Abstract
California serogroup and Cache Valley viruses are arboviruses (tick- and mosquito-borne pathogens) belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus (Family Bunyaviridae). Although the majority of exposures to these viruses result in asymptomatic or mild infections, both California serogroup and Cache Valley viruses can cause febrile and neurological diseases similar in nature to those associated with infections by West Nile virus. California serogroup and Cache Valley viruses are widely distributed across North America and circulate in a number of vertebrate hosts and mosquito vectors, including several species of Aedes and other non-Culex mosquitoes. The Jamestown Canyon and snowshoe hare viruses are the most common kind of California serogroup viruses found in Canada and have been identified throughout the country. These potential pathogens may be contributing to a higher burden of illness than previously recognized and should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis for febrile and neuroinvasive disease during the mosquito season. Diagnosis can be made by requesting a diagnostic panel at the Viral Zoonoses program at the National Microbiology Laboratory. To decrease the risk of infection, education about these viruses and the importance of personal preventive measures is warranted.
Highlights
The Bunyaviridae family of RNA viruses is a very large, diverse and globally-distributed group of viruses that infect plants, vertebrates and invertebrates [1]
The snowshoe hare virus has been implicated in neurological cases mainly involving children [4, 8, 9]. Another widespread California serogroup virus is the Jamestown Canyon virus which has been recently been identified as an emerging cause of febrile and neuroinvasive disease in Canada and the United States [6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12]
Based on serosurveys in Canada and the United States it is estimated that approximately 25% of the population may have antibodies to the Jamestown Canyon virus but the actual seroprevalance rates may range from 1% to 40% or greater for both the Jamestown Canyon and snowshoe hare viruses depending upon the region (22,23,24, Drebot unpublished data)
Summary
The Bunyaviridae family of RNA viruses is a very large, diverse and globally-distributed group of viruses that infect plants, vertebrates and invertebrates [1]. The snowshoe hare virus has been implicated in neurological cases mainly involving children [4, 8, 9] Another widespread California serogroup virus is the Jamestown Canyon virus which has been recently been identified as an emerging cause of febrile and neuroinvasive disease in Canada and the United States [6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12]. The National Microbiology Laboratory developed serological platforms to test for California serogroup virus infections using IgM ELISAs and PRNTs in 2005 following a period when there were no diagnostic procedures for identifying these pathogens [9,11] By incorporating these assays for testing suspect cases of non-West Nile virus mosquito-borne agents, the first California serogroup infection in over 15 years was identified involving a pediatric snowshoe hare virus case in Nova Scotia in 2006 [9]. Given the wide ranging nature of the potential pathogen in Canada and the increasing identification of cases among livestock in the country, the potential for neuroinvasive cases among patients during the mosquito season is low but remains possible
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