Arbovirus surveillance in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

Following the outbreak of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis in Jamaica in the latter part of 1962, a surveillance was set up involving mosquitoes, birds, rodents and equines. About 650 birds have been collected to date. Sera from these were tested against EEE, St. Louis and Cache Valley viruses. Many inoculations were made for virus isolation. Serological results: 10 positive to EEE, 22 positive to SLE, and 15 positive to Cache Valley (12 wild birds and 3 chickens). Three viruses were isolated. From August 1963 - July 1964, 511 pools of mosquitoes were inoculated resulting in the isolation of 3 viruses. These are not yet identified. During the past year 223 equine sera were tested for EEE antibodies, 23 of these were positive. One hundred and sixty-six rodents were collected; organs and sera were inoculated for virus isolation and sera tested against Cache Valley, SLE and EEE viruses. There were seven positives for Cache Valley virus, 1 for EEE and 5 for St. Louis virus. No virus isolation has been made. Since June 1964, a bird banding programme has been set up in the parishes of St. Thomas and Portland. The chief objective of this programme is to determine the infiltration of the EEE and other viruses by migrant North American birds into the island. Birds are netted bled and released. These are recaptured and re-bled. Sera are inoculated for virus isolation and tested serologically for EEE antibodies. To date, 15 paired sera have been collected (AU)