize the available ways for detection and identification of known VHF causative agents.
The chapter is divided into four sections. The first section is focused on non-laboratory diagnosis; i.e., clinical and especially epidemiological data, which are essential for the subsequent choice of appropriate laboratory methods and techniques.
The second section discusses sampling and available direct and indirect methods of laboratory diagnosis. Section 3 summarizes the published laboratory methods and techniques for the detection of the most important representatives of viruses causing VHFs.
The final section discusses pitfalls associated with these pathogens, mostly with respect to biosecurity issues.