A Review of Arthropod‐borne Virus Infections Affecting Man and Animals in Australia

Abstract

The arthropod‐borne virus diseases affecting man and animals in Australia are reviewed. Australian biologists and pathologists have made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the natural history of several of these diseases. There is a need for continuing studies on the ecological factors affecting the vector‐reservoir host and definitive host in some of these diseases.

Genetic Variation of Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus

“…, and has a distribution extending from Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea to Australia (French, 1973;Doherty, 1977). Virus activity has been shown to recur annually during the wet season in the east and west Kimberley regions of Western Australia.…”

Oral Infection of <I>Culicoides sonorensis</I> (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) by Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

“…The importance of C. sonorensis as a biological vector and insect pest of livestock has been well established (French 1973, Linley et al 1983, Linley 1985, Labuda 1991. Our demonstration of viral infection after oral ingestion of VSNJV indicates that C. sonorensis should be considered a potential biological vector of this virus.…”

Toponymous diseases of Australia

“…There were no further epidemics of encephalitis reported for over 25 years, until cases of a disease similar to Australian X disease were reported in the Murray Valley region in 1950 and 1951. The disease was given the name “Murray Valley encephalitis” (MVE), and the causative virus was independently isolated by Eric French and John Miles 44 , 45 . The clinical, histological and epidemiological features of Australian X disease and MVE appeared to be indistinguishable, and they are thought to be the same disease 44 .…”