Local persistence of novel regional variants of La Crosse virus in the Northeast USA

Parasites & Vectors

John J. Shepard¹  Philip M. Armstrong¹  Michael J. Misencik¹  Theodore G. Andreadis¹  Gillian Eastwood² 

[1] Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, USA;Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, USA;Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA;

关键词: Arbovirus;    Vector;    Mosquito species;    La Crosse virus;    Pathogen persistence;    Genetic distinction;    Public health risk;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-020-04440-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLa Crosse virus (LACV) (genus Orthobunyavirus, family Peribunyaviridae) is a mosquito-borne virus that causes pediatric encephalitis and accounts for 50–150 human cases annually in the USA. Human cases occur primarily in the Midwest and Appalachian regions whereas documented human cases occur very rarely in the northeastern USA.MethodsFollowing detection of a LACV isolate from a field-collected mosquito in Connecticut during 2005, we evaluated the prevalence of LACV infection in local mosquito populations and genetically characterized virus isolates to determine whether the virus is maintained focally in this region.ResultsDuring 2018, we detected LACV in multiple species of mosquitoes, including those not previously associated with the virus. We also evaluated the phylogenetic relationship of LACV strains isolated from 2005–2018 in Connecticut and found that they formed a genetically homogeneous clade that was most similar to strains from New York State.ConclusionOur analysis argues for local isolation and long-term persistence of a genetically distinct lineage of LACV within this region. We highlight the need to determine more about the phenotypic behavior of these isolates, and whether this virus lineage poses a threat to public health.

【 授权许可】

CC BY