Arbovirus Surveillance in Florida: Wild Vertebrate Studies 1965-1974

Abstract

Wildlife species from 38 of Florida's 67 counties were surveyed over a 10 year period for the presence of antibody to the five major arboviruses circulating in the state. The routine screening of 7891 sera from wild birds and mammals via the hemagglutination-inhibition (H1) test with selected reactors subjected to serum neutralization testing has 1) provided information regarding geographic distribution and seasonality of circulation of these viruses 2) identified enzootic foci of infection and those species of wildlife most commonly infected and 3) documented the potential value of certain wild mammals as indicators of St. Louis Encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus activity prior to the detection of human cases. Limited studies of Tamiami and Tensaw virus on sera from mammals collected for other purposed provided additional baseline information on the activity of these viruses in Florida mammals. Isolations of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus were made from the heart of a loggerhead shrike (Lanius excubitor), Tensaw virus from the brain of a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and Keystone virus from the heart of a bluejay (Cyanocitta cristata).

Using Wild White-Tailed Deer to Detect Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Activity in Maine

“…Similar to previous studies (Hoff et al 1973, Bigler et al 1975, Tate et al 2005, Schmitt et al 2007), we report evidence that free-ranging white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) are exposed to EEEV in the wild. To our knowledge, this is the first time that EEEV antibodies have been detected in O. virginianus populations in New England.…”

“…Our aim in this pilot study was to evaluate the potential for using deer serosurveys to detect and map the distribution of EEEV activity in ME. Although EEEV antibody-positive deer serum has been reported earlier (Hoff et al 1973, Bigler et al 1975, Tate et al 2005, Schmitt et al 2007), the aims of these studies were to study the disease in wildlife. To our knowledge, this is the first time that white-tail deer serosurveys for EEEV have been conducted for public health reasons in the US.…”

“…This species was selected as a sentinel for several reasons. First, several previous studies in the US (Hoff et al 1973, Bigler et al 1975, Tate et al 2005, Schmitt et al 2007) have reported EEEV antibody-positive sera among populations of free-ranging O. virginianus, demonstrating that deer frequently become infected with EEEV. Second, white-tailed deer form a significant proportion of the blood meals of EEEV bridge vectors, particularly Cq.…”

Ecology of Catarina Virus (familyArenaviridae) in Southern Texas, 2001–2004

“…Specific members of the rodent family Cricetidae (Musser and Carleton 2005) are the principal hosts of the Tacaribe serocomplex viruses for which natural host relationships have been well characterized. For example, the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) in southern Florida is the principal host of TAMV (Bigler et al 1975, Calisher et al 1970, Jennings et al 1970.…”

Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Moose (Alces americanus) in Northeastern Vermont

“…The percentage of moose with serologic evidence of EEEV infection in Vermont (29%) is among the highest reported for wild ungulate populations (range 0.5-31%; Bigler et al, 1975;Hoff et al, 1973;Tate et al, 2005;Mutebi et al, 2011). Recently, EEEV antibodies were detected in moose in northern Maine (Lubelcyck et al, unpubl.…”