The Tacaribe complex is a group of viruses belonging to the family Arenaviridae. The spelling of "Tacaribe" is represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /təˈkɑːrɪbi/ - with a schwa sound represented by the symbol /ə/, followed by a stressed /kɑː/ sound, and ending with an unstressed /rɪbi/ sound. The complex was named after the Tacaribe virus, which was first isolated from a species of bat in Trinidad in 1956. The viruses in the Tacaribe complex are known to cause fever, hemorrhagic fever, and other severe illnesses in humans and animals.
The Tacaribe complex is a group of viruses belonging to the family Arenaviridae, encompassing various species of the Tacaribe virus. These viruses are single-stranded RNA viruses, characterized by their unique morphology and ability to cause debilitating disease primarily in rodents. The Tacaribe complex is named after the type species Tacaribe virus, which was originally discovered in Trinidad in the 1950s.
Members of the Tacaribe complex feature a distinctive bullet-shaped structure, with an enveloped capsid surrounding the genetic material. They are primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodent excretions or urine, although some species can also be transmitted via aerosol or direct contact with an infected host. The main reservoirs for these viruses are various rodent species found in the Americas.
In humans, infection with Tacaribe complex viruses can lead to severe illness, including fever, bleeding disorders, and in some cases, even death. The diseases caused by these viruses, collectively known as “Tacaribe complex hemorrhagic fever,” are relatively rare but can occur in areas where these viruses are endemic.
Research is ongoing to better understand the Tacaribe complex viruses and develop effective diagnostic tools, treatments, and preventive measures. Given their potential for causing severe disease and their ecological importance as zoonotic pathogens, continued investigation into the biology and epidemiology of the Tacaribe complex is of great significance.
The term "Tacaribe complex" refers to a group of viruses belonging to the family Arenaviridae, named after the Tacaribe virus. The etymology of the word "Tacaribe" can be traced back to the Tacaribe River in Trinidad, where the virus was first isolated.
The Tacaribe virus was first discovered in 1956 during an investigation into the cause of a mysterious hemorrhagic fever outbreak among laboratory workers in the Rockefeller Foundation Yellow Fever Laboratory in Trinidad. The virus was isolated from the common fruit bat species, Artibeus jamaicensis, which is endemic to the region.
The name "Tacaribe" is a combination of "Taca" (derived from "Tacaribe"), and "ribe" (derived from "Artibeus"), representing the bat species from which the virus was initially isolated.