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Journal of equine veterinary science2020; 92; 103140; doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103140

National Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in Costa Rica.

Abstract: Eastern equine encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are endemic neglected tropical diseases in the Americas, causing encephalitis in both horses and humans. In 2013, a cross-sectional study was performed in 243 horses located in the highlands and lowlands throughout Costa Rica. Serum samples were analyzed with an IgG ELISA and confirmed by the plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT80). Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) overall seroprevalences by the PRNT80 were 36% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29.9-42.5; 78/217 horses) and 3% (95% CI: 1.3-5.9; 6/217 horses), respectively. Both the viruses occurred in the lowlands and highlands. Rainfall and altitude were associated with VEEV seropositivity in the univariate analysis, but only altitude <100 meters above sea level was considered a risk factor in the multivariate analysis. No risk factors could be identified for the EEEV in the multivariate analysis. This is the first study that estimates the seroprevalence of the EEEV and VEEV in Costa Rican horses. The VEEV is widely distributed, whereas the EEEV occurs at a much lower frequency and only in specific areas. Clinical cases and occasional outbreaks of both viruses are to be expected.
Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-02 PubMed ID: 32797803DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103140Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article focuses on determining the prevalence and risk factors for two types of equine encephalitis — Eastern and Venezuelan — in Costa Rica, by performing a study in 2013 involving 243 horses. It concludes that Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is widely present while Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) occurs less frequently and only in specific areas, with variable risk factors concerning rainfall, altitude, and location.

Research Methodology and Findings

  • A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2013 encompassing 243 horses from Costa Rica’s highlands and lowlands.
  • The serum (fluid part of blood) samples from these horses were analyzed using an IgG ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay); a test that checks for antibodies in the blood, thus indicating exposure to specific viruses. This was later confirmed by a different test known as the plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT80).
  • PRNT80 results showed 36% prevalence of VEEV and a 3% prevalence of EEEV in the horse population examined. This suggests a considerable presence of VEEV and scarce presence of EEEV among the studied horses.
  • Both viruses were found in both the highland and lowland areas of Costa Rica.

Risk Factors

  • Rainfall and altitude were identified in the univariate analysis as factors associated with VEEV seropositivity. However, in the multivariate analysis, only altitude lower than 100 meters above sea level was considered a significant risk factor.
  • In contrast, the study did not identify any clear risk factors for EEEV through multivariate analysis. This lack of specific risk factors increases the complexity in controlling the spread of EEEV.

Significance and Implications

  • This research is the first study that delivers estimates on the prevalence of EEEV and VEEV in Costa Rican horses.
  • The difference in prevalence rates indicates that VEEV is far more widespread, while EEEV is limited in its presence and probably confined to specific areas.
  • Given the results, the researchers predict potential outbreaks of both viruses, increasing the need for precautionary measures to manage and control the spread of these viruses.

Cite This Article

APA
León B, Käsbohrer A, Hutter SE, Baldi M, Firth CL, Romero-Zúñiga JJ, Jiménez C. (2020). National Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in Costa Rica. J Equine Vet Sci, 92, 103140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103140

Publication

Journal of equine veterinary science
ISSN: 0737-0806
NlmUniqueID: 8216840
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 92
Pages: 103140
PII: S0737-0806(20)30231-8

Researcher Affiliations

León, Bernal
  • National Animal Health Service (SENASA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Heredia, Costa Rica.
Käsbohrer, Annemarie
  • Unit of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: annemarie.kaesbohrer@vetmeduni.ac.at.
Hutter, Sabine E
  • National Animal Health Service (SENASA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Heredia, Costa Rica; Unit of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Baldi, Mario
  • Tropical Diseases Research Program (PIET), School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica.
Firth, Clair L
  • Unit of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Romero-Zúñiga, Juan José
  • Population Medicine Research Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica.
Jiménez, Carlos
  • Tropical Diseases Research Program (PIET), School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Costa Rica / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / veterinary
  • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Romero-Vega LM, Piche-Ovares M, Soto-Garita C, Barantes Murillo DF, Chaverri LG, Alfaro-Alarcón A, Corrales-Aguilar E, Troyo A. Seasonal changes in the diversity, host preferences and infectivity of mosquitoes in two arbovirus-endemic regions of Costa Rica. Parasit Vectors 2023 Jan 26;16(1):34.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-022-05579-ypubmed: 36703148google scholar: lookup
  2. Boghdeh NA, Risner KH, Barrera MD, Britt CM, Schaffer DK, Alem F, Brown JA, Wikswo JP, Narayanan A. Application of a Human Blood Brain Barrier Organ-on-a-Chip Model to Evaluate Small Molecule Effectiveness against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus. Viruses 2022 Dec 15;14(12).
    doi: 10.3390/v14122799pubmed: 36560802google scholar: lookup
  3. Aguilar-Vargas F, Solorzano-Scott T, Baldi M, Barquero-Calvo E, Jiménez-Rocha A, Jiménez C, Piche-Ovares M, Dolz G, León B, Corrales-Aguilar E, Santoro M, Alfaro-Alarcón A. Passive epidemiological surveillance in wildlife in Costa Rica identifies pathogens of zoonotic and conservation importance. PLoS One 2022;17(9):e0262063.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262063pubmed: 36155648google scholar: lookup
  4. León B, González G, Nicoli A, Rojas A, Pizio AD, Ramirez-Carvajal L, Jimenez C. Phylogenetic and Mutation Analysis of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Sequence Isolated in Costa Rica from a Mare with Encephalitis. Vet Sci 2022 May 28;9(6).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9060258pubmed: 35737310google scholar: lookup
  5. Barrantes Murillo DF, Piche-Ovares M, Gamboa-Solano JC, Romero LM, Soto-Garita C, Alfaro-Alarcón A, Corrales-Aguilar E. Serological Positivity against Selected Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses in Free-Ranging Bats and Birds from Costa Rica Evidence Exposure to Arboviruses Seldom Reported Locally in Humans. Viruses 2022 Jan 6;14(1).
    doi: 10.3390/v14010093pubmed: 35062297google scholar: lookup
  6. Ortiz DI, Piche-Ovares M, Romero-Vega LM, Wagman J, Troyo A. The Impact of Deforestation, Urbanization, and Changing Land Use Patterns on the Ecology of Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases in Central America. Insects 2021 Dec 23;13(1).
    doi: 10.3390/insects13010020pubmed: 35055864google scholar: lookup
  7. León B, Jiménez-Sánchez C, Retamosa-Izaguirre M. An Environmental Niche Model to Estimate the Potential Presence of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus in Costa Rica. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Dec 30;18(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph18010227pubmed: 33396763google scholar: lookup
  8. Valles-Morera A, Murillo T, Lizano-Bolaños J, Gutierrez-Roche S, Alvarado M, Alfaro-Alvarado J, Calvo-Salas GA, Prado-Hidalgo G, Ortega J, Corrales-Aguilar E. Exposure to non-endemic arboviruses (alphaviruses) in Costa Rica assessed from human samples collected in areas with contrasting levels of dengue endemicity. Front Public Health 2025;13:1537019.
    doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1537019pubmed: 40046122google scholar: lookup
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