A sero-survey of rinderpest in nomadic pastoral systems in central and southern Somalia from 2002 to 2003, using a spatially integrated random sampling approach.

A cross-sectional sero-survey, using a two-stage cluster sampling design, was conducted between 2002 and 2003 in ten administrative regions of central and southern Somalia, to estimate the seroprevalence and geographic distribution of rinderpest (RP) in the study area, as well as to identify potential risk factors for the observed seroprevalence distribution. The study was also used to test the feasibility of the spatially integrated investigation technique in nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoral systems. In the absence of a systematic list of livestock holdings, the primary sampling units were selected by generating random map coordinates. A total of 9,216 serum samples were collected from cattle aged 12 to 36 months at 562 sampling sites. Two apparent clusters of RP seroprevalence were detected. Four potential risk factors associated with the observed seroprevalence were identified: the mobility of cattle herds, the cattle population density, the proximity of cattle herds to cattle trade routes and cattle herd size. Risk maps were then generated to assist in designing more targeted surveillance strategies. The observed seroprevalence in these areas declined over time. In subsequent years, similar seroprevalence studies in neighbouring areas of Kenya and Ethiopia also showed a very low seroprevalence of RP or the absence of antibodies against RP. The progressive decline in RP antibody prevalence is consistent with virus extinction. Verification of freedom from RP infection in the Somali ecosystem is currently in progress.

Characterization of enzootic foci of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in western Venezuela.

The distribution of the sylvatic subtype ID Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viruses in the lowland tropical forests of western Venezuela was investigated using remote sensing and geographic information system technologies. Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper satellite imagery was used to study the reflectance patterns of VEE endemic foci and to identify other locations with similar reflectance patterns. Enzootic VEE virus variants isolated during this study are the closest genetic relatives of the epizootic viruses that emerged in western Venezuela during 1992-1993. VEE virus surveillance was conducted by exposing sentinel hamsters to mosquito bites and trapping wild vertebrates in seven forests identified and located by means of the satellite image. We isolated VEE viruses from 48 of a total of 1,363 sentinel hamsters in two of the forests on six occasions, in both dry and wet seasons. None of the 12 small vertebrates captured in 8,190 trap-nights showed signs of previous VEE virus infection. The satellite image was classified into 13 validated classes of land use/vegetation using unsupervised and supervised techniques. Data derived from the image consisted of the raw digital values of near- and mid-infrared bands 4, 5, and 7, derived Tasseled Cap indices of wetness, greenness, and brightness, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Digitized maps provided ancillary data of elevation and soil geomorphology. Image enhancement was applied using Principal Component Analysis. A digital layer of roads together with georeferenced images was used to locate the study sites. A cluster analysis using the above data revealed two main groups of dense forests separated by spectral properties, altitude, and soil geomorphology. Virus was isolated more frequently from the forest type identified on flat flood plains of main rivers rather than the forest type found on the rolling hills of the study area. The spatial analysis suggests that mosquitoes carrying the enzootic viruses would reach 82-97% of the total land area by flying only 1-3 km from forests. We hypothesize that humans within that area are at risk of severe disease caused by enzootic ID VEE viruses. By contrast, equines could actually become naturally vaccinated, thus preventing the local emergence of epizootic IC VEE virus strains and protecting humans indirectly.

Genetic diversity and relationships among Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus field isolates from Colombia and Venezuela.

During field studies of enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viruses associated with epizootic emergence, a large number of virus isolates were made in sylvatic foci of Venezuela and Colombia. To rapidly characterize these isolates, antigenic subtypes were determined by means of immunofluorescence and by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis by use of an 856-bp fragment from the P62 gene, which we used to distinguish genetic variants. Representative isolates were sequenced to assess the sensitivity of SSCP to detect genetic differences. The SSCP analysis distinguished isolates differing by as little as 1 nucleotide; overall, differences of > or = 1 nucleotide were recognized 89% of the time, and the sensitivity to distinguish strains that differed by only 1 or 4 nucleotides was 17 and 57%, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of representative sequences showed that all recent isolates from the Catatumbo region of western Venezuela and the middle Magdalena Valley of Colombia were closely related to epizootic subtype IAB and IC strains; strains from Yaracuy and Miranda States were more distantly related. Cocirculation of the same virus genotype in both Colombian and Venezuelan foci indicated that these viruses are readily transported between enzootic regions separated by > 300 km. The SSCP analysis appears to be a simple, fast, and relatively efficient method of screening VEE virus isolates to identify meaningful genetic variants.

