Ross River Virus Transmission, Infection, and Disease: a Cross-Disciplinary Review

Abstract

SUMMARY Ross River virus (RRV) is a fascinating, important arbovirus that is endemic and enzootic in Australia and Papua New Guinea and was epidemic in the South Pacific in 1979 and 1980. Infection with RRV may cause disease in humans, typically presenting as peripheral polyarthralgia or arthritis, sometimes with fever and rash. RRV disease notifications in Australia average 5,000 per year. The first well-described outbreak occurred in 1928. During World War II there were more outbreaks, and the name epidemic polyarthritis was applied. During a 1956 outbreak, epidemic polyarthritis was linked serologically to a group A arbovirus (Alphavirus). The virus was subsequently isolated from Aedes vigilax mosquitoes in 1963 and then from epidemic polyarthritis patients. We review the literature on the evolutionary biology of RRV, immune response to infection, pathogenesis, serologic diagnosis, disease manifestations, the extraordinary variety of vertebrate hosts, mosquito vectors, and transmission cycles, antibody prevalence, epidemiology of asymptomatic and symptomatic human infection, infection risks, and public health impact. RRV arthritis is due to joint infection, and treatment is currently based on empirical anti-inflammatory regimens. Further research on pathogenesis may improve understanding of the natural history of this disease and lead to new treatment strategies. The burden of morbidity is considerable, and the virus could spread to other countries. To justify and design preventive programs, we need accurate data on economic costs and better understanding of transmission and behavioral and environmental risks.

A Mouse Model of Chikungunya Virus–Induced Musculoskeletal Inflammatory Disease

“…Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), O'nyong-nyong virus, Mayaro virus, and Ross River virus are among a group of mosquito-transmitted alphaviruses that cause debilitating pain and inflammation of musculoskeletal tissue in humans. [1][2][3][4] These viruses are an emerging threat because of their ability to initiate explosive epidemics, 3,5 including a 1979 -1980 epidemic of Ross River fever in the South Pacific, which involved more than 60,000 patients, 3 and a 1959 -1962 epidemic of O'nyong-nyong fever in Africa, which involved at least 2 million patients. 6 In 2004, reemergence of CHIKV resulted in an epidemic that caused millions of cases in multiple countries in the Indian Ocean region, including 270,000 cases on Reunion Island and an estimated 1.4 million to 6.5 million cases in India.…”

Climate variability and Ross River virus infections in Riverland, South Australia, 1992–2004

“…RRV causes a non-fatal disease in humans, and it has been estimated that between 70 % and 90% of people infected with RRV have either mild symptoms or no symptoms at all [2]. The typical features of RRV infection are joint pain and swelling (mainly in the extremities), lethargy, myalgia, rash (involving the trunk and limbs), fever, headache and depression [3][4][5][6]. With thousands of cases occurring in Australia each year, the burden of this disease to Australian society is significant.…”

Isolation and Characterization of a Sagiyama Virus from Domestic Pigs

“…22 The transient nature of the viremia that develops in animals renders isolation of SAGV of little diagnostic value; consequently, antibody prevalence is frequently viewed as an indicator of infection. 3 The 51% seropositive rate (Table 3) found in this study indicated that about half of the pig population had been infected with SAGV before the survey. In particular, results of the SNA test for pigs from 2 offshore island districts, namely Penghu and Kinmen, indicated 100 and 79% seronegativity, respectively, and titer was lower than that in pigs on the main island, suggesting that, in these offshore districts, SAGV has not become widespread at this time.…”