Historical, epidemiological and ecological aspects of arboviruses in Argentina: Togaviridae, Alphavirus

This is a review of the arboviruses in Argentina belonging to families Flaviridae, Bunyaviridae and Rhabdoviridae. Of the many viruses belonging to these families, the flavivirus St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), has been most intensively studied. SLE virus strains have been recovered from three sources: 2 strains from humans with an undifferentiated, febrile disease; 6 from mosquitoes; and 2 from rodents. The viruses recovered from rodents are attenuated and those from mosquitoes are virulent based on a neuroinvasiveness test in mice; the degree of virulence of the mosquito strains remain to be analyzed. Serological surveys indicate a wide distribution and endemicity of SLE virus in the temperate and subtropical areas (central and northern Argentina), but no data are available from the andean region or from the South. The virulent SLE virus strains appear to be transmitted between Culex (Cx.)spp. from which they were isolated, and wild birds, based on antobody prevalence. A urban cycle may involve Cx. quinquefasciatus (source of a viral isolate and a competent experimental vector) and abundant birds (house sparrows, doves, and/or chickens), chickens are experimentally competent host species. Despite similarities in the ecology of SLE between Argentina and North America, urban outbreaks of SLE have not been recognized. Possible explanations for this discrepancy include virus strain differences in virulenc, ecologic factors determining the rate of virus transmission, and the lack of disease recognition and specific laboratory diagnosis of human meningoencephalitis. The transmission cycle of attenuated SLE virus strains isolated from rodentshas not been studied. Ilheus virus has isolated only once from a human being. The available serological data are difficult to interpret due to cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses, and the ecologyand medical importance of this agent remain uncertain. Dengue has not been recognized in Argentina since 1916, although is vector, Aedes aegypti, was not erradicated until 1963. Dengue was previously present in coastal localities of Chaco. Corrientes and Misiones Provinces. Within the last few years, Argentina was reinfested by Ae. aegypti. Although no human cases have vet been reported, outbreaks of dengue in bordering countries (Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia) since 1986, cleary signal that the country in once againat risk of importantion ans spread of the virus

Effects of ultraviolet radiation on structural components of enveloped RNA viruses

The interaction of ultraviolet radiation and virus particles of Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus (WEE) and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) which have respectively RNA of positive (RNA+) and negative (RNA-) polarity as genomes, was studied using purified particles. The purified virus preparations were irradiated at a range from 1,000 to 6,000 joules per m2 with posterior analysis of their propagation in primary cell cultures of chicken embryos. It could be observed that a radiation dose of to 4,500 joules per m2 could induce 10(9) TCID50 per ml as minimal loss of titer for WEE virus and NDV. The hemagglutination assay was used as a toll to evaluate the alterations caused by UV radiation on the molecular arrangement of virus proteins. Alterations of the virus hemagglutinating activity were only observe when radiation levels higher than 6,000 joules per m2 were used. The results from hemolysis assays showed the importance of the loss of the envelope integrity and the damages to nucleoprotein structures during the inactivation process, when we used radiation doses higher than 6,000 joules per m2. This model of study can increase our comprehension of the radiation effects on the cell physiology and biological components of the cell membranes.