Vigilancia epidemiológica de Flavivirus (Arbovirus) y sus posibles vectores y hospedadores asociados en la ciudad de Córdoba.

DIAZ L. A.; W. ALMIRÓN,; V. RÉ; B. KONIGHEIM; A. A. FARÍAS; L. SPINSANTI; J. AGUILAR; A. M. VISINTIN; A. BORIS; R. REYNOSO; M. OCCELLI; S. FLORES; M. A. CORTEZ; A. ZARCO; C. CASTILLO; S. ORTIZ BERGIA; N. VILLAFAÑE; M. S. CONTIGIANI

Anales de la Fundación Roemmers

Fundación Roemmers

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2008 vol. 19 p. 159 - 175

Diseases caused by Flavivirus (Flaviviridae) have recently been emerging and reemerging worldwide. Argentina has been facing the reemergence of Dengue and St. Louis encephalitis viruses (SLEV) and the emergence of West Nile virus. With the aim to monitor flavivirus activity in Córdoba city, adult mosquitoes were collected using CDC light traps and tested for virus isolation. Free ranging birds were collected using mist nests and bled by brachial puncture to detect SLEV neutralizing antibodies. The abundant mosquito species were Culex quinquefasciatus (58.33%), Culex interfor (19.04%), Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (9.51%) and Aedes aegypti (4.37%). Mosquito populations had two peaks each year, February and March (2004) and December and March (2005). Infection rates between 2004-2005 were different in Columbina picui ([torcacita] ? p= 0.003), Furnarius rufus ([hornero] - p=0.006), Machetornis rixosa ([picabuey] - p=0.017), Pitangus sulphuratus ([benteveo] - p=0.000) y Zenaida auriculata ([torcaza] - p=0.021). The serological data indicate SLEV circulated in Cordoba city in birds community between 2004-2005, accordingly with the SLEV human encephalitis outbreak. Bird species belonging to Columbidae, Furnariidae, Tyrannidae would be important avian host reservoirs for this virus. Two genotype Ill SLEV strain were isolated from Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquito pools collected in Cordoba (February 2005). The reasons for the reemergence of the SLEV genotype in Argentina, 26 years after its last detection, are still unknown. New flavivirus related to Cell Fusion Agent and Kamiti River virus were detected in Aedes aegypti and Mansonia titillans mosquito species in Cordoba city. This is the first report of these viruses activity for South America. Little is known about these viruses, likely they have no medical importance since they do not replicate in mammal cells.