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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.
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Publication Date: 2012-11-01 PubMed ID: 23133685PubMed Central: PMC3486887DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001875Google Scholar: Lookup
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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

PLoS neglected tropical diseases
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.

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                            Citations

                            This article has been cited 21 times.
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