Analyze Diet
PLoS neglected tropical diseases2012; 6(11); e1875; doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001875

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus activity in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico, 2003-2010.

Abstract: Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) has been the causative agent for sporadic epidemics and equine epizootics throughout the Americas since the 1930s. In 1969, an outbreak of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) spread rapidly from Guatemala and through the Gulf Coast region of Mexico, reaching Texas in 1971. Since this outbreak, there have been very few studies to determine the northward extent of endemic VEEV in this region. This study reports the findings of serologic surveillance in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico from 2003-2010. Phylogenetic analysis was also performed on viral isolates from this region to determine whether there have been substantial genetic changes in VEEV since the 1960s. Based on the findings of this study, the Gulf Coast lineage of subtype IE VEEV continues to actively circulate in this region of Mexico and appears to be responsible for infection of humans and animals throughout this region, including the northern State of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas.
Publication Date: 2012-11-01 PubMed ID: 23133685PubMed Central: PMC3486887DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001875Google 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
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 assesses the activity of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico from 2003-2010 and whether there have been any significant genetic changes in the virus since it first broke out in the 1960s.

Background

  • The Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a known cause of intermittent epidemics and widespread diseases in horses throughout the Americas.
  • The virus originated in the 1930s and caused a significant outbreak that began from Guatemala in 1969, spreading through the Gulf Coast region of Mexico and eventually reaching Texas by 1971.
  • Since this outbreak, not many studies have been conducted to understand the spread and extent of the VEEV in the northern region of the Americas.

Study Focus

  • The research focuses on serologic surveillance in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico from the years 2003 till 2010.
  • Serologic surveillance involves the monitoring of the occurrence and distribution of diseases via specific diagnostic tests.
  • The research also involved a phylogenetic analysis of the VEEV isolates from this region. Phylogenetic analysis is a technique used to investigate the evolutionary relationships between different organisms.
  • The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether there have been any considerable genetic changes in the VEEV since its first major outbreak in the 1960s.

Findings

  • The results of the study indicate that the Gulf Coast lineage of subtype IE VEEV continues to be active and circulate in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico.
  • It has been found to be causing infections in both humans and animals throughout this region.
  • It’s also been determined that it is the cause of infections in the northern State of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas.

Cite This Article

APA
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. (2012). Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus activity in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico, 2003-2010. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 6(11), e1875. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001875

Publication

ISSN: 1935-2735
NlmUniqueID: 101291488
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 11
Pages: e1875
PII: e1875

Researcher Affiliations

Adams, A Paige
  • Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Center for Tropical Diseases, and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. apadams@utmb.edu
Navarro-Lopez, Roberto
    Ramirez-Aguilar, Francisco J
      Lopez-Gonzalez, Irene
        Leal, Grace
          Flores-Mayorga, Jose M
            Travassos da Rosa, Amelia P A
              Saxton-Shaw, Kali D
                Singh, Amber J
                  Borland, Erin M
                    Powers, Ann M
                      Tesh, Robert B
                        Weaver, Scott C
                          Estrada-Franco, Jose G

                            MeSH Terms

                            • Adolescent
                            • Adult
                            • Aged
                            • Child
                            • Child, Preschool
                            • Cluster Analysis
                            • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / isolation & purification
                            • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / epidemiology
                            • Endemic Diseases
                            • Female
                            • Humans
                            • Infant
                            • Infant, Newborn
                            • Male
                            • Mexico / epidemiology
                            • Middle Aged
                            • Molecular Epidemiology
                            • Molecular Sequence Data
                            • Phylogeny
                            • RNA, Viral / genetics
                            • Sequence Analysis, DNA
                            • Seroepidemiologic Studies
                            • Young Adult

                            Grant Funding

                            • K08 AI077796 / NIAID NIH HHS
                            • N01AI25489 / NIAID NIH HHS
                            • AI25489 / NIAID NIH HHS
                            • AI077796 / NIAID NIH HHS

