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Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Taxonomy, Genomics, and Evolution.
Abstract: Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV; Togaviridae, Alphavirus) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) primarily maintained in an enzootic cycle between Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) and passerine birds. EEEV, which has the highest reported case- fatality rate among arbovirus in the Americas, is responsible for sporadic outbreaks in the Eastern and Midwest United States. Infection is associated with severe neurologic disease and mortality in horses, humans, and other vertebrate hosts. Here, we review what is known about EEEV taxonomy, functional genomics, and evolution, and identify gaps in knowledge regarding the role of EEEV genetic diversity in transmission and disease.
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Publication Date: 2021-11-05 PubMed ID: 34734630DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab079Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
- Alphavirus
- Animal Science
- Arboviruses
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Transmission
- Encephalitis
- Encephalomyelitis
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
- Horses
- Infectious Disease
- Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Neurological Diseases
- Public Health
- Vector-borne disease
- Veterinary Science
- Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article provides a comprehensive understanding of the Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), with information on its taxonomy, genomics, and evolution, and discusses how the virus’s genetic diversity impacts infection spread and disease manifestation.
EEEV Taxonomy
- The study delves into the classification of the Eastern equine encephalitis virus. EEEV is a sub-family of the Togaviridae virus family and falls under Alphavirus genus.
EEEV Genomics and Function
- The paper presents a review of the functional genomics of EEEV, giving insights into the structure of the virus and how it operates at a molecular or genetic level.
EEEV Evolution and Diversity
- This review explores the evolution of EEEV and how it has developed and spread over the years. The study posits that the EEEV genetic diversity plays a significant role in its transmission and the severity of the diseases it causes.
EEEV Role in Enzootic Cycle
- EEEV is primarily an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) maintained in an enzootic cycle—a cycle between a pathogen and a host, in this case, between the Culiseta melanura and passerine birds. This mechanism aids in its survival and transmission across host organisms.
EEEV and Disease Severity
- The study highlights that EEEV is responsible for the highest reported case-fatality rate among arboviruses in the Americas and is responsible for sporadic outbreaks in the Eastern and Midwest United States.
- The infection caused by EEEV can lead to severe neurologic disease and death in horses, humans, and other vertebrate hosts.
Cite This Article
APA
Ciota AT.
(2021).
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Taxonomy, Genomics, and Evolution.
J Med Entomol, 59(1), 14-19.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab079 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY.
MeSH Terms
- Biological Evolution
- Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / classification
- Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / genetics
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / transmission
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / virology
- Evolution, Molecular
- Genetic Variation
- Genome, Viral
- Genomics
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Anderson C, Baha H, Boghdeh N, Barrera M, Alem F, Narayanan A. Interactions of Equine Viruses with the Host Kinase Machinery and Implications for One Health and Human Disease. Viruses 2023 May 13;15(5).
- Lehman CW, Smith A, Kelly J, Jacobs JL, Dinman JD, Kehn-Hall K. EGR1 Upregulation during Encephalitic Viral Infections Contributes to Inflammation and Cell Death. Viruses 2022 Jun 2;14(6).
- Garzaro D, Rodríguez N, Medina G, Alcazar W, Gualdron M, Siem JA, Sulbaran Y, Barrios M, Liprandi F, Jaspe RC, Pujol FH. Isolation of Madariaga Virus (MADV) in a Horse Coinfected with Equine Infectious Anemia in Venezuela: A Review of MADV Circulation in the Country. Vet Sci 2026 Jan 10;13(1).
- Rong H, Wu Z, Zhao K, Ding Y, Ning S, Tian Y, Wang X, Qiao Q, Zhu X, Wu T, Ge Y, Chu H, Cui L. Identification and characterization of Jingmen tick virus in Jiangsu, China. Virol J 2025 Nov 12;22(1):372.
- Aranda-Coello JM, Machain-Williams C, Weber M, Dzul Rosado AR, Simpkins TR, Blitvich BJ. Serologic Surveillance for Orthoflaviviruses and Chikungunya Virus in Bats and Opossums in Chiapas, Mexico. Viruses 2025 Apr 22;17(5).
- Padda H, Huang CY, Grimm K, Biggerstaff BJ, Ledermann JP, Raetz J, Boroughs K, Mossel EC, Martin SW, Lehman JA, Townsend RL, Krysztof D, Saá P, Dinh ETN, Stobierski MG, Esponda-Morrison B, Wolujewicz KAA, Osborne M, Brown CM, Hopkins B, Schiffman EK, Garvin A, Lee X, Osborn RA, Wozniak RJ, Brault AC, Basavaraju SV, Stramer SL, Staples JE, Gould CV. Powassan and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Seroprevalence in Endemic Areas, United States, 2019-2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2025 May;31(5):929-936.
- VanderGiessen M, de Jager C, Leighton J, Xie H, Theus M, Johnson E, Kehn-Hall K. Neurological manifestations of encephalitic alphaviruses, traumatic brain injuries, and organophosphorus nerve agent exposure. Front Neurosci 2024;18:1514940.
- Cao D, Ma B, Cao Z, Xu X, Zhang X, Xiang Y. The receptor VLDLR binds Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus through multiple distinct modes. Nat Commun 2024 Aug 10;15(1):6866.
- Nguyen TL, Kim H. Designing a Multiepitope Vaccine against Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus: Immunoinformatics and Computational Approaches. ACS Omega 2024 Jan 9;9(1):1092-1105.
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