ARBOVIRUSES^*

The word Arbovirus is derived from arthropod-borne virus, and, as the term implies, this gruop of viruses is transmitted by an arthropod vector mainly mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and other insects. There are two main taxonomic groups of Arboviruses; Family: Togaviridae Genus Alphavirus, and Family: Flaviviridae Genus Flavivirus. They have a world-wide distribition.

The clinical manifestations of Arbovirus infection are varied ranging from a mild febrile illness, hemorrage, encephalitis to hepatitis and renal failure depening on the infecting virus and host susceptability. While there are some differences in gemone structure, both Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses have a genome composed of positive-sense single-stranded RNA that is infectious and, once inside a permissive cell, acts as a template for both viral protein systhesis and viral gemone replication.

Some examples of Alphaviruses include:

• Eastern equine encephalitis virus: this virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. Can causes encephalitis.
• Western equine encephalitis virus: same as above.

  Some examples of Flaviviruses include:

• West Nile Virus: same as above.
  • Identification of Neutralizing Epitopes within Structural Domain III of the West Nile Virus Envelope Protein
• St. Louis encephalitis virus: same as above.

*For more information on Arboviruses: Medical Virology by White and Fenner (Academic Press) and Zinsser Microbiology by Joklik et alia (Appleton & Lange).