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VENEZUELA EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS (Contact) Please CLICK on
underlined links for details: This is one
of the Alphavirus spp. that
occurs in southern United States through Central America and the northern
South American area. The infection is
frequently fatal to horses but generally quite mild in humans. There is evidence tht rodents are the most
important amplifying hosts, and birds and bats may be also involved. The primary vectors are Culex spp. Epidemics involve equines that are the principal amplifying
hosts. Aedes
taeniorhynchus,
Culex taeniopus and other Culex spp.
and Psorophora confinnis are
the main vectors. Humans and horses
are considered to be dead end hosts for these viruses (Service 2008) because
the virus titres are usually especially low. Symptoms are
flu-like with high fevers and headaches.
Those with weak immune systems, children and elderly persons may
suffer severely or even die from infection.
When animals such as pigs, dogs and cattle are infected they usually
do not have noticeable symptoms, but they are significant reservoirs for the
virus. = = = = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = = = = Key References: <medvet.ref.htm> <Hexapoda> Matheson, R. 1950. Medical Entomology. Comstock Publ. Co, Inc. 610 p. Service, M. 2008.
Medical Entomology For Students.
Cambridge Univ. Press. 289 p Legner, E. F. 1995. Biological control of Diptera of medical
and veterinary importance. J. Vector
Ecology 20(1): 59_120. Legner, E. F. 2000.
Biological control of aquatic Diptera. p. 847_870.
Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera, Vol. 1, Science Herald, Budapest. 978 p. Weaver, S. C., C. Ferro, R. Barrera, J. Boshell & J. C.
Navarro. 2004. Venezuelan equine encephalitis. Ann. Rev. Ent. 49: 141-74. |