NAME: Sindbis virus
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Epidemic polyarthritis and rash, Sindbis virus disease, SIN, ockelbo virus
CHARACTERISTICS: Family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus; enveloped virions icosahedral with 40-70 nm diameter, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome
PATHOGENICITY: Self-limiting febrile viral disease. Sudden onset of fever, rash, arthralgia or arthritis, lassitude, headache and myalgia; rash may precede or follow joint manifestations by 1-2 days ;exanthem on trunk progressing to face, legs, palm, soles and lasts on average 10 days; signs of jaundice and myocardial damage are reported but rare; often no recognized clinical disease manifestations
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Common in Africa, Asia, Australia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and the Commonwealth of Independent States
HOST RANGE: Humans, mammals, birds
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By the bite of an infectious mosquito
INCUBATION PERIOD: less than 7 days
COMMUNICABILITY: No evidence of person-to-person transmission documented
RESERVOIR: Birds
ZOONOSIS: Yes - by the bite of an infected mosquito
VECTORS: Mosquitoes (Anopheles, Aedes, Culex and Culista spp.)
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No specific antiviral available to date
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 70% ethanol, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde, organic solvents/detergents
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heat, UV and gamma irradiation and freezing
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives in blood up to 2 days at room temperature
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by serological analysis
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Mainly supportive therapy
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None available
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood specimens
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; droplet exposure of the mucous membranes
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment facilities for all activities involving the virus or infectious or potentially infectious body fluids or tissues
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, incineration, chemical disinfection
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
Date prepared: March, 2001
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001