FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Emerg Infect Dis / Experimental infection of potential reservoir hosts with Ven...
Emerging infectious diseases2009; 15(4); 519-525; doi: 10.3201/eid1504.081008

Experimental infection of potential reservoir hosts with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Mexico.

Abstract: In 1993, an outbreak of encephalitis among 125 affected equids in coastal Chiapas, Mexico, resulted in a 50% case-fatality rate. The outbreak was attributed to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) subtype IE, not previously associated with equine disease and death. To better understand the ecology of this VEEV strain in Chiapas, we experimentally infected 5 species of wild rodents and evaluated their competence as reservoir and amplifying hosts. Rodents from 1 species (Baiomys musculus) showed signs of disease and died by day 8 postinoculation. Rodents from the 4 other species (Liomys salvini, Oligoryzomys fulvescens, Oryzomys couesi, and Sigmodon hispidus) became viremic but survived and developed neutralizing antibodies, indicating that multiple species may contribute to VEEV maintenance. By infecting numerous rodent species and producing adequate viremia, VEEV may increase its chances of long-term persistence in nature and could increase risk for establishment in disease-endemic areas and amplification outside the disease-endemic range.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2009-04-01 PubMed ID: 19331726PubMed Central: PMC2671456DOI: 10.3201/eid1504.081008Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

This research discusses an investigation into a 1993 outbreak of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) in Mexico, where five species of wild rodents were intentionally infected to study their varying responses and overall contribution to the persistence of the virus in nature.

Research Context

  • The research was conducted after an outbreak of encephalitis in equids (a group of animals that includes horses, donkeys, and zebras),15 in coastal Chiapas, Mexico, in 1993. Half of the 125 affected equids were fatally affected.
  • This outbreak was attributed to the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) subtype IE, which hadn’t been previously linked with disease and death in equids.
  • The aim of the research was to comprehend the ecology of this particular VEEV strain in Chiapas, Mexico.

Method and Findings

  • Five species of wild rodents were experimentally infected with the virus to evaluate their competency as reservoir and amplifying hosts.
  • One species, Baiomys musculus, exhibited signs of illness and died eight days post-inoculation.
  • The other four rodent species—Liomys salvini, Oligoryzomys fulvescens, Oryzomys couesi, and Sigmodon hispidus—became viremic (had the virus circulating in their bloodstream), but survived the infection. They developed neutralizing antibodies to the virus, suggesting they could act as potential reservoirs for VEEV.

Implications

  • The research suggests that multiple wild rodent species can contribute to the maintenance of the VEEV, increasing the virus’s chances of long-term persistence in nature.
  • These findings could imply that the risk for VEEV establishment in disease-endemic areas might be increased, along with the potential for the virus to amplify beyond these endemic ranges.

Cite This Article

APA
Deardorff ER, Forrester NL, Travassos-da-Rosa AP, Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. (2009). Experimental infection of potential reservoir hosts with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Mexico. Emerg Infect Dis, 15(4), 519-525. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1504.081008

Publication

Emerging infectious diseases
ISSN: 1080-6059
NlmUniqueID: 9508155
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
Pages: 519-525

Researcher Affiliations

Deardorff, Eleanor R
  • University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
Forrester, Naomi L
    Travassos-da-Rosa, Amelia P
      Estrada-Franco, Jose G
        Navarro-Lopez, Roberto
          Tesh, Robert B
            Weaver, Scott C

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Animals, Wild / virology
              • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
              • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / transmission
              • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / veterinary
              • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / virology
              • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
              • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
              • Disease Reservoirs / virology
              • Ecosystem
              • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / pathogenicity
              • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / epidemiology
              • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / transmission
              • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / veterinary
              • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / virology
              • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
              • Horse Diseases / transmission
              • Horse Diseases / virology
              • Horses
              • Mexico / epidemiology
              • Rodentia / virology
              • Viremia / immunology
              • Viremia / veterinary

