Enzootic Activity of Pixuna and Rio Negro Viruses (Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis complex) in a Neotropical Region of Argentina

PISANO, MARIA BELÉN; RE, VIVIANA; DIAZ, LUIS ADRIÁN; FARIAS, ADRIÁN ALEJANDRO; STEIN, MARINA; SÁNCHEZ-SECO, MARIA PAZ; TENORIO, ANTONIO; ALMIRÓN, WALTER RICARDO; CONTIGIANI, MARTA SILVIA

Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers

Lugar: New Rochelle, NY; Año: 2010 vol. 10 p. 199 - 201

1530-3667

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis complex viruses cause epidemics and epizootics periodically in some regions of the Americas. In Argentina, only enzootic Rio Negro virus (AG80–663) (RNV) has been isolated. To survey and identify activity of viruses that belong to Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis complex in a template region of the country, a generic Alphavirus RT-Nested PCR was performed in 99 mosquito pools collected in Chaco province.Five pools were positive, and amplicons were sequenced: four of them clustered with RNV(AG80–663) and one with Pixuna virus. This is the first report of the circulation of Pixuna virus in Argentina, and it confirms enzootic and endemic activity of RNV(AG80–663) in neotropical regions of this country.