Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Taxonomy, Genomics, and Evolution

Alexander T Ciota

doi:10.1093/jme/tjab079

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Taxonomy, Genomics, and Evolution

J Med Entomol. 2022 Jan 12;59(1):14-19. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjab079.

Author

Alexander T Ciota^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY.
² Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY.

PMID: 34734630
DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab079

Abstract

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV; Togaviridae, Alphavirus) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) primarily maintained in an enzootic cycle between Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) and passerine birds. EEEV, which has the highest reported case- fatality rate among arbovirus in the Americas, is responsible for sporadic outbreaks in the Eastern and Midwest United States. Infection is associated with severe neurologic disease and mortality in horses, humans, and other vertebrate hosts. Here, we review what is known about EEEV taxonomy, functional genomics, and evolution, and identify gaps in knowledge regarding the role of EEEV genetic diversity in transmission and disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biological Evolution
Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine* / classification
Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine* / genetics
Encephalomyelitis, Equine* / transmission
Encephalomyelitis, Equine* / virology
Evolution, Molecular*
Genetic Variation*
Genome, Viral*
Genomics