A Serological and Virological Study of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in Animal Populations of South Texas

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Date
1974Author
Smart, David L.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
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Show full item recordAbstract
More than 2,500 sera from approximately 30 wild and
domestic species in southern Texas were tested for neutralizing
antibodies to Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
Virus isolations were also attempted from blood and tissue
samples of many of the wild specimens. VEE reactors were
present in a variety of species collected prior to the 1971
Texas epizootic suggesting that VEE was present and perhaps
enzootic in this area before the recent epizootic. Serologic
results of this study suggest that deer (Odocoileus
virginianus) and feral hogs (Sus scrofa) may serve as
good indicators or sentinels of VEE activity. The reservoir
of VEE was not established, but results of this study
suggest that a number of species or a combination of animal
host populations including deer, feral hogs, and peccaries
(Pecari angulatus) may be involved in the epizootiology of
VEE in South Texas. Vector abundance and Psorophora-Culex
prevalence patterns were shown to be related to rainfall.
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/79442Type
Thesis