Description
Spondweni virus (SPOV or SPONV) is an arbovirus, or arthropod-borne virus, which is a member of the family Flaviviridae. It is part of the Spondweni serogroup which consists of the Sponweni virus and the Zika virus (ZIKV). SPONV is phylogenetically close to the ZIKV, it is commonly misdiagnosed as ZIKV along with other viral illnesses.
The Spondweni virus was first isolated in Nigeria in 1952, and ever since, SPONV transmission and activity have been reported throughout Africa.
Less is known about the clinical presentation of Spondweni virus infections, since a large problem with misdiagnosis is seen, as other viral infections like Zika. The majority of SPONV infections have been reported as asymptomatic. Symptoms included fever, headache, nausea, myalgia, greyish mucoid lining on the posterior pharynx, arthralgia, vertigo, conjunctivitis, maculopapular and pruritic rash, epistaxis, photophobia, vomiting, and disorientation. More serious complications have occurred, including conjunctivitis, hematuria, hematospermia, aphthous ulcer, and epistaxis.