              Grant Funding

              • N01AI25489 / NIAID NIH HHS
              • T32 AI060549 / NIAID NIH HHS

              References

              This article includes 25 references
              1. Oberste MS, Fraire M, Navarro R, Zepeda C, Zarate ML, Ludwig GV, Kondig JF, Weaver SC, Smith JF, Rico-Hesse R. Association of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus subtype IE with two equine epizootics in Mexico.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1998 Jul;59(1):100-7.
                pubmed: 9684636doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1998.59.100google scholar: lookup
              2. Bronze MS, Huycke MM, Machado LJ, Voskuhl GW, Greenfield RA. Viral agents as biological weapons and agents of bioterrorism.. Am J Med Sci 2002 Jun;323(6):316-25.
                doi: 10.1097/00000441-200206000-00004pubmed: 12074486google scholar: lookup
              3. Sudia WD, Fernandez L, Newhouse VF, Sanz R, Calisher CH. Arbovirus vector ecology studies in Mexico during the 1972 Venezuelan equine encephalitis outbreak.. Am J Epidemiol 1975 Jan;101(1):51-8.
                pubmed: 235213doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112070google scholar: lookup
              4. Weaver SC, Ferro C, Barrera R, Boshell J, Navarro JC. Venezuelan equine encephalitis.. Annu Rev Entomol 2004;49:141-74.
                doi: 10.1146/annurev.ento.49.061802.123422pubmed: 14651460google scholar: lookup
              5. Coffey LL, Carrara AS, Paessler S, Haynie ML, Bradley RD, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Experimental Everglades virus infection of cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus).. Emerg Infect Dis 2004 Dec;10(12):2182-8.
                pmc: PMC3323382pubmed: 15663857doi: 10.3201/eid1012.040442google scholar: lookup
              6. Scherer WF, Dickerman RW, La Fiandra RP, Wong Chia C, Terrian J. Ecologic studies of Venezuelan encephalitis virus in southeastern México. IV. Infections of wild mammals.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1971 Nov;20(6):980-8.
                pubmed: 5131697doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1971.20.980google scholar: lookup
              7. 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.
                pmc: PMC2828070pubmed: 17953085doi: 10.3201/eid1308.061157google scholar: lookup
              8. Carrara AS, Gonzales G, Ferro C, Tamayo M, Aronson J, Paessler S, Anishchenko M, Boshell J, Weaver SC. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection of spiny rats.. Emerg Infect Dis 2005 May;11(5):663-9.
                pmc: PMC3320368pubmed: 15890116doi: 10.3201/eid1105.041251google scholar: lookup
              9. Young NA, Johnson KM. Viruses of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis complex. Infection and cross-challenge of rodents with VEE, Mucambo, and Pixuna viruses.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1969 Mar;18(2):280-9.
                pubmed: 5777741
              10. Young NA, Johnson KM, Gauld LW. Viruses of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis complex. Experimental infection of Panamanian rodents.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1969 Mar;18(2):290-6.
                pubmed: 5777742
              11. Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Freier JE, Cordova D, Clements T, Moncayo A, Kang W, Gomez-Hernandez C, Rodriguez-Dominguez G, Ludwig GV, Weaver SC. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, southern Mexico.. Emerg Infect Dis 2004 Dec;10(12):2113-21.
                pmc: PMC3323369pubmed: 15663847doi: 10.3201/eid1012.040393google scholar: lookup
              12. Reid FA. A field guide to the mammals of Central America and southeast Mexico. New York: Oxford University Press; 1997.
              13. Boakye DA, Tang J, Truc P, Merriweather A, Unnasch TR. Identification of bloodmeals in haematophagous Diptera by cytochrome B heteroduplex analysis.. Med Vet Entomol 1999 Jul;13(3):282-7.
                doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2915.1999.00193.xpubmed: 10514054google scholar: lookup
              14. 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.
                doi: 10.1073/pnas.0402905101pmc: PMC509205pubmed: 15277679google scholar: lookup
              15. Turell MJ, O'Guinn ML, Navarro R, Romero G, Estrada-Franco JG. Vector competence of Mexican and Honduran mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for enzootic (IE) and epizootic (IC) strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus.. J Med Entomol 2003 May;40(3):306-10.
                pubmed: 12943109doi: 10.1603/0022-2585-40.3.306google scholar: lookup
              16. Smith DR, Carrara AS, Aguilar PV, Weaver SC. Evaluation of methods to assess transmission potential of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus by mosquitoes and estimation of mosquito saliva titers.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2005 Jul;73(1):33-9.
                pubmed: 16014828
              17. Beaty BJ, Calisher CH, Shope RE. Arboviruses. Diagnostic procedures for viral, rickettsial and chlamydial infections 6th ed. Washington: American Public Health Association; 1989. p. 797–855.
              18. Aguirre AA, McLean RG, Cook RS, Quan TJ. Serologic survey for selected arboviruses and other potential pathogens in wildlife from Mexico.. J Wildl Dis 1992 Jul;28(3):435-42.
                pubmed: 1512876doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-28.3.435google scholar: lookup
              19. Scherer WF, Ordonez JV, Dickerman RW, Navarro JE. Search for persistent epizootic Venezuelan encephalitis virus in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua during 1970-1975.. Am J Epidemiol 1976 Jul;104(1):60-73.
                pubmed: 7139doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112274google scholar: lookup
              20. Sudia WD, McLean RG, Newhouse VF, Johnston JG, Miller DL, Trevino H, Bowen GS, Sather G. Epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in North America in 1971: vertebrate field studies.. Am J Epidemiol 1975 Jan;101(1):36-50.
                pubmed: 1119481doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112069google scholar: lookup
              21. Bowen GS. Experimental infection of North American mammals with epidemic Venezuelan encephalitis virus.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1976 Nov;25(6):891-9.
                pubmed: 1008132doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1976.25.891google scholar: lookup
              22. Bowen GS, McLean RG. Experimental infection of birds with epidemic Venezuelan encephalitis virus.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1977 Jul;26(4):808-14.
                pubmed: 889021doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.808google scholar: lookup
              23. Scherer WF, Cupp EW, Dziem GM, Breener RJ, Ordonez JV. Mesenteronal infection threshold of an epizootic strain of Venezuelan encephalitis virus in Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus mosquitoes and its implication to the apparent disappearance of this virus strain from an enzootic habitat in Guatemala.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1982 Sep;31(5):1030-7.
                pubmed: 7125055doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1982.31.1030google scholar: lookup
              24. Cupp EW, Scherer WF, Lok JB, Brenner RJ, Dziem GM, Ordonez JV. Entomological studies at an enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus focus in Guatemala, 1977-1980.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1986 Jul;35(4):851-9.
                pubmed: 2873752doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1986.35.851google scholar: lookup
              25. Galindo P, Srihongse S, De Rodaniche E, Grayson MA. An ecological survey for arboviruses in Almirante, Panama, 1959-1962.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1966 May;15(3):385-400.
                pubmed: 4380043doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1966.15.385google scholar: lookup

