Abstract
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) is an arbovirus that causes severe disease in humans in North America and in equids throughout the Americas. The enzootic transmission cycle of EEEV in North America involves passerine birds and the ornithophilic mosquito vector, Culiseta melanura, in freshwater swamp habitats. However, the ecology of EEEV in South America is not well understood. Culex (Melanoconion) spp. mosquitoes are considered the principal vectors in Central and South America; however, a primary vertebrate host for EEEV in South America has not yet been identified. Therefore, to further assess the reservoir host potential of wild rodents and wild birds, we compared the infection dynamics of North American and South American EEEV in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Our findings suggested that each species has the potential to serve as amplification hosts for North and South America EEEVs.
Highlights
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) is an arbovirus that causes severe disease in humans in North America and in equids throughout the Americas
Rats and sparrows were susceptible to infection with the NA and South American (SA) EEEV strains and doses used in this study, and their viremia lasted 4–5 days
The highest and longest titers of NA EEEV were found in sparrows and of SA PE70 were found in juvenile cotton rats
Summary
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) is an arbovirus that causes severe disease in humans in North America and in equids throughout the Americas. Our findings suggested that each species has the potential to serve as amplification hosts for North and South America EEEVs. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) is an arbovirus that causes severe neurologic disease in humans in North America and in equids throughout the Americas [1]. Isolation of SA EEEV from Culex (Melanoconion) spp. mosquitoes in the Spissipes section (e.g., Cx. pedroi, Cx. taeniopus) suggests that they are the principal enzootic, and potentially epizootic, mosquito vectors [6,7,8] in Central and South America. The involvement of these vertebrates in the enzootic transmission of SA EEEV remains unclear
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