Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) complex. This disease has not yet been reported in China, and it is therefore essential to establish a rapid and accurate method for detection of the virus in order to prevent and control this disease. In this study, a one-step real-time quantitative RT-PCR method was developed for the detection of the VEEV complex. A pair of specific primers and a Taqman probe were designed corresponding to a conserved region of the VEEV gene nspl, allowing the detection of all known strains of different sub- types of the virus. Using RNA synthesized by in vitro transcription as template, the sensitivity of this method was measured at 3.27 x 10(2) copies/microL. No signal was generated in response to RNA from Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), nor to RNA encoding the nsp1 fragment of Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EE-EV) or Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), all of which belong to the same genus as VEEV. This indicates that the method has excellent specificity. These results show that this one-step real-time quantitative RT-PCR method may provide an effective tool for the detection of VEEV in China.
China ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine ; virology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

In this review, we mainly focus on zoonotic encephalitides caused by arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) of the families Flaviviridae (genus Flavivirus) and Togaviridae (genus Alphavirus) that are important in both humans and domestic animals. Specifically, we will focus on alphaviruses (Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus) and flaviviruses (Japanese encephalitis virus and West Nile virus). Most of these viruses were originally found in tropical regions such as Africa and South America or in some regions in Asia. However, they have dispersed widely and currently cause diseases around the world. Global warming, increasing urbanization and population size in tropical regions, faster transportation and rapid spread of arthropod vectors contribute in continuous spreading of arboviruses into new geographic areas causing reemerging or resurging diseases. Most of the reemerging arboviruses also have emerged as zoonotic disease agents and created major public health issues and disease epidemics.
Africa ; Alphavirus* ; Animals, Domestic ; Arboviruses* ; Arthropod Vectors ; Asia ; Encephalitis ; Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine ; Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine ; Encephalitis Viruses ; Encephalomyelitis, Equine ; Epidemiology* ; Flaviviridae ; Flavivirus* ; Global Warming ; Humans ; Population Density ; Public Health ; South America ; Togaviridae ; Transportation ; Urbanization ; Zoonoses

Three dimensional structures of envelope protein from Korean isolates and Nakayama-NIH strain of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) were deduced by a computer program (HyperChem 4.0 Chemplus 1.0) based on the data of the three dimentional structure of Tick-borne encephalitis virus. In the three dimensional structure of envelope protein, neutralizing epitope and T-helper cell recognition site of C-terminal region of Korean isolates were structually similar to those of Nakayama-NIH but the N-terminal region was not. Korean JE isolates were compared with Nakayama-NIH strain by using cross-neutralization antibody test. Neutralizing activities of Korean isolates derived from guinea pigs were higher than those of Nakayama-NIH strain against Korean isolates, although the polyclonal antibody titers of Nakayama-NIH showed 1:160 to 1:640 against Korean isolates. According to the results from three dimentional structures and cross-neutralization analyses, the antigenic difference between Korean JE isolates and Nakayama-NIH strain may be dependent on structural difference of envelope protein.
Animals ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; Encephalitis Viruses* ; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne ; Encephalitis* ; Guinea Pigs ; Korea*

No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Arbovirus*

No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Arbovirus*

No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Arbovirus*

Various new technologies have been applied for developing vaccines against various animal diseases. Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine technology was used for manufacturing the porcine circovirus type 2 and RNA particle vaccines based on an alphavirus vector for porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). Although VLP is classified as a killed-virus vaccine, because its structure is similar to the original virus, it can induce long-term and cell-mediated immunity. The RNA particle vaccine used a Venezuela equine encephalitis (VEE) virus gene as a vector. The VEE virus partial gene can be substituted with the PED virus spike gene. Recombinant vaccines can be produced by substitution of the target gene in the VEE vector. Both of these new vaccine technologies made it possible to control the infectious disease efficiently in a relatively short time.
Alphavirus ; Animal Diseases ; Animals* ; Circovirus ; Communicable Diseases ; Diarrhea ; Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine ; Encephalomyelitis, Equine ; Immunity, Cellular ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus ; RNA ; Vaccines ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle ; Venezuela

Analyzing HI tests of 110 cases of clinical Japanese Encephalitis in 1982, the following results are obtained. 1. The results of HI test are positive in 39 (35.5%), borderline positive in 19 (9.1%), negative in 14 (12.7%) and undetermined in 47 (43.7%) cases. 2. In 49 cases of positive HI test, 14 cases reveal the positive result on the first HI test requested in 5-27 days after the clinical onset of symptoms, and 35 cases show increasing HI titers on the follow-up studies. There is a tendency of increasing HI titers upto 3-4 weeks of onset and sustaining the value for more than two months. 3. In 35 cases with increasing titers on follow-up study, the highest titer is 1:80 in 5 cases, and the half of HI negative cases maintain that value throughout the course. 4. There is no significant statistical differences in clinical characteristics, laboratory and cerebrospinal fluid studies between the patient group of HI positive or borderline and group of HI negative or undermined, except mean hospital day and incidence of coma and death.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Coma ; Encephalitis, Arbovirus* ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests* ; Hemagglutination* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea*

There were 714 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever and 1 death. The age of patients from 2-10 years old, none of them over 15 years old. The morbidity of III, IV degrees concentrated in Hon Dat, Tan Hiep, An Ninh, Rach Gia and also the districts that had the greatest morbidity, 56 cases of shock. The Steering Board issued a number of guideline documents and established preventive plan right at the beginning of the year with medical speciality. There were 28 cases of Japanese encephalitis, 25 cases with the age from 13 months - 5 years old, 3 cases with the age from 6-11 years old, 64% male and 36% female. The Pasteurs Institute of Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with the local authority to control the disease transmission in order to isolate virus and propagate measures of mosquito killing and hygienic methods around living area.
Dengue ; Encephalitis ; Encephalitis, Japanese

From 2001 September to 2002 August, 566 serum samples of 5-6 months pig at Hoai Duc district, Ha Tay province were supervised. Results showed very high frequency of JE infection among pig population during epidemic season with the percentage of positivity was 82% in June. By contrast during another months of non-epidemic season, the frequency of JE infection among pig population was very low, with the percentage of positivity was between 1.96% and 14%
Encephalitis, Japanese ; Serum ; Encephalitis