              Citations

              This article has been cited 22 times.
              1. Wang H, Liu S, Lv Y, Wei W. Codon usage bias of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and its host adaption. Virus Res 2023 Apr 15;328:199081.
                doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199081pubmed: 36854361google scholar: lookup
              2. Zhou S, Liu B, Han Y, Wang Y, Chen L, Wu Z, Yang J. ZOVER: the database of zoonotic and vector-borne viruses. Nucleic Acids Res 2022 Jan 7;50(D1):D943-D949.
                doi: 10.1093/nar/gkab862pubmed: 34634795google scholar: lookup
              3. Tirera S, de Thoisy B, Donato D, Bouchier C, Lacoste V, Franc A, Lavergne A. The Influence of Habitat on Viral Diversity in Neotropical Rodent Hosts. Viruses 2021 Aug 26;13(9).
                doi: 10.3390/v13091690pubmed: 34578272google scholar: lookup
              4. Bozóki B, Mótyán JA, Hoffka G, Waugh DS, Tőzsér J. Specificity Studies of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Non-Structural Protein 2 Protease Using Recombinant Fluorescent Substrates. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Oct 16;21(20).
                doi: 10.3390/ijms21207686pubmed: 33081394google scholar: lookup
              5. Azar SR, Campos RK, Bergren NA, Camargos VN, Rossi SL. Epidemic Alphaviruses: Ecology, Emergence and Outbreaks. Microorganisms 2020 Aug 1;8(8).
                doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8081167pubmed: 32752150google scholar: lookup
              6. More S, Bøtner A, Butterworth A, Calistri P, Depner K, Edwards S, Garin-Bastuji B, Good M, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda MA, Nielsen SS, Raj M, Sihvonen L, Spoolder H, Stegeman JA, Thulke HH, Velarde A, Willeberg P, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Dhollander S, Beltrán-Beck B, Kohnle L, Morgado J, Bicout D. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): Venezuelan equine encephalitis. EFSA J 2017 Aug;15(8):e04950.
                doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4950pubmed: 32625617google scholar: lookup
              7. Lecollinet S, Pronost S, Coulpier M, Beck C, Gonzalez G, Leblond A, Tritz P. Viral Equine Encephalitis, a Growing Threat to the Horse Population in Europe?. Viruses 2019 Dec 24;12(1).
                doi: 10.3390/v12010023pubmed: 31878129google scholar: lookup
              8. Hu X, Compton JR, Leary DH, Olson MA, Lee MS, Cheung J, Ye W, Ferrer M, Southall N, Jadhav A, Morazzani EM, Glass PJ, Marugan J, Legler PM. Kinetic, Mutational, and Structural Studies of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Nonstructural Protein 2 Cysteine Protease. Biochemistry 2016 May 31;55(21):3007-19.
                doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00992pubmed: 27030368google scholar: lookup
              9. Forrester NL, Coffey LL, Weaver SC. Arboviral bottlenecks and challenges to maintaining diversity and fitness during mosquito transmission. Viruses 2014 Oct 23;6(10):3991-4004.
                doi: 10.3390/v6103991pubmed: 25341663google scholar: lookup
              10. 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.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001875pubmed: 23133685google scholar: lookup
              11. Thompson NN, Auguste AJ, Coombs D, Blitvich BJ, Carrington CV, da Rosa AP, Wang E, Chadee DD, Drebot MA, Tesh RB, Weaver SC, Adesiyun AA. Serological evidence of flaviviruses and alphaviruses in livestock and wildlife in Trinidad. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2012 Nov;12(11):969-78.
                doi: 10.1089/vbz.2012.0959pubmed: 22989182google scholar: lookup
