Abstract
Saint Louis encephalitis virus is a flavivirus (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) that was first recognized in 1933 in the United States and has been responsible for episodic outbreaks of encephalitic disease typically in more temperate regions of North and South America. The virus is transmitted between avian hosts by Culex spp. mosquito vectors. Movement of genetic variants from South America to North America, presumably through avian migration, have been documented. Several maintenance mechanisms have been proposed to explain overwintering of the virus in temperate latitudes that include vertical transmission in the mosquito vector as well as periodic reintroduction from neotropical transmission foci. No vaccines or approved antiviral therapeutics are available for treatment of symptomatic infections. As such, the most effective prevention methods include vector control activities and personal protection against mosquito exposure.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of Virology |
| Subtitle of host publication | Volume 1-5, Fourth Edition |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Pages | 805-813 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Volume | 1-5 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128145166 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2020 |
Keywords
- Avian
- Culex
- Encephalitis
- Extrinsic incubation
- Flavivirus
- Lineage
- Passerine
- Pathogenesis
- Saint Louis encephalitis virus
- Vector competence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Immunology and Microbiology