Biomaterial Database

Transmission of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus by strains of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in North and South America. 1991

J R Beaman, and M J Turell

Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21702.

Experimental studies were undertaken to ascertain the vector potential of North American (Houston and Alsace) and South American (Sao Paulo and Santa Teresa) strains of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) for an epizootic (Trinidad donkey) strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus. Infection rates were similar in all four strains of Ae. albopictus tested after ingestion of VEE virus from a viremic hamster. Virus disseminated from the midgut to the hemocoel in about 80% of infected mosquitoes, regardless of the dose ingested (10(4.6) to 10(5.7) plaque-forming units per mosquito) or the time of extrinsic incubation (7-35 d). Although all four strains of this mosquito transmitted VEE virus by bite to hamsters, transmission rates were significantly higher for the South American strains (24%, 40 of 170) than for the North American strains (5%, 9 of 165). Although VEE virus has never been isolated from Ae. albopictus, the introduction of this species into the Americas may allow it to serve as an amplification vector in areas where epizootic strains of VEE are found or introduced.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007303	Insect Vectors	Insects that transmit infective organisms from one host to another or from an inanimate reservoir to an animate host.	Insect Vector,Vector, Insect,Vectors, Insect
D009656	North America	The northern continent of the Western Hemisphere, extending northward from the Colombia-Panama border and including CENTRAL AMERICA, MEXICO, Caribbean area, the UNITED STATES, CANADA and GREENLAND. The term often refers more narrowly to MEXICO, continental UNITED STATES, AND CANADA.	Northern America
D004666	Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine	A species of ALPHAVIRUS that is the etiologic agent of encephalomyelitis in humans and equines. It is seen most commonly in parts of Central and South America.	Encephalomyelitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine,Encephalitis Viruses, Venezuelan Equine,Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Viruses,Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus,Virus, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis,Viruses, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis
D004685	Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine	A form of arboviral encephalitis endemic to Central America and the northern latitudes of South America. The causative organism (ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS, VENEZUELAN EQUINE) is transmitted to humans and horses via the bite of several mosquito species. Human viral infection may be asymptomatic or remain restricted to a mild influenza-like illness. Encephalitis, usually not severe, occurs in a small percentage of cases and may rarely feature SEIZURES and COMA. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, pp9-10)	Encephalitis, Venezuelan Equine,Encephalomyelitides, Venezuelan Equine,Equine Encephalitis, Venezuelan,Equine Encephalomyelitides, Venezuelan,Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitides,Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis
D005260	Female		Females
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D000330	Aedes	A genus of mosquitoes (CULICIDAE) frequently found in tropical and subtropical regions. YELLOW FEVER and DENGUE are two of the diseases that can be transmitted by species of this genus.	Aede
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013020	South America	The southern continent of the Western Hemisphere, extending southward from the Colombia-Panama border.