                            Conflict of Interest Statement

                            The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

                            References

                            This article includes 48 references
                            1. Beck CE, Wyckoff RW. VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS.. Science 1938 Dec 2;88(2292):530.
                              pubmed: 17840536doi: 10.1126/science.88.2292.530google scholar: lookup
                            2. Kubes V, Ríos FA. THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF INFECTIOUS EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN VENEZUELA.. Science 1939 Jul 7;90(2323):20-1.
                              pubmed: 17818578doi: 10.1126/science.90.2323.20google scholar: lookup
                            3. Johnson KM, Martin DH. Venezuelan equine encephalitis.. Adv Vet Sci Comp Med 1974;18(0):79-116.
                              pubmed: 4609399
                            4. Murphy FA, Nathanson N. The emergence of new virus diseases: an overview.. Seminars Virol 1994 5: 87–102.
                            5. Walton TE, Grayson MA. Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis.. 1988 In: Monath TP, ed. The arboviruses: epidemiology and ecology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp 203–231.
                            6. Rico-Hesse R, Weaver SC, de Siger J, Medina G, Salas RA. Emergence of a new epidemic/epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in South America.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1995 Jun 6;92(12):5278-81.
                              pmc: PMC41677pubmed: 7777497doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.12.5278google scholar: lookup
                            7. Weaver SC, Salas R, Rico-Hesse R, Ludwig GV, Oberste MS, Boshell J, Tesh RB. Re-emergence of epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in South America. VEE Study Group.. Lancet 1996 Aug 17;348(9025):436-40.
                              pubmed: 8709783doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(96)02275-1google scholar: lookup
                            8. 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
                            9. De Mucha-Macías J, Sanchez-Spindola I, Campillo-Sainz C. Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis antibodies in human beings of southeastern Mexico.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1966 May;15(3):364-8.
                              pubmed: 5949344doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1966.15.364google scholar: lookup
                            10. DE MUCHA MACIAS J. [Arbovirus infections. Studies made at the Instituto Nacional de Virologia de la Secretaria de Salubridad y Asistencia].. Gac Med Mex 1963 May;93:415-20.
                              pubmed: 14025971
                            11. SCHERER WF, DICKERMAN RW, CHIA CW, VENTURA A, MOORHOUSE A, GEIGER R. VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO, AND THE USE OF HAMSTERS AS SENTINELS.. Science 1964 Jul 17;145(3629):274-5.
                              pubmed: 14171568doi: 10.1126/science.145.3629.274google scholar: lookup
                            12. Zárate ML, Scherer WF, Dickerman RW. [Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus as a human infection determinant. Description of a fatal case occurring in Jaltipan, Ver., in 1965].. Rev Invest Salud Publica 1970 Oct-Dec;30(4):296-302.
                              pubmed: 5516706
                            13. Morilla-González A, de Mucha-Macías J. [Occurrence of Venezuelan epizootic equine encephalitis in Tamaulipas, Mex].. Rev Invest Salud Publica 1969 Jan-Mar;29(1):3-20.
                              pubmed: 5388000
                            14. Morilla-Gonzáles A. Encefalits Equinas por Arbovirus.. 1999 Zarate-Aquino ML, Morilla-Gonzáles A, Batalla-Campero D, eds. La situación de la encefalitis equina Venezolana en Mexico hasta 1980, INIFAP, IICA, OPS, pp 108–160.
                            15. Zarate-Aquino ML, Valdespino-Gomez JL, Rivero-Leal V, Madrigal-Ayala G. Encefalits Equinas por Arbovirus.. 1999 Zarate-Aquino ML, Morilla-Gonzáles A, Batalla-Campero D, eds. Circulacion del virus de la encefalitis equina Venezolana después de 20 anos de silecio en Tabasco, Mexico 1991, INIFAP, IICA, OPS, pp 175–187.
                            16. 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.
