Epidemiology of La Crosse Virus Emergence, Appalachia Region, United States

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 22; no. 11; pp. 1921 - 1929
• Main Authors: Bewick, Sharon, Agusto, Folashade, Calabrese, Justin M, Muturi, Ephantus J, Fagan, William F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01-11-2016; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Aedes - virology; Aedes albopictus; Algorithms; Analysis; Animals; Appalachian Region - epidemiology; Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus); Bunyaviridae; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - transmission; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - virology; compartmental model; Disease transmission; eastern tree-hole mosquito (Ochlerotatus triseriatus); Encephalitis; Encephalitis, California - epidemiology; Encephalitis, California - virology; Epidemiology; Epidemiology of La Crosse Virus Emergence, Appalachia Region, United States; Humans; Insect Vectors - virology; invasive vector; La Crosse virus; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Models, Statistical; Models, Theoretical; Mosquitoes; Virus diseases; invasive vector; Aedes albopictus; viruses; vector-borne infections; Bunyaviridae; Appalachia; United States; compartmental model; Ochlerotatus triseriatus; eastern tree-hole mosquito; La Crosse virus; Asian tiger mosquito
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2211.160308

La Crosse encephalitis is a viral disease that has emerged in new locations across the Appalachian region of the United States. Conventional wisdom suggests that ongoing emergence of La Crosse virus (LACV) could stem from the invasive Asian tiger (Aedes albopictus) mosquito. Efforts to prove this, however, are complicated by the numerous transmission routes and species interactions involved in LACV dynamics. To analyze LACV transmission by Asian tiger mosquitoes, we constructed epidemiologic models. These models accurately predict empirical infection rates. They do not, however, support the hypothesis that Asian tiger mosquitoes are responsible for the recent emergence of LACV at new foci. Consequently, we conclude that other factors, including different invasive mosquitoes, changes in climate variables, or changes in wildlife densities, should be considered as alternative explanations for recent increases in La Crosse encephalitis.