Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus mainly spread by Culex mosquitoes that currently has a geographic distribution across most of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Infection with JEV can cause Japanese encephalitis (JE), a severe disease with a high mortality rate, which also results in ongoing sequalae in many survivors. The natural reservoir of JEV is ardeid wading birds, such as egrets and herons, but pigs commonly play an important role as an amplifying host during outbreaks in human populations. Other domestic animals and wildlife have been detected as hosts for JEV, but their role in the ecology and epidemiology of JEV is uncertain. Safe and effective JEV vaccines are available, but unfortunately, their use remains low in most endemic countries where they are most needed. Increased surveillance and diagnosis of JE is required as climate change and social disruption are likely to facilitate further geographical expansion of Culex vectors and JE risk areas.
Highlights
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is one of the most important causes of human viral encephalitis in Asia [1]
JEV circulates in a natural cycle involving a range of animal species including Culex mosquitoes, wild wading birds, and pigs [7,8,9] (Figure 1)
While birds are the natural reservoir for JEV, pigs act as amplifying hosts and are often associated with outbreaks amongst humans [10]
Summary
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is one of the most important causes of human viral encephalitis in Asia [1]. JEV circulates in a natural cycle involving a range of animal species including Culex mosquitoes, wild wading birds, and pigs [7,8,9] (Figure 1). While birds are the natural reservoir for JEV, pigs act as amplifying hosts and are often associated with outbreaks amongst humans [10]. In the Torres Strait, a JEV outbreak in the mid-1990s led to the removal of pig populations from human habitats and a widespread vaccination campaign [26,27]. Relocation of pigs did not eliminate the risk of JEV circulation [28], there have been no additional human JE cases reported in the Torres Straits. The virus is clearly endemic throughout the region, with high seroprevalence reported in wild and domestic animals and humans [33].
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