Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis in Upstate New York, 1972–1974 *

Cd, Morris; Ar, Caines; Jp, Woodall; Tf, Bast

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1975.24.986

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…EEE virus also has been isolated from American Robins in Massachusetts (Main et al 1988) and New Jersey (Crans et al 1994). Moreover, antibody prevalence studies indicate that these birds are frequently exposed to EEE virus throughout the region (Dalrymple et al 1972, Bast et al 1973, Morris et al 1975, Main et al 1988, Crans et al 1994. Our results further suggest that American Robins may play a more important role in early season virus amplification, due to their abundance and greater availability as hosts at this time of the year.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Vector-Host Interactions and Epizootiology of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Massachusetts

Molaei

Andreadis

Armstrong

et al. 2013

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus is a highly pathogenic mosquito-borne zoonosis that is responsible for outbreaks of severe disease in humans and equines, resulting in high mortality or severe neurological impairment in most survivors. In the northeastern United States, EEE virus is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving the ornithophilic mosquito, Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) and passerine birds in freshwater swamp habitats. To evaluate the role of Cs. melanura and Culiseta morsitans (Theobald) in recent episodes of EEE virus activity in Massachusetts, we collected blood-fed mosquitoes between June, 2007, and October, 2008, from virus foci in 6 counties, and identified the source of blood meals by PCR amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and sequencing. Analysis of 529 Cs. melanura and 25 Cs. morsitans revealed that nearly 99% and 96% of mosquitoes, respectively, acquired blood meals solely from avian hosts. American Robin, Turdus migratorius Linnaeus was identified as the most common vertebrate host for Cs. melanura (21.7%, n=115), followed by Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor (L.) (8.7%, n=46), Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus (L.) (8.5%, n=45), Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea (Gmelin) (6.8%, n=36), Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla (Wilson) (6.2%, n=33), Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis (L.) (5.7%, n=30), and other mostly Passeriformes birds. Mammalian-derived blood meals were identified as white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann, domestic cow, Bos taurus L., and human, Homo sapiens L. There were 4 isolations of EEE virus, West Nile virus, and Highland J virus from Cs. melanura. Our results in conjunction with other lines of evidence, including reservoir competency, prevalence of antibody, and infection in nature, suggest that the American Robin, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, and a few other passerine birds may play key roles in supporting EEE virus transmission in Massachusetts. Infrequent blood feeding of Cs. melanura on mammalian hosts, including humans, also indicates that this mosquito may occasionally contribute to epidemic/epizootic transmission of EEE virus in this region.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Vector-Host Interactions and Epizootiology of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Massachusetts

Molaei

Andreadis

Armstrong

et al. 2013

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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“…American Robin is a competent amplifying host for EEE virus, and the virus has been isolated from this bird in Massachusetts and New Jersey [ 2 , 16 , 42 ]. Serosurveys indicate American Robin is frequently exposed to EEE virus throughout the region [ 2 , 16 , 43 – 45 ]. Identification of American Robin as a frequent host in this study, in conjunction with its abundance and other evidence, suggests that this bird species contributes to EEE virus amplification in the region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Vector-Host Interactions in Avian Communities in Four Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Foci in the Northeastern U.S.

et al. 2016

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BackgroundEastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus (Togaviridae, Alphavirus) is a highly pathogenic mosquito-borne zoonosis that is responsible for occasional outbreaks of severe disease in humans and equines, resulting in high mortality and neurological impairment in most survivors. In the past, human disease outbreaks in the northeastern U.S. have occurred intermittently with no apparent pattern; however, during the last decade we have witnessed recurring annual emergence where EEE virus activity had been historically rare, and expansion into northern New England where the virus had been previously unknown. In the northeastern U.S., EEE virus is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving the ornithophagic mosquito, Culiseta melanura, and wild passerine (perching) birds in freshwater hardwood swamps. However, the identity of key avian species that serve as principal virus reservoir and amplification hosts has not been established. The efficiency with which pathogen transmission occurs within an avian community is largely determined by the relative reservoir competence of each species and by ecological factors that influence contact rates between these avian hosts and mosquito vectors.Methodology and principle findingsContacts between vector mosquitoes and potential avian hosts may be directly quantified by analyzing the blood meal contents of field-collected specimens. We used PCR-based molecular methods and direct sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for profiling of blood meals in Cs. melanura, in an effort to quantify its feeding behavior on specific vertebrate hosts, and to infer epidemiologic implications in four historic EEE virus foci in the northeastern U.S. Avian point count surveys were conducted to determine spatiotemporal host community composition. Of 1,127 blood meals successfully identified to species level, >99% of blood meals were from 65 avian hosts in 27 families and 11 orders, and only seven were from mammalian hosts representing three species. We developed an empirically informed mathematical model for EEE virus transmission using Cs. melanura abundance and preferred and non-preferred avian hosts. To our knowledge this is the first mathematical model for EEE virus, a pathogen with many potential hosts, in the northeastern U.S. We measured strong feeding preferences for a number of avian species based on the proportion of mosquito blood meals identified from these bird species in relation to their observed frequencies. These included: American Robin, Tufted Titmouse, Common Grackle, Wood Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, and Warbling Vireo. We found that these bird species, most notably Wood Thrush, play a dominant role in supporting EEE virus amplification. It is also noteworthy that the competence of some of the aforementioned avian species for EEE virus has not been established. Our findings indicate that heterogeneity induced by mosquito host preference, is a key mediator of the epizootic transmission of vector-borne pathogens.Conclusion and s...

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“…20 Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) has also been recovered from a number of wild ectotherms 21, 22 , while alligators have been implicated as potential amplifying hosts for West Nile virus 23 . Finally, evidence for the presence of EEEV has been obtained from field-collected ectotherm-feeding mosquitoes, including Ochlerotatus Canadensis , 24 Uranotaenia sapphirina , 25 Culex peccator , 12 and Culex territans (Burkett-Cadena et al, unpublished data).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood Feeding Patterns of Potential Arbovirus Vectors of the Genus Culex Targeting Ectothermic Hosts

Burkett‐Cadena¹,

Graham²,

Hassan³

et al. 2008

Am J Trop Med Hyg

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Reptiles and amphibians constitute a significant portion of vertebrate biomass in terrestrial ecosystems and may be important arbovirus reservoirs. To investigate mosquito preference for ectothermic hosts, feeding indices were calculated from data collected in Tuskegee National Forest, Alabama, USA. Four mosquito species fed upon ectothermic hosts, with Cx. peccator and Cx. territans feeding primarily upon ectotherms. These two species appeared to target distinct species with little overlap in host choice. Culex peccator was a generalist in its feeding patterns within ectotherms, while Cx. territans appeared to be a more specialized feeder. Six of eleven ectotherm species fed upon by Cx. territans were fed upon more often than predicted based upon abundance. Spring Peepers were highly preferred over other host species by Cx. territans. Blood meals taken from each host species varied temporally, with some hosts being targeted fairly evenly throughout the season and others being fed upon in seasonal peaks.

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Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis in Upstate New York, 1972–1974 *

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

Vector-Host Interactions and Epizootiology of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Massachusetts

Vector-Host Interactions and Epizootiology of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Massachusetts

Dynamics of Vector-Host Interactions in Avian Communities in Four Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Foci in the Northeastern U.S.

Blood Feeding Patterns of Potential Arbovirus Vectors of the Genus Culex Targeting Ectothermic Hosts

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