Epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in North America in 1971: vertebrate field studies.
Abstract: Epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in North America in 1971: vertebrate field studies. Am J Epidemiol 101:36-50, 1975.-In June 1971, epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) invaded the lower Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. The Boca Chica area of Cameron County was selected as a study site to investigate vertebrate involvement in the natural cycle of epidemic VEE on the basis of considerable evidence of VEE virus activity there in equines, humans, and mosquito vectors. Only one VEE virus isolation was made from 4739 wild and domestic non-equine vertebrates, although numerous equine and human VEE virus isolations were made in concurrent studies. Serologic studies indicated that VEE virus activity was far greater in large domestic animals than in wild birds, wild mammals, or reptiles. Apparently epidemic VEE virus failed to establish itself in a wild vertebrate cycle in south Texas, since VEE antibody was found only in rabbits in 1972. Eventual cessation of VEE transmission in south Texas has been attributed 1) to the elimination of equines as a source of VEE virus by death, naturally acquired antibodies, or vaccination, 2) to quarantines, 3) to mosquito control, and 4) to the failure of epidemic VEE virus to become established in the wild vertebrate population. Equines emerge as the most important vertebrate host in the amplification and spread of virus during an epidemic of VEE.
Publication Date: 1975-01-01 PubMed ID: 1119481DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112069Google 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
- Diagnosis
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Field Study
- Horses
- Infection
- Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Public Health
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
- Virus
Summary
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This study investigates the pattern of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) spread among wild and domestic animals during a 1971 epidemic in southern Texas, identifying horses as a significant amplifier and distributor of the virus.
Overview of the Study
- The research was conducted in 1971 during an outbreak of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) in southern Texas.
- The researchers selected the lower Rio Grande Valley, specifically the Boca Chica area of Cameron County, as their point of investigation due to a high level of VEE activity among horses, humans, and mosquitoes.
Investigation Approach and Findings
- The researchers examined a total of 4739 wild and domestic non-equine (non-horse) vertebrates for signs of VEE virus.
- Only a single instance of VEE virus was isolated from these species, despite much higher rates of isolation from concurrent studies on horses and humans.
- According to antibody studies, large domestic animals experienced significantly more VEE virus activity than wild birds, mammals, or reptiles.
- In 1972, VEE antibodies were found exclusively in rabbits, indicating that the epidemic virus had failed to establish a new, sustainable cycle within the wild vertebrate population in southern Texas.
Key Factors in the Ceasing of VEE Transmission
- The cessation of the VEE transmission has been attributed to four key factors:
- Firstly, the elimination of the horse population as a source of VEE, which happened due to death, naturally acquired antibodies, or vaccination.
- Secondly, the implementation of quarantines.
- Thirdly, control measures to reduce mosquito populations were put in place as mosquitos are known vectors for the disease.
- Lastly, the virus failed to establish a new cycle within the wild vertebrate population.
- As a result, equines (horses) were highlighted as the most significant vertebrate host in the virus amplification and spread during a VEE epidemic.
Cite This Article
APA
Sudia WD, McLean RG, Newhouse VF, Johnston JG, Miller DL, Trevino H, Bowen GS, Sather G.
(1975).
Epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in North America in 1971: vertebrate field studies.
Am J Epidemiol, 101(1), 36-50.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112069 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic / microbiology
- Antibodies, Viral / analysis
- Birds / microbiology
- Disease Vectors / microbiology
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / immunology
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / isolation & purification
- Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine / isolation & purification
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / epidemiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / transmission
- Geography
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Humans
- Insect Vectors / microbiology
- Mammals / microbiology
- Texas
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Petersen V, Santana M, Karina-Costa M, Nachbar JJ, Martin-Martin I, Adelman ZN, Burini BC. Aedes (Ochlerotatus) scapularis, Aedes japonicus japonicus, and Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus (Diptera: Culicidae): Three Neglected Mosquitoes with Potential Global Health Risks. Insects 2024 Aug 8;15(8).
- Kirchgatter K, Guimarães LO, Monteiro EF, Helfstein VC, Telles-de-Deus J, Menezes RMT, Reginato SL, Chagas CRF, de Camargo-Neves VLF. DNA Barcoding of Morphologically Characterized Mosquitoes Belonging to the Genus Mansonia from the Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Savanna. Insects 2023 Jan 20;14(2).
- Lehman CW, Kehn-Hall K, Aggarwal M, Bracci NR, Pan HC, Panny L, Lamb RA, Lin SC. Resveratrol Inhibits Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection by Interfering with the AKT/GSK Pathway. Plants (Basel) 2021 Feb 12;10(2).
- Azar SR, Campos RK, Bergren NA, Camargos VN, Rossi SL. Epidemic Alphaviruses: Ecology, Emergence and Outbreaks. Microorganisms 2020 Aug 1;8(8).
- McLean RG. Letter to the Editor: Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus 1B Invasion and Epidemic Control-South Texas, 1971. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020 Jun 22;5(2).
- Chapman GE, Archer D, Torr S, Solomon T, Baylis M. Potential vectors of equine arboviruses in the UK. Vet Rec 2017 Jan 7;180(1):19.
- Esteve-Gassent MD, Pérez de León AA, Romero-Salas D, Feria-Arroyo TP, Patino R, Castro-Arellano I, Gordillo-Pérez G, Auclair A, Goolsby J, Rodriguez-Vivas RI, Estrada-Franco JG. Pathogenic Landscape of Transboundary Zoonotic Diseases in the Mexico-US Border Along the Rio Grande. Front Public Health 2014;2:177.
- Hülseweh B, Rülker T, Pelat T, Langermann C, Frenzel A, Schirrmann T, Dübel S, Thullier P, Hust M. Human-like antibodies neutralizing Western equine encephalitis virus. MAbs 2014 May-Jun;6(3):718-27.
- Adams AP, Navarro-Lopez R, Ramirez-Aguilar FJ, Lopez-Gonzalez I, Leal G, Flores-Mayorga JM, Travassos da Rosa AP, Saxton-Shaw KD, Singh AJ, Borland EM, Powers AM, Tesh RB, Weaver SC, Estrada-Franco JG. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus activity in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico, 2003-2010. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012;6(11):e1875.
- Deardorff ER, Forrester NL, Travassos-da-Rosa AP, Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Experimental infection of potential reservoir hosts with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Mexico. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Apr;15(4):519-25.
- Carrara AS, Coffey LL, Aguilar PV, Moncayo AC, Da Rosa AP, Nunes MR, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection of cotton rats. Emerg Infect Dis 2007 Aug;13(8):1158-65.
- Calisher CH, Maness KS. Laboratory studies of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in equines, Texas, 1971. J Clin Microbiol 1975 Sep;2(3):198-205.
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