title: Enzootic activity of pixuna and Rio Negro viruses (Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex) in a neotropical region of Argentina.
abstract: Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis complex viruses cause epidemics and epizootics periodically in some regions of the Americas. In Argentina, only enzootic Rio Negro virus (AG80-663) (RNV) has been isolated. To survey and identify activity of viruses that belong to Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis complex in a template region of the country, a generic Alphavirus RT-Nested PCR was performed in 99 mosquito pools collected in Chaco province. Five pools were positive, and amplicons were sequenced: four of them clustered with RNV(AG80-663) and one with Pixuna virus. This is the first report of the circulation of Pixuna virus in Argentina, and it confirms enzootic and endemic activity of RNV(AG80-663) in neotropical regions of this country.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología Dr. J.M.Vanella, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Belén
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: Viviana Elizabeth
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ré
authors.forename: Luis Adrián
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farías
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: María Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Seco
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tenorio
authors.forename: Walter Ricardo
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Almirón
authors.forename: Marta Silvia
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Contigiani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D004666:Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D014329:Tropical Climate