Genomic Characterization and Seroprevalence Studies on Alphaviruses in Uruguay

Analía Burgueño Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay;

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Sandra Frabasile Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay;

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Luis Adrián Díaz Instituto de Virología “Dr. J.M. Vanella,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina;
Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina;

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Andrés Cabrera Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay;

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María Belén Pisano Instituto de Virología “Dr. J.M. Vanella,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina;
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina

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María Elisa Rivarola Instituto de Virología “Dr. J.M. Vanella,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina;

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Marta Contigiani Instituto de Virología “Dr. J.M. Vanella,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina;

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Adriana Delfraro Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay;

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Alphaviruses (Togaviridae) are arboviruses frequently associated with emerging infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of alphaviruses in Uruguay by detecting the viral genome in mosquitoes and neutralizing antibodies in equines. A total of 3,575 mosquitoes were analyzed for alphavirus genome detection. Serologic studies were performed on 425 horse sera by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT80) against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) subtype IAB, Pixuna virus (PIXV), Rio Negro virus (RNV), western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and Madariaga virus (MADV). Mosquitoes belonging to six genera were captured and 82.9% were identified as Culex pipiens. Two Cx. pipiens pools collected in Fray Bentos and Las Toscas localities were alphavirus positive, and phylogenetic analyses showed that the sequences grouped into two different clusters: the lineage I of eastern equine encephalitis virus and RNV (VEEV complex), respectively. Plaque reduction neutralization test assays showed antibodies against strains of the VEEV complex, MADV, and WEEV. Rio Negro virus was the most geographically widespread virus, showing higher seroprevalences (up to 20%). Seroprevalences against VEEV IAB ranged between 4.6% and 13%; antibodies against PIXV, WEEV, and MADV were less frequent (3–4%). In conclusion, RNV exhibited the highest seroprevalence in horses, a wide geographical distribution, and viral genome was detected in Cx. pipiens mosquitoes. Madariaga virus had a low seroprevalence in equines, but an epizootic lineage typical of North America was detected in Cx. pipiens mosquitoes. Taken together, our results show that alphaviruses are present in Uruguay with variable occurrence and geographical distribution being a potential threat for human and equine health.

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Author Notes

Address correspondence to Adriana Delfraro, Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay. E-mail: adelfraro@gmail.com

Financial support: This work was partially funded by grants from Universidad de la República, Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica (CSIC—UdelaR, proyectos I+D) to A. D. (field studies, genetic analyses of mosquito samples) and Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII, proyectos MERCOSUR educativo), grant no. MRC_C_2011_1_6 to A. D. and M. C. (travel expenses for training and meetings).

Authors’ addresses: Analía Burgueño, Sandra Frabasile, Andrés Cabrera, and Adriana Delfraro, Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay, E-mails: analiabq@gmail.com, frabasile05@gmail.com, andresmcc1@gmail.com, and adelfraro@gmail.com. Luis Adrián Díaz, Instituto de Virología “Dr. J.M. Vanella,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina, and Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba—CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina, E-mail: ladriandiaz@gmail.com. María Belén Pisano, Instituto de Virología “Dr. J.M. Vanella,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), E-mail: mbelenpisano@gmail.com. María Elisa Rivarola and Marta Contigiani, Instituto de Virología “Dr. J.M. Vanella,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina, E-mails: mariaelisarivarola@gmail.com and martascontigia@hotmail.com.

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