Murray Valley encephalitis virus
Murray Valley encephalitis virus | |
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Virus classification | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Kitrinoviricota |
Class: | Flasuviricetes |
Order: | Amarillovirales |
Family: | Flaviviridae |
Genus: | Flavivirus |
Species: | Murray Valley encephalitis virus
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Murray Valley encephalitis virus | |
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Infectious disease |
Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a
Vector
MVEV is a
History
The first epidemics of MVE occurred in 1917 and 1918 in Southeastern Australia following years of high rainfall. The virus was isolated from human samples in 1951 during an epidemic in the Murray Valley, Australia.[4][5]
Epidemics usually occur due to either infected birds or mosquitoes migrating from endemic areas to non-endemic areas.[3] The New South Wales government has placed 'sentinel flocks' of chickens near known bird breeding sites as an early warning system. These flocks are tested for MVE during the mosquito breeding season.[1]
Presentation
The majority of MVEV infections are sub-clinical, i.e. do not produce disease symptoms, although some people may experience a mild form of the disease with symptoms such as fever, headaches, nausea and vomiting and only a very small number of these cases go on to develop MVE. In fact,
The incubation period following exposure to the virus is around 1 to 4 weeks. Following infection, a person has lifelong immunity to the virus. When a patient appears to show MVE symptoms and has been in an MVE-endemic area during the wet season, when outbreaks usually occur, MVE infection must be confirmed by laboratory diagnosis, usually by detection of a significant rise of MVE-specific antibodies in the patient's
Clone
The scientific study of the genetics of MVEV has been facilitated by the construction and manipulation of an infectious cDNA clone of the virus. [7] Mutations in the envelope gene have been linked to the attenuation of disease in mouse models of infection.
References
- ^ New South Wales Department of Health. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- PMID 6299259.
- ^ Department of Health and Ageing. Archived from the originalon 18 September 2009. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- S2CID 45376801.
- PMID 13007862.
- ^ "Deadly mosquito disease suspected". ABC News (Australia). May 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- PMID 10567642.