An Environmental Niche Model to Estimate the Potential Presence of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus in Costa Rica

León, Bernal; Jiménez, Carlos; Retamosa-Izaguirre, Mónica

doi:10.3390/ijerph18010227

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The difference in terms of AUC values might be due to the number of occurrence points used in the models. Our results, however, agree with those from various authors [ 23 , 24 , 34 ] in terms of AUC values.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Although Zambia has not reported any epidemics of WNV or CHIKV in the last 3 decades, the favorable tropical climate for mosquito breeding and the occurrence of outbreaks in neighboring countries [ 5 , 18 , 19 ] warrants an understanding of the ecological factors influencing the dynamics of arboviral transmission and their natural maintenance cycles in the environment. To achieve this understanding, Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM), also known as Species Distribution Modeling (SDM), has been employed worldwide to study arboviruses such as CHIKV, Yellow Fever Virus (YFV), and WNV, and their vectors [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecological Niche Modeling of Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes: A Risk Map for Chikungunya and West Nile Viruses in Zambia

Velu,

Kwenda,

Bosomprah

et al. 2023

Viruses

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The circulation of both West Nile Virus (WNV) and Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) in humans and animals, coupled with a favorable tropical climate for mosquito proliferation in Zambia, call for the need for a better understanding of the ecological and epidemiological factors that govern their transmission dynamics in this region. This study aimed to examine the contribution of climatic variables to the distribution of Culex and Aedes mosquito species, which are potential vectors of CHIKV, WNV, and other arboviruses of public-health concern. Mosquitoes collected from Lusaka as well as from the Central and Southern provinces of Zambia were sorted by species within the Culex and Aedes genera, both of which have the potential to transmit viruses. The MaxEnt software was utilized to predict areas at risk of WNV and CHIKV based on the occurrence data on mosquitoes and environmental covariates. The model predictions show three distinct spatial hotspots, ranging from the high-probability regions to the medium- and low-probability regions. Regions along Lake Kariba, the Kafue River, and the Luangwa Rivers, as well as along the Mumbwa, Chibombo, Kapiri Mposhi, and Mpika districts were predicted to be suitable habitats for both species. The rainfall and temperature extremes were the most contributing variables in the predictive models.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Niche Modeling of Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes: A Risk Map for Chikungunya and West Nile Viruses in Zambia

Velu,

Kwenda,

Bosomprah

et al. 2023

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…VEEV subtypes ID–IF and II–VI are enzootic strains, which circulate between rodents and Culex mosquitoes and typically are less pathogenic in larger mammals. Expansion of mosquito vectors raises concern for possible VEEV reemergence ( Guzmán-Terán et al, 2020 ; León et al, 2020 ). In addition, VEEV is a bioterrorism threat and was weaponized previously for possible aerosol dissemination ( Bronze et al, 2002 ; Hawley and Eitzen, 2001 ; Sidwell and Smee, 2003 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutralizing antibodies protect mice against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus aerosol challenge

Kafai

Williamson

Binshtein

et al. 2022

Journal of Experimental Medicine

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Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) remains a risk for epidemic emergence or use as an aerosolized bioweapon. To develop possible countermeasures, we isolated VEEV-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from mice and a human immunized with attenuated VEEV strains. Functional assays and epitope mapping established that potently inhibitory anti-VEEV mAbs bind distinct antigenic sites in the A or B domains of the E2 glycoprotein and block multiple steps in the viral replication cycle including attachment, fusion, and egress. A 3.2-Å cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of VEEV virus-like particles bound by a human Fab suggests that antibody engagement of the B domain may result in cross-linking of neighboring spikes to prevent conformational requirements for viral fusion. Prophylaxis or postexposure therapy with these mAbs protected mice against lethal aerosol challenge with VEEV. Our study defines functional and structural mechanisms of mAb protection and suggests that multiple antigenic determinants on VEEV can be targeted for vaccine or antibody-based therapeutic development.

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“…Ecological niche modeling (ENM) is used to predict potential geographic distributions of species by correlating environmental values with georeferenced occurrence points for model calibration ( 4 ). In the study of vector-borne diseases, ENMs have been used to predict distributions of vectors ( 5 , 6 ), vertebrate hosts ( 7 ) and pathogens ( 8 , 9 ), based upon georeferenced detections of each independent aspect of the nidus. Ecological niche models predicting the potential distribution of vectors, hosts, or pathogens are typically generated separately.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting potential transmission risk of Everglades virus in Florida using mosquito blood meal identifications

Sloyer

Barve²,

Kim³

et al. 2022

Front. Epidemiol.

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The overlap between arbovirus host, arthropod vectors, and pathogen distributions in environmentally suitable habitats represents a nidus where risk for pathogen transmission may occur. Everglades virus (EVEV), subtype II Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), is endemic to southern Florida where it is transmitted by the endemic vector Culex cedecei between muroid rodent hosts. We developed an ecological niche model (ENM) to predict areas in Florida suitable for EVEV transmission based upon georeferenced vector-host interactions from PCR-based blood meal analysis from blood-engorged female Cx. cedecei females. Thirteen environmental variables were used for model calibration, including bioclimatic variables derived from Daymet 1 km daily temperature and precipitation values, and land use and land cover data representing percent land cover derived within a 2.5 km buffer from 2019 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) program. Maximum temperature of the warmest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and precipitation of the driest month contributed 31.6%, 28.5% and 19.9% to ENM performance. The land cover types contributing the greatest to the model performance were percent landcover of emergent herbaceous and woody wetlands which contributed 5.2% and 4.3% to model performance, respectively. Results of the model output showed high suitability for Cx. cedecei feeding on rodents throughout the southwestern portion of the state and pockets of high suitability along the northern east coast of Florida, while areas with low suitability included the Miami-Dade metropolitan area and most of northern Florida and the Panhandle. Comparing predicted distributions of Cx. cedecei feeding upon rodent hosts in the present study to historical human cases of EVEV disease, as well as antibodies in wildlife show substantial overlap with areas predicted moderate to highly suitable for these vector/host associations. As such, the findings of this study likely predict the most accurate distribution of the nidus of EVEV to date, indicating that this method allows for better inference of potential transmission areas than models which only consider the vector or vertebrate host species individually. A similar approach using host blood meals of other arboviruses can be used to predict potential areas of virus transmission for other vector-borne diseases.

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An Environmental Niche Model to Estimate the Potential Presence of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus in Costa Rica

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

Ecological Niche Modeling of Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes: A Risk Map for Chikungunya and West Nile Viruses in Zambia

Ecological Niche Modeling of Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes: A Risk Map for Chikungunya and West Nile Viruses in Zambia

Neutralizing antibodies protect mice against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus aerosol challenge

Predicting potential transmission risk of Everglades virus in Florida using mosquito blood meal identifications

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