Spatial dispersion of adult mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a sylvatic focus of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.

We studied the spatial localization of mosquitoes in sylvatic focus of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in western Venezuela to identify mosquito species potentially involved in the hypothesized transport of viruses out of enzootic foci. The following criteria were used to identify species with potential for virus export: (1) common in the forest and surrounding area, (2) feeding on a wide range of vertebrates; (3) long dispersal capabilities, and (4) established vectorial competence for enzootic or epizootic VEE viruses. CDC traps baited with light/CO2 were operated for four and 12-h intervals to collect mosquitoes at four stations along two forest/open area transects from September to November 1997. We collected 60,444 mosquitoes belonging to 11 genera and 34 species. The most common species were Aedes serratus (Theobald), Ae. scapularis (Rondani), Ae. fulvus (Wiedmann), Culex nigripalus Theobald, Cx, (Culex) "sp", Cx. mollis Dyar & Knab, Cx. spissipes (Theobald), Cx. pedroi Sirivanakarn and Belkin, Psorophora ferox (Humboldt), Ps. albipes (Theobald), and Ps. cingulata (F.). Very few mosquitoes were captured during the (day in the open area outside the forest, suggesting that any virus export from the forest may occur at night. The following mosquitoes seemed to be mostly restricted to the forest habitat: Ae. serratus, Ps. ferox, Ps. albipes, sabethines, Cx. spissipes, Cx. pedroi, Cx. dunni Dyar, and Ae. fulvus. The main species implicated its potential virus export were Cx. nigripalpus, Ae. scapularis, and Mansonia titillans (Walker).

Genetic and phenotypic changes accompanying the emergence of epizootic subtype IC Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses from an enzootic subtype ID progenitor.

Recent studies have indicated that epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viruses can evolve from enzootic, subtype ID strains that circulate continuously in lowland tropical forests (A. M. Powers, M. S. Oberste, A. C. Brault, R. Rico-Hesse, S. M. Schmura, J. F. Smith, W. Kang, W. P. Sweeney, and S. C. Weaver, J. Virol. 71:6697-6705, 1997). To identify mutations associated with the phenotypic changes leading to epizootics, we sequenced the entire genomes of two subtype IC epizootic VEE virus strains isolated during a 1992-1993 Venezuelan outbreak and four sympatric, subtype ID enzootic strains closely related to the predicted epizootic progenitor. Analysis by maximum-parsimony phylogenetic methods revealed 25 nucleotide differences which were predicted to have accompanied the 1992 epizootic emergence; 7 of these encoded amino acid changes in the nsP1, nsP3, capsid, and E2 envelope glycoprotein, and 2 were mutations in the 3' untranslated genome region. Comparisons with the genomic sequences of IAB and other IC epizootic VEE virus strains revealed that only one of the seven amino acid changes associated with the 1992 emergence, a threonine-to-methionine change at position 360 of the nsP3 protein, accompanied another VEE virus emergence event. Two changes in the E2 envelope glycoprotein region believed to include the major antigenic determinants, both involving replacement of uncharged residues with arginine, are also candidates for epizootic determinants.

A duplex cone trap for the collection of adult Aedes albopictus.

A duplex cone trap was developed for the collection of Aedes albopictus adults. This device employs carbon dioxide and a visual attractant to draw mosquitoes into an air current created by a 6-volt battery-powered fan. In comparison with 8 other adult mosquito traps, the duplex cone was most effective in capturing Ae. albopictus females. A greater diversity of mosquito species was caught in the duplex cone trap compared with the other traps tested. In an experiment comparing the duplex cone trap with human biting collections, this trap proved to be an efficient and sensitive means of monitoring Ae. albopictus population changes.

Vertical transmission of dengue 1 virus by Haemagogus equinus mosquitoes.

Vertical transmission of dengue type 1 virus was demonstrated by a strain of Haemagogus equinus mosquitoes from Panama. Parental females were infected by intrathoracic inoculation and egg production was stimulated by feeding on mice. Dengue 1 virus was detected in fourth instar larval progeny obtained from two installment hatches of eggs. Minimum filial infection rates ranged up to 1:495.

Vertical transmission of St. Louis encephalitis virus to autogenously developed eggs of Aedes atropalpus mosquitoes.

Vertical transmission of St. Louis encephalitis virus was demonstrated by a strain of Aedes atropalpus mosquitoes from Garrett County, MD. Five-day-old parental females containing fully formed autogenous eggs were infected by intrathoracic inoculation. St. Louis encephalitis virus was detected in batches of fertilized eggs and fourth instar larvae. Estimated filial infection rates of approximately 1% were observed for both eggs and larvae.

