North American encephalitic arboviruses.
Arboviruses continue to be a major cause of encephalitis in North America, and West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease is now the dominant cause of encephalitis. Transmission to humans of North American arboviruses occurs by infected mosquitoes or ticks. Most infections are asymptomatic or produce a flulike illness. Rapid serum or cerebrospinal fluid IgM antibody capture ELISA assays are available to diagnosis the acute infection for all North American arboviruses. Unfortunately, no antiviral drugs are approved for the treatment of arbovirus infection and current therapy is supportive.
Davis
Larry E
LE
New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1500 San Pedro Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA. ledavis@unm.edu
Beckham
J David
JD
Tyler
Kenneth L
KL
D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D020242:Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology