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The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene2001; 65(1); 64-69; doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.64

Virulence and viremia characteristics of 1992 epizootic subtype IC Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses and closely related enzootic subtype ID strains.

Abstract: Following a 19-year hiatus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) reemerged in western Venezuela in December 1992. This outbreak is important in understanding VEE emergence because phylogenetic studies imply that sympatric, enzootic, subtype ID VEE viruses mutated to generate the epizootic/epidemic. Although the 1992-1993 strains belong to subtype IC, a serotype implicated in extensive outbreaks during the 1960s and in 1995, relatively small numbers of human and equine cases occurred in 1992-1993. We, therefore, evaluated the pathogenicity of these Venezuelan enzootic ID and epizootic IC viruses to determine 1) if they exhibit phenotypes like those described previously for more distantly related enzootic and epizootic strains, and 2) if the 1992-1993 outbreak was limited by the inability of these IC viruses to exploit equines as amplification hosts. All strains were virulent in mice and guinea pigs, but were benign for cotton rats, natural hosts of enzootic viruses. However, only the IC strains produced equine disease, with mean peak viremias of 10(5) suckling mouse 50% lethal doses per mL serum, and some titers exceeding 10(7). These viremias approximate those observed previously with VEE strains isolated during more extensive epizootics, suggesting that efficient equine amplification did not limit the scope and duration of the 1992-1993 outbreak. Enzootic ID virus infection protected all horses from challenge with epizootic strain P676, supporting the hypothesis that epizootics bypass regions of enzootic transmission due to natural immunization of equines by enzootic VEE viruses.
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Publication Date: 2001-08-16 PubMed ID: 11504410DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.64Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • P.H.S.

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 article reveals a research study about Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) which reappeared in Venezuela in 1992 after a 19-year pause. The study investigates the pathogenicity of the enzootic ID and epizootic IC VEE virus strains identified in the 1992-1993 outbreak, assessing if constraints in equine amplification could have limited the spread of the outbreak.

Understanding Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE)

  • VEEs are viruses that have caused significant disease outbreaks in the past. This research primarily focuses on subtype IC, which was involved in extensive outbreaks during the 1960s and in 1995, and the enzootic subtype ID. These enzootic viruses are believed to have mutated to cause the 1992-1993 outbreak.
  • Despite the devastating potential of subtype IC, the outbreak in 1992-1993 only led to a moderate number of human and equine cases. This study explores the reasons behind the comparatively limited impact of the outbreak.

Assessing Virulence and Viremia

  • The researchers examined how these viruses affect different animals like mice, guinea pigs, and cotton rats and evaluated their virulence and viremia levels. Viremia refers to the presence of viruses in the bloodstream, which may lead to disease transmission.
  • All the VEE strains were identified as virulent for mice and guinea pigs. Still, they did not impact cotton rats, which are the natural hosts of enzootic viruses. In contrast, only the IC strains showed potential to cause disease in horses.

Role of Equine Amplification

  • The IC strains’ ability to cause disease in equines was of particular interest because horses can serve as amplification hosts, promoting the virus’s spread in the environment.
  • The results suggest that the IC strains could lead to high viremia levels in horses (similar to those observed during more extensive outbreaks). This implies that limitations in equine amplification did not impact the scope and duration of the 1992-1993 outbreak.

Impact of Natural Immunization

  • The study finds that horses infected with the enzootic ID virus strain developed immunity against an epizootic strain, P676.
  • This result supports the theory that areas with enzootic transmission might be protected from wider epidemics due to the natural immunization of horses against the VEE virus.

Cite This Article

APA
Wang E, Bowen RA, Medina G, Powers AM, Kang W, Chandler LM, Shope RE, Weaver SC. (2001). Virulence and viremia characteristics of 1992 epizootic subtype IC Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses and closely related enzootic subtype ID strains. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 65(1), 64-69. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.64

Publication

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
ISSN: 0002-9637
NlmUniqueID: 0370507
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 65
Issue: 1
Pages: 64-69

Researcher Affiliations

Wang, E
  • Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0609, USA.
Bowen, R A
    Medina, G
      Powers, A M
        Kang, W
          Chandler, L M
            Shope, R E
              Weaver, S C

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Anopheles
                • Chlorocebus aethiops
                • Cricetinae
                • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
                • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / classification
                • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / pathogenicity
                • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / blood
                • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / epidemiology
                • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / virology
                • Female
                • Guinea Pigs
                • Horse Diseases / blood
                • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                • Horse Diseases / virology
                • Horses
                • Mice
                • Mice, Inbred BALB C
                • Mice, Inbred C3H
                • Mice, Inbred C57BL
                • Random Allocation
                • Rats
                • Rodent Diseases / virology
                • Sigmodontinae
                • Venezuela / epidemiology
                • Vero Cells
                • Viremia / virology
                • Virulence

                Grant Funding

                • AI39800 / NIAID NIH HHS
                • T32 AI-07536 / NIAID NIH HHS

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