Vertical transmission of dengue viruses by Aedes mediovittatus.

Aedes mediovittatus, a forest and peridomestic mosquito found in the Caribbean area, has previously been shown to be highly susceptible to oral infection with dengue viruses in the laboratory. In the present study, the species was found to transmit all four dengue serotypes vertically (i.e., from one generation to another) at rates much higher than any observed previously for flaviviruses in mosquitoes. Vertical transmission rates (the percentage of parent females transmitting to one or more progeny) ranged up to 95%. Filial infection rates (the percentage of infected progeny) varied widely by family but rates greater than or equal to 20% for individual families were not uncommon. Since Ae. mediovittatus feeds readily on humans and is relatively abundant, there is no apparent reason why it would not serve as a vector of dengue. If it does, vertical transmission of the virus in this species would contribute to the maintenance of viral endemicity.

Vertical transmission of dengue viruses by mosquitoes of the Aedes scutellaris group.

Seventeen strains of mosquitoes belonging to 12 species in the Aedes scutellaris subgroup were tested for an ability to transmit one or more dengue virus serotype(s) vertically. Strains of virus employed for dengue types 1, 2, 3, and 4 were from Fiji, Bangkok, Burma, and Medan, respectively. After parental females were infected by intrathoracic inoculation, F1 larval and pupal progeny were tested for the presence of virus by inoculating aliquots of triturated suspensions into Toxorhynchites amboinensis mosquitoes. Dengue type 1 was transmitted vertically by 11 strains of mosquitoes representing 8 species with the highest filial infection rates observed for Ae. cooki (1.2%). Vertical transmission of the other dengue virus serotypes was observed for fewer species of mosquitoes, however the filial infection rates of those demonstrating vertical transmission were between 1%-2% for types 2 and 3, and about 0.5% for type 4. Tests with the progeny of individual Ae. cooki and Ae. polynesiensis infected with dengue virus types 1 and 3, respectively, showed that approximately greater than or equal to 50% of the parental females transmitted virus to their progeny. Highest filial infection rates were 6.7% for Ae. cooki and 4.6% for Ae. polynesiensis.

Oral and transovarial transmission of La Crosse virus by Aedes atropalpus.

A recently colonized strain of Aedes atropalpus was shown to be equally susceptible to oral infection with La Crosse (LAC) virus as the natural vector, Aedes triseriatus. La Crosse virus was shown to replicate and persist at high titers in orally infected Ae. atropalpus. In addition, orally infected females transmitted virus efficiently to suckling mice by mosquito bite. Transovarial transmission of LAC virus was demonstrated by recovery of virus from larval progeny after parental females were infected either orally or by intrathoracic inoculation. Virus was recovered from larval progeny that developed from eggs produced both autogenously and anautogenously. Transovarial transmission of LAC virus to F1 adults was also shown, and the filial infection rates were similar to that obtained with a strain of Ae. triseriatus used for comparison.

Transmission of dengue virus by orally infected Aedes triseriatus.

Transmission of dengue type 1 was demonstrated for 3 strains of Aedes triseriatus mosquitoes after oral infection. Rates of infection were similar to those observed in a control strain of Aedes aegypti. Three additional species belonging to the subgenus Protomacleaya (Aedes brelandi, Aedes hendersoni, and Aedes zoosophus) were also susceptible to oral infection with dengue type 1 virus but transmission could not be demonstrated although virus was detected in the salivary glands of infected mosquitoes. Virus transmission was demonstrated for Ae. hendersoni following parenteral infection. The results of this study support the view that non-Stegomyia mosquitoes may become involved in the transmission of dengue virus to humans.

Transovarial transmission of dengue viruses by mosquitoes: Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.

Transovarial transmission of all four dengue serotypes was demonstrated in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The rates of such transmission varied with the serotype and strain of virus. In general, the highest rates were observed with strains of dengue type 1 and the lowest with dengue type 3. Surprisingly, despite the use of viral strains of the four dengue serotypes which gave the highest rates with Ae. albopictus, transovarial transmission was observed in Aedes aegypti only with dengue type 1, and then only at a relatively low rate. Five different strains of Ae. aegypti were employed, including one that was known to be relatively susceptible to oral infection with dengue viruses. The findings support the view that Ae. aegypti, while of major importance from the point of view of transmission of dengue to man, may be relatively unimportant in the overall natural history of dengue viruses.