Detection of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus RNA in North American Snakes
Detection of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus RNA in North American Snakes
复制标题
DOI：
10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0257
复制
发表时间：
2012-12-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Unnasch, Thomas R.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bingham, Andrea M.;Graham, Sean P.;Unnasch, Thomas R.
非鸟类脊椎动物在东部马脑脊髓炎病毒（EEEV）生态中的作用尚未得到解决，但越来越多的证据支持蛇在EEEV传播周期中的潜在作用，特别是作为越冬宿主。为了确定暴露率和感染率，我们使用定量逆转录聚合酶链反应检测了亚拉巴马EEEV焦点野生蛇的血清样本中的病毒RNA。两种毒蛇，铜斑蛇（蝮蛇）和棉嘴（蝮蛇piscivorus），被发现是阳性EEEV RNA使用该检测。EEEV RNA在血清阳性蛇中的流行率高于血清阴性蛇。定量逆转录聚合酶链反应在棉嘴的阳性高峰在4月和9月。感染和未感染的蛇之间的身体大小和性别比例没有显着差异。这些结果支持了蛇参与北美EEEV生态的假设，可能是病毒的越冬宿主。
The role of non-avian vertebrates in the ecology of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEEV) is unresolved, but mounting evidence supports a potential role for snakes in the EEEV transmission cycle, especially as over-wintering hosts. To determine rates of exposure and infection, we examined serum samples from wild snakes at a focus of EEEV in Alabama for viral RNA using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Two species of vipers, the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus), were found to be positive for EEEV RNA using this assay. Prevalence of EEEV RNA was more frequent in seropositive snakes than seronegative snakes. Positivity for the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in cottonmouths peaked in April and September. Body size and sex ratios were not significantly different between infected and uninfected snakes. These results support the hypothesis that snakes are involved in the ecology of EEEV in North America, possibly as over-wintering hosts for the virus.