Epidemiological significance of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus in vitro markers.
Abstract: One hundred and fifty-eight strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus were typed antigenically and classified epidemiologically as either epizootic or enzootic. Plaque sizes for 148 of these strains were determined, and the pH requirements for hemagglutination (HA) of goose erythrocytes of 131 were studied. Only antigenic variant group IABC strains could be classified epidemiologically as epizootic. In vitro these strains were characterized by the formation of small plaques in Vero cells and a relatively narrow pH range for optimum HA reactivity. Experimental studies in horses confirmed the fact that only IABC strains have epizootic potential. We concluded that plaque size in Vero cell monolayers would be a useful method of screening VEE viruses for equine virulent strains. Indirect evidence suggested that small plaques resulted from sensitivity to an anionic substance present in the agar overlay medium.
Publication Date: 1982-05-01 PubMed ID: 7200732DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1982.31.561Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study classified 158 strains of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus from an epidemiological perspective, discovering that the IABC strains behave in a highly pathogenic manner and are characterized by small-sized plaques in Vero cells and a relatively narrow optimum pH range.
Introduction
- The researchers analyzed 158 strains of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus, a significant disease-causing organism in animals.
- These viruses were studied both antigenically – how they react to the immune system – and epidemiologically, meaning attention was paid to how they spread in populations.
Methods
- Various characteristics of the studied strains were identified, such as the plaque sizes formed by the viruses and the pH requirements for hemagglutination – the clumping of cells – in goose erythrocytes (red blood cells).
- The viruses were divided into two epidemiological categories: epizootic (causing outbreaks) and enzootic (persistently present in a population).
- The research used Vero cells, a line of cells from the kidney of an African green monkey, often used in virus research.
Results
- Out of all the strains, only the antigenic variant group “IABC” showed epizootic behaviors in vivo (in the body). This group was further characterized by small plaques when grown in Vero cells and had an optimal pH range for hemagglutination.
- The epizootic potential of IABC strains was further confirmed through experimental studies in horses.
- The team hypothesized that the formation of small plaques is due to the virus’ sensitivity to an anionic (negatively charged) substance in the agar overlay, a gel-like substance used in laboratory studies.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that examining plaque size in Vero cell monolayers might be a helpful method for identifying highly pathogenic or equine virulent stains of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus.
- This study contributes significantly to understanding the epidemiology of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus and could guide future studies or interventions to combat these viruses.
Cite This Article
APA
Martin DH, Dietz WH, Alvaerez O, Johnson KM.
(1982).
Epidemiological significance of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus in vitro markers.
Am J Trop Med Hyg, 31(3 Pt 1), 561-568.
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1982.31.561 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antigens, Viral
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / classification
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / pathogenicity
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / physiology
- Hemagglutination Tests
- Horses / microbiology
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Serotyping
- Viral Plaque Assay
- Viremia
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Rusnak JM, Glass PJ, Weaver SC, Sabourin CL, Glenn AM, Klimstra W, Badorrek CS, Nasar F, Ward LA. Approach to Strain Selection and the Propagation of Viral Stocks for Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Vaccine Efficacy Testing under the Animal Rule. Viruses 2019 Aug 31;11(9).
- 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.
- Gorchakov R, Wang E, Leal G, Forrester NL, Plante K, Rossi SL, Partidos CD, Adams AP, Seymour RL, Weger J, Borland EM, Sherman MB, Powers AM, Osorio JE, Weaver SC. Attenuation of Chikungunya virus vaccine strain 181/clone 25 is determined by two amino acid substitutions in the E2 envelope glycoprotein. J Virol 2012 Jun;86(11):6084-96.
- Anishchenko M, Bowen RA, Paessler S, Austgen L, Greene IP, Weaver SC. Venezuelan encephalitis emergence mediated by a phylogenetically predicted viral mutation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006 Mar 28;103(13):4994-9.
- Brault AC, Powers AM, Ortiz D, Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Weaver SC. Venezuelan equine encephalitis emergence: enhanced vector infection from a single amino acid substitution in the envelope glycoprotein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004 Aug 3;101(31):11344-9.
- Anishchenko M, Paessler S, Greene IP, Aguilar PV, Carrara AS, Weaver SC. Generation and characterization of closely related epizootic and enzootic infectious cDNA clones for studying interferon sensitivity and emergence mechanisms of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. J Virol 2004 Jan;78(1):1-8.
- Gonzalez-Salazar D, Estrada-Franco JG, Carrara AS, Aronson JF, Weaver SC. Equine amplification and virulence of subtype IE Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses isolated during the 1993 and 1996 Mexican epizootics. Emerg Infect Dis 2003 Feb;9(2):161-8.
- Ferro C, Boshell J, Moncayo AC, Gonzalez M, Ahumada ML, Kang W, Weaver SC. Natural enzootic vectors of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Magdalena Valley, Colombia. Emerg Infect Dis 2003 Jan;9(1):49-54.
- Wang E, Brault AC, Powers AM, Kang W, Weaver SC. Glycosaminoglycan binding properties of natural venezuelan equine encephalitis virus isolates. J Virol 2003 Jan;77(2):1204-10.
- Brault AC, Powers AM, Weaver SC. Vector infection determinants of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus reside within the E2 envelope glycoprotein. J Virol 2002 Jun;76(12):6387-92.
- Brault AC, Powers AM, Holmes EC, Woelk CH, Weaver SC. Positively charged amino acid substitutions in the e2 envelope glycoprotein are associated with the emergence of venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. J Virol 2002 Feb;76(4):1718-30.
- Powers AM, Brault AC, Kinney RM, Weaver SC. The use of chimeric Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses as an approach for the molecular identification of natural virulence determinants. J Virol 2000 May;74(9):4258-63.
- Wang E, Barrera R, Boshell J, Ferro C, Freier JE, Navarro JC, Salas R, Vasquez C, Weaver SC. Genetic and phenotypic changes accompanying the emergence of epizootic subtype IC Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses from an enzootic subtype ID progenitor. J Virol 1999 May;73(5):4266-71.
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