                              pmc: PMC509205pubmed: 15277679doi: 10.1073/pnas.0402905101google scholar: lookup
                            17. Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Beasley DW, Coffey L, Carrara AS, Travassos da Rosa A, Clements T, Wang E, Ludwig GV, Cortes AC, Ramírez PP, Tesh RB, Barrett AD, Weaver SC. West Nile virus in Mexico: evidence of widespread circulation since July 2002.. Emerg Infect Dis 2003 Dec;9(12):1604-7.
                              pmc: PMC3034333pubmed: 14720402doi: 10.3201/eid0912.030564google scholar: lookup
                            18. Martin DA, Muth DA, Brown T, Johnson AJ, Karabatsos N, Roehrig JT. Standardization of immunoglobulin M capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for routine diagnosis of arboviral infections.. J Clin Microbiol 2000 May;38(5):1823-6.
                            19. Johnson AJ, Martin DA, Karabatsos N, Roehrig JT. Detection of anti-arboviral immunoglobulin G by using a monoclonal antibody-based capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.. J Clin Microbiol 2000 May;38(5):1827-31.
                            20. Beaty BJ, Calisher CH, Shope RE. Arboviruses.. 1989 In: Schmidt NJ, Emmons RW, eds. Diagnostic Procedures for Viral, Rickettsial and Chlamydial Infections. Sixth ed. Washington, D.C.: American Public Health Association. pp 797–855.
                            21. 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.
                              pmc: PMC2873762pubmed: 12533281doi: 10.3201/eid0901.020136google scholar: lookup
                            22. Roehrig JT, Bolin RA. Monoclonal antibodies capable of distinguishing epizootic from enzootic varieties of subtype 1 Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses in a rapid indirect immunofluorescence assay.. J Clin Microbiol 1997 Jul;35(7):1887-90.
                            23. Gouy M, Guindon S, Gascuel O. SeaView version 4: A multiplatform graphical user interface for sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree building.. Mol Biol Evol 2010 Feb;27(2):221-4.
                              pubmed: 19854763doi: 10.1093/molbev/msp259google scholar: lookup
                            24. Swofford DL. PAUP*: Phylogenetic analysis using parsimony (*and other methods).. 1998 In: Associates SMS, ed. 4 ed.
                            25. Wilgenbusch JC, Swofford D. Inferring evolutionary trees with PAUP*.. Curr Protoc Bioinformatics 2003 Feb;Chapter 6:Unit 6.4.
                              pubmed: 18428704doi: 10.1002/0471250953.bi0604s00google scholar: lookup
                            26. Guindon S, Gascuel O. A simple, fast, and accurate algorithm to estimate large phylogenies by maximum likelihood.. Syst Biol 2003 Oct;52(5):696-704.
                              pubmed: 14530136doi: 10.1080/10635150390235520google scholar: lookup
                            27. Felsenstein J. CONFIDENCE LIMITS ON PHYLOGENIES: AN APPROACH USING THE BOOTSTRAP.. Evolution 1985 Jul;39(4):783-791.
                            28. Gascuel O. BIONJ: an improved version of the NJ algorithm based on a simple model of sequence data.. Mol Biol Evol 1997 Jul;14(7):685-95.
                            29. Deardorff ER, Estrada-Franco JG, Freier JE, Navarro-Lopez R, Travassos Da Rosa A, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Candidate vectors and rodent hosts of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Chiapas, 2006-2007.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011 Dec;85(6):1146-53.
                              pmc: PMC3225169pubmed: 22144461doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0094google scholar: lookup
                            30. Sudia WD, Newhouse VF, Beadle ID, Miller DL, Johnston JG Jr, Young R, Calisher CH, Maness K. Epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in North America in 1971: vector studies.. Am J Epidemiol 1975 Jan;101(1):17-35.
                            31. 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.
                            32. Bowen GS, Calisher CH. Virological and serological studies of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in humans.. J Clin Microbiol 1976 Jul;4(1):22-7.
                              pmc: PMC274383pubmed: 956360doi: 10.1128/jcm.4.1.22-27.1976google scholar: lookup
