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1: Virology. 2008 Oct 25;380(2):170-2. Epub 2008 Sep 17.
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Western Equine Encephalitis submergence: lack of evidence for a decline in virus virulence.

Forrester NL, Kenney JL, Deardorff E, Wang E, Weaver SC.

Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, TX 77555-0609, USA.

The incidence of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) in humans and equids peaked during the mid-20th century and has declined to fewer than 1-2 human cases annually during the past 20 years. Using the mouse model, changes in WEE virus (WEEV) virulence were investigated as a potential explanation for the decline in the number of cases. Evaluation of 10 WEEV strains representing a variety of isolation locations, hosts, and all decades from the 1940's to the 1990's yielded no evidence of a decline in virulence. These results suggest that ecological factors affecting human and equine exposure should be investigated to explain the decline in WEE.

Publication Types:
PMID: 18801549 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC2574696 [Available on 2009/10/25]