Arbovirus investigations in Argentina, 1977-1980. I. Historical aspects and description of study sites.
Abstract: This is the introductory paper to a series on the ecology of arboviruses in Argentina. Epizootics of equine encephalitis have occurred since at least 1908, principally in the Pampa and Espinal biogeographic zones, with significant economic losses; human cases of encephalitis have been rare or absent. Both western equine and eastern equine encephalitis viruses have been isolated from horses during these epizootics, but the mosquitoes responsible for transmission have not been identified. A number of isolations of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus were reported between 1936 and 1958 in Argentina, but the validity of these findings has been seriously questioned. Nevertheless, serological evidence exists for human infections with a member of the VEE virus complex. Serological surveys conducted in the 1960s indicate a high prevalence of infection of humans and domestic animals with St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), and 2 SLE virus strains have been isolated from rodents. Human disease, however, has rarely been associated with SLE infection. Only 7 isolations of other arboviruses have been described (3 of Maguari, 1 of Aura, 2 of Una, and 1 of an untyped Bunyamwera group virus). In 1977, we began longitudinal field studies in Santa Fe Province, the epicenter of previous equine epizootics, and in 1980 we extended these studies to Chaco and Corrientes provinces. The study sites are described in this paper.
Publication Date: 1985-09-01 PubMed ID: 4037184
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Animal Science
- Arboviruses
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Ecology
- Encephalitis
- Epidemiology
- Epizootic
- Equine Diseases
- Field Study
- Horses
- Longitudinal Study
- Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Public Health
- Serological Surveys
- Vector-borne disease
- Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis
- Western Equine Encephalitis
Summary
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This research article is an introduction to a series of papers on the ecology of arboviruses in Argentina, detailing the history and consequences of epizootics of equine encephalitis in the region and describing the study sites for ongoing longitudinal field studies commenced in 1977.
Background
- The paper is an overview of previous arbovirus epidemics in Argentina, where there have been numerous instances of equine encephalitis since 1908, primarily in the Pampa and Espinal biogeographic zones.
- These epidemics have caused significant economic damage, although human instances of encephalitis have been rare or nonexistent.
- Both eastern and western equine encephalitis viruses have been isolated from horses during these outbreaks but the mosquitoes responsible for transmission haven’t been identified.
Previous Findings and Controversies
- The research references occurrences of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus reported between 1936 and 1958 in Argentina, the validity of which has been under scrutiny.
- Despite the questions surrounding these findings, there is serological evidence for human infections with a variant of the VEE virus complex.
Serological Surveys
- The paper notes serological surveys from the 1960s that indicate a high prevalence of infection of both humans and domestic animals with the St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus.
- Two strains of the SLE virus have been isolated from rodents, but human disease has infrequently been associated with SLE infection.
Other Arbovirus Isolations
- Beyond equine encephalitis and SLE, only seven isolations of other arboviruses have been described in Argentina, specifically three of Maguari, one of Aura, two of Una, and one untyped strain of the Bunyamwera group virus.
Current Study
- In 1977, the authors commenced longitudinal field studies in Santa Fe Province, known as the epicenter of previous equine epizootics.
- In 1980, these studies have been extended to include Chaco and Corrientes provinces.
- The paper details descriptions of these study sites.
Cite This Article
APA
Sabattini MS, Monath TP, Mitchell CJ, Daffner JF, Bowen GS, Pauli R, Contigiani MS.
(1985).
Arbovirus investigations in Argentina, 1977-1980. I. Historical aspects and description of study sites.
Am J Trop Med Hyg, 34(5), 937-944.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arbovirus Infections / epidemiology
- Arbovirus Infections / microbiology
- Arboviruses
- Argentina
- Birds
- Cattle
- Child
- Climate
- Ecology
- Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine
- Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine
- Encephalitis, St. Louis / epidemiology
- Encephalitis, St. Louis / microbiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / epidemiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / microbiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / veterinary
- Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / epidemiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / microbiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / veterinary
- Geography
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses / microbiology
- Humans
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Azar SR, Campos RK, Bergren NA, Camargos VN, Rossi SL. Epidemic Alphaviruses: Ecology, Emergence and Outbreaks.. Microorganisms 2020 Aug 1;8(8).
- Stechina OS, Oria GI, Torres C, Diaz LA, Contigiani M, Stein M. First Detection of Madariaga virus in Mosquitoes Collected in a Wild Environment of Northeastern Argentina.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019 Oct;101(4):916-918.
- Go YY, Balasuriya UB, Lee CK. Zoonotic encephalitides caused by arboviruses: transmission and epidemiology of alphaviruses and flaviviruses.. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2014 Jan;3(1):58-77.
- Kopp A, Gillespie TR, Hobelsberger D, Estrada A, Harper JM, Miller RA, Eckerle I, Müller MA, Podsiadlowski L, Leendertz FH, Drosten C, Junglen S. Provenance and geographic spread of St. Louis encephalitis virus.. mBio 2013 Jun 11;4(3):e00322-13.
- Arrigo NC, Adams AP, Weaver SC. Evolutionary patterns of eastern equine encephalitis virus in North versus South America suggest ecological differences and taxonomic revision.. J Virol 2010 Jan;84(2):1014-25.
- Tsiodras S, Kelesidis T, Kelesidis I, Bauchinger U, Falagas ME. Human infections associated with wild birds.. J Infect 2008 Feb;56(2):83-98.
- Spinsanti L, Basquiera AL, Bulacio S, Somale V, Kim SC, Ré V, Rabbat D, Zárate A, Zlocowski JC, Mayor CQ, Contigiani M, Palacio S. St. Louis encephalitis in Argentina: the first case reported in the last seventeen years.. Emerg Infect Dis 2003 Feb;9(2):271-3.
- Weaver SC, Kang W, Shirako Y, Rumenapf T, Strauss EG, Strauss JH. Recombinational history and molecular evolution of western equine encephalomyelitis complex alphaviruses.. J Virol 1997 Jan;71(1):613-23.
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