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- Title
Detection of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus from Brain Samples of Equines with Encephalitis.
- Authors
León, Bernal; Estrella-Morales, Josimar; Jiménez, Carlos
- Abstract
Simple Summary: In this study, we investigated the presence of Alphavirus in bovines and equines with signs of encephalitis. After comparing four Universal RT-PCR methods and selecting the one best suited for our laboratory conditions, none of the bovine brains tested positive for Alphavirus. However, out of the 30 equine samples, only four were positive using the selected Universal RT-PCR. Through sequencing, we confirmed that only two of these samples belonged to the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus subtype IE. These samples were isolated in the northern region of Costa Rica. The presence of this virus highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance and understanding of these viruses to implement effective disease control measures under one health umbrella concept. Alphavirus species are globally distributed zoonoses primarily transmitted by arthropods. The Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) are endemic in Costa Rica. This study aims to detect these viruses in brain samples from equines displaying nervous signs. For this purpose, four published Universal RT-PCR methods were compared. The most sensitive and specific RT-PCR method was used to test a total of 70 brain samples, including 40 from bovines and 30 from equines, all exhibiting nervous signs. In the positive cases, eight different brain regions were extracted and tested using this RT-PCR. Positive cases were confirmed through sequencing. Torii RT-PCR demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing VEEV and EEEV/Sind among the four Universal RT-PCR assays. Not all assessed brain regions showed DNA amplification. None of the bovine brains was positive, and out of the 30 equine brain samples, only four tested positive, and sequencing confirmed two of these samples as VEEV subtype IE. Torii RT-PCR successfully detected VEEV in pools of the hippocampus, spinal cord, and basal nuclei, making these brain regions suitable for diagnosing this virus. None of the samples were positive for EEEV or WEEV.
- Subjects
COSTA Rica; VENEZUELAN equine encephalomyelitis; HIPPOCAMPUS (Brain); ALPHAVIRUSES; EASTERN equine encephalomyelitis; REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
- Publication
Zoonotic Diseases (2813-0227), 2023, Vol 3, Issue 3, p215
- ISSN
2813-0227
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/zoonoticdis3030018