              12. Weaver SC, Winegar R, Manger ID, Forrester NL. Alphaviruses: population genetics and determinants of emergence. Antiviral Res 2012 Jun;94(3):242-57.
                doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.04.002pubmed: 22522323google scholar: lookup
              13. Kenney JL, Adams AP, Gorchakov R, Leal G, Weaver SC. Genetic and anatomic determinants of enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection of Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012;6(4):e1606.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001606pubmed: 22509419google scholar: lookup
              14. Wu-yang Z, Guo-dong L. Research on basis of reverse genetics system of a Sindbis-like virus XJ-160. Virol J 2011 Nov 14;8:519.
                doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-519pubmed: 22082202google scholar: lookup
              15. Arrigo NC, Adams AP, Watts DM, Newman PC, Weaver SC. Cotton rats and house sparrows as hosts for North and South American strains of eastern equine encephalitis virus. Emerg Infect Dis 2010 Sep;16(9):1373-80.
                doi: 10.3201/eid1609.100459pubmed: 20735920google scholar: lookup
              16. Deardorff ER, Weaver SC. Vector competence of Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus for equine-virulent subtype IE strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 Jun;82(6):1047-52.
                doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0556pubmed: 20519599google scholar: lookup
              17. Zhu W, Wang L, Yang Y, Jia J, Fu S, Feng Y, He Y, Li JP, Liang G. Interaction of E2 glycoprotein with heparan sulfate is crucial for cellular infection of Sindbis virus. PLoS One 2010 Mar 11;5(3):e9656.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009656pubmed: 20300181google scholar: lookup
              18. Deardorff ER, Forrester NL, Travassos da Rosa AP, Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Experimental infections of Oryzomys couesi with sympatric arboviruses from Mexico. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 Feb;82(2):350-3.
                doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0024pubmed: 20134016google scholar: lookup
              19. Corrales R, Díaz Y, Pineda V, Pitti Y, Saenz L, Carrera JP, Aguilar C, Martínez A, Chen-Germán M, Hanley KA, Vasilakis N, Tesh RB, Saldaña A, López-Vergès S. Seroprevalence of Arboviruses and Genetic Characterization of Orbiviruses in Sloths from Western Panama. Viruses 2025 Nov 17;17(11).
                doi: 10.3390/v17111507pubmed: 41305528google scholar: lookup
              20. Dahlin KJ, Robert MA, Childs LM. Once bitten, twice shy: A modeling framework for incorporating heterogeneous mosquito biting into transmission models. Bull Math Biol 2025 Oct 15;87(11):163.
                doi: 10.1007/s11538-025-01540-zpubmed: 41091258google scholar: lookup
              21. Jo WK, Piche-Ovares M, Carranza L, Fischer C, Brünink S, Paul L, Morales A, Martinez F, Drexler JF. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection in Nonhuman Primate, Guatemala, 2023. Emerg Infect Dis 2025 Feb;31(2):397-400.
                doi: 10.3201/eid3102.241484pubmed: 39983680google scholar: lookup
              22. Carrera JP, Galué J, de Souza WM, Torres-Cosme R, Lezcano-Coba C, Cumbrera A, Vasilakis N, Tesh RB, Guzman H, Weaver SC, Vittor AY, Samudio R, Miguel Pascale J, Valderrama A, Cáceres Carrera L, Donnelly CA, Faria NR. Madariaga and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus seroprevalence in rodent enzootic hosts in Eastern and Western Panama. bioRxiv 2023 Aug 29;.
                doi: 10.1101/2023.08.28.555226pubmed: 37693579google scholar: lookup
              Subscribe to our newsletter
              Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.