Western Equine Encephalitis submergence: Lack of evidence for a decline in virus virulence

Naomi L. Forrester; Joan L. Kenney; Eleanor Deardorff; Eryu Wang; Scott C. Weaver

doi:10.1016/j.virol.2008.08.012

Western Equine Encephalitis submergence: Lack of evidence for a decline in virus virulence

Naomi L. Forrester, Joan L. Kenney, Eleanor Deardorff, Eryu Wang, Scott C. Weaver

Microbiology And Immunology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

The incidence of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) in humans and equids peaked during the mid-20th century and has declined to fewer than 1-2 human cases annually during the past 20 years. Using the mouse model, changes in WEE virus (WEEV) virulence were investigated as a potential explanation for the decline in the number of cases. Evaluation of 10 WEEV strains representing a variety of isolation locations, hosts, and all decades from the 1940's to the 1990's yielded no evidence of a decline in virulence. These results suggest that ecological factors affecting human and equine exposure should be investigated to explain the decline in WEE.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	170-172
Number of pages	3
Journal	Virology
Volume	380
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2008.08.012
State	Published - Oct 25 2008

Keywords

Virulence
Western Equine Encephalitis virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Virology

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10.1016/j.virol.2008.08.012

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@article{9f16173d886340bea1847042fb491a44,

title = "Western Equine Encephalitis submergence: Lack of evidence for a decline in virus virulence",

abstract = "The incidence of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) in humans and equids peaked during the mid-20th century and has declined to fewer than 1-2 human cases annually during the past 20 years. Using the mouse model, changes in WEE virus (WEEV) virulence were investigated as a potential explanation for the decline in the number of cases. Evaluation of 10 WEEV strains representing a variety of isolation locations, hosts, and all decades from the 1940's to the 1990's yielded no evidence of a decline in virulence. These results suggest that ecological factors affecting human and equine exposure should be investigated to explain the decline in WEE.",

keywords = "Virulence, Western Equine Encephalitis virus",

author = "Forrester, {Naomi L.} and Kenney, {Joan L.} and Eleanor Deardorff and Eryu Wang and Weaver, {Scott C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by a grant from the NIAID through the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, NIH grant U54 AI057156. JKL was supported by the NIH T32 Pre-Doctoral Training Program in Emerging and Tropical Infectious Diseases, AI007526. ERD was supported by the NIH T32 Pre-Doctoral Biodefense Training Program, AI060549 and by the James W. McLaughlin Fellowship Fund. ",

year = "2008",

month = oct,

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doi = "10.1016/j.virol.2008.08.012",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "380",

pages = "170--172",

journal = "Virology",

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T1 - Western Equine Encephalitis submergence

T2 - Lack of evidence for a decline in virus virulence

AU - Forrester, Naomi L.

AU - Kenney, Joan L.

AU - Deardorff, Eleanor

AU - Wang, Eryu

AU - Weaver, Scott C.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by a grant from the NIAID through the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, NIH grant U54 AI057156. JKL was supported by the NIH T32 Pre-Doctoral Training Program in Emerging and Tropical Infectious Diseases, AI007526. ERD was supported by the NIH T32 Pre-Doctoral Biodefense Training Program, AI060549 and by the James W. McLaughlin Fellowship Fund.

PY - 2008/10/25

Y1 - 2008/10/25

N2 - The incidence of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) in humans and equids peaked during the mid-20th century and has declined to fewer than 1-2 human cases annually during the past 20 years. Using the mouse model, changes in WEE virus (WEEV) virulence were investigated as a potential explanation for the decline in the number of cases. Evaluation of 10 WEEV strains representing a variety of isolation locations, hosts, and all decades from the 1940's to the 1990's yielded no evidence of a decline in virulence. These results suggest that ecological factors affecting human and equine exposure should be investigated to explain the decline in WEE.

AB - The incidence of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) in humans and equids peaked during the mid-20th century and has declined to fewer than 1-2 human cases annually during the past 20 years. Using the mouse model, changes in WEE virus (WEEV) virulence were investigated as a potential explanation for the decline in the number of cases. Evaluation of 10 WEEV strains representing a variety of isolation locations, hosts, and all decades from the 1940's to the 1990's yielded no evidence of a decline in virulence. These results suggest that ecological factors affecting human and equine exposure should be investigated to explain the decline in WEE.

KW - Virulence

KW - Western Equine Encephalitis virus

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EP - 172

JO - Virology

JF - Virology

IS - 2

ER -

Western Equine Encephalitis submergence: Lack of evidence for a decline in virus virulence

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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