The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of viral hemorrhagic fevers
Citation: Zapata JC, Cox D, Salvato MS. The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of viral hemorrhagic fevers. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2014 Jun;8(6).
Summary: This paper presents four major ways in which viruses in viral hemorrhagic fever (HFV), including Ebola, affect platelet development and function, with information derived from a systematic search and from conference presentations.
The article describes the impact and epidemiology of HFV, including geographical distribution. The pathogenesis of HFV and the structure and functions of platelets (thrombocytes) lead to detailed comments on the varied viruses covered in this article are given. It is clear that Ebola has not yet been studied to research three of the main mechanisms whereby HFV induce thrombocytopenia, and platelet-HFV interactions are poorly understood but seem to be different in each disease.