title: Serosurveillance of eastern equine encephalitis virus in amphibians and reptiles from Alabama, USA.
abstract: Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is among the most medically important arboviruses in North America, and studies suggest a role for amphibians and reptiles in its transmission cycle. Serum samples collected from 351 amphibians and reptiles (27 species) from Alabama, USA, were tested for the presence of antibodies against EEEV. Frogs, turtles, and lizards showed little or no seropositivity, and snakes had high seropositivity rates. Most seropositive species were preferred or abundant hosts of Culex spp. mosquitoes at Tuskegee National Forest, that target ectothermic hosts. The cottonmouth, the most abundant ectotherm sampled, displayed a high prevalence of seropositivity, indicating its possible role as an amplification and/or over-wintering reservoir for EEEV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Alabama, USA. grahasp@auburn.edu
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Hassan K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Taryn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guyer
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Unnasch
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D000663:Amphibians / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology; D004663:Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D020242:Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D012104:Reptiles / Q000821:virology*; D012621:Seasons