                            33. U.S. Congress. A line in the sand: Confronting the threat at the southwest border.. 2006 U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Investigations, November.
                            34. Camara de Diputados del H Congreso de la Union. Ley Federal de Sanidad Animal. 2007 Secretaria General, Secretaria de Servicios Parlamentarios, Centro de Documentacion Informacion y Analisis, pp 19–20.
                            35. Camarota SA. 5 million illegal immigrants: An analysis of new INS numbers.. Immigration Review 1997 28 Center for Immigration Studies, Spring.
                            36. Bowen GS, Fashinell TR, Dean PB, Gregg MB. Clinical aspects of human Venezuelan equine encephalitis in Texas.. Bull Pan Am Health Organ 1976;10(1):46-57.
                              pubmed: 949558
                            37. Rossi AL. Rural epidemic encephalitis in Venezuela caused by a group A arbovirus (VEE).. Prog Med Virol 1967;9:176-203.
                              pubmed: 4383416
                            38. Suárez OM, Bergold GH. Investigations of an outbreak of Venezuelan equine encephalitis in towns of eastern Venezuela.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1968 Nov;17(6):875-80.
                              pubmed: 4387218doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1968.17.875google scholar: lookup
                            39. Weaver SC, Salas R, Rico-Hesse R, Ludwig GV, Oberste MS, Boshell J, Tesh RB. Re-emergence of epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in South America. VEE Study Group.. Lancet 1996 Aug 17;348(9025):436-40.
                              pubmed: 8709783doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(96)02275-1google scholar: lookup
                            40. Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia Mexico (INEGI). XII Censo General de Población y Vivienda 2000. Población emigrante a Estados Unidos de América por entidad federativa según sexo.. Mexico City.
                            41. Aguilar PV, Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Ferro C, Haddow AD, Weaver SC. Endemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in the Americas: hidden under the dengue umbrella.. Future Virol 2011;6(6):721-740.
                              pmc: PMC3134406pubmed: 21765860doi: 10.2217/fvl.11.5google scholar: lookup
                            42. Watts DM, Callahan J, Rossi C, Oberste MS, Roehrig JT, Wooster MT, Smith JF, Cropp CB, Gentrau EM, Karabatsos N, Gübler D, Hayes CG. Venezuelan equine encephalitis febrile cases among humans in the Peruvian Amazon River region.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1998 Jan;58(1):35-40.
                              pubmed: 9452289doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1998.58.35google scholar: lookup
                            43. Peppers LL, Caroll DS, Bradley RD. Molecular systematic of the genus Sigmodon (Rodentia: Muridae): Evidence from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene.. J Mammal 2002 83: 396–407.
                            44. Baillie J, Groombridge B. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals.. 1996 IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
                            45. Musser GG, Carleton MD. Superfamily Muroidea.. 2005 In: Wilson DE, Reeder DM, eds. Mammal species of the world: A taxonomic and geographic reference. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp 894–1531.
                            46. Weksler M, Percequillo AR, Voss RS. Ten new genera of oryzomyine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae).. 2006 New York City: American Museum Novitates, American Museum of Natural History, publication no. 3537, pp 1–29.
                            47. 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.
                              pmc: PMC2671456pubmed: 19331726doi: 10.3201/eid1504.081008google scholar: lookup
                            48. Salas RA, Garcia CZ, Liria J, Barrera R, Navarro JC, Medina G, Vasquez C, Fernandez Z, Weaver SC. Ecological studies of enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in north-central Venezuela, 1997-1998.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2001 Jan-Feb;64(1-2):84-92.
                              pubmed: 11425168doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.64.84google scholar: lookup

                            Citations

                            This article has been cited 21 times.