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Togaviridae

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Arthropod Borne Diseases

Abstract

Alphavirus constitutes one of the two genera included in the family Togaviridae. This genus contains 31 viral species (with different variants and strains), grouped into seven antigenic complexes. Depending on the geographical location where they were isolated, this genus is divided into alphavirus in the New World (including Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and Western equine encephalitis, which cause encephalitis in humans and other mammals) and the Old World (chikungunya virus, o’nyong-nyong virus, Ross River virus, Semliki Forest virus, and Sindbis virus causing syndrome characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgias, which rarely cause mortality). However, Sindbis virus (the prototype alphavirus) causes encephalomyelitis in mice, and Ross River virus and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are also neuroinvasive and cause neurological disease in humans. Alphaviruses are responsible for several medically important emerging diseases and are also significant veterinary pathogens. Due to the aerosol infectivity of some alphaviruses and their ability to cause severe, sometimes fatal neurological diseases, they are also of biodefense importance. Likewise, they are of interest for their potential use in gene therapy. This chapter will describe general aspects of alphavirus, with emphasis on their pathology, ecology, epidemiology, clinical, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control measures.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Although several taxonomic modifications have been proposed on Culicidae genera, mostly splitting Aedes by Reinert et al. (2009) (and accepted by CBM), this taxonomy has been used in the chapters according to authors’ preference. To facilitate utilization by health personnel, all new aedine genera can be considered Aedes (CBM).

  2. 2.

    This is a group of mosquitoes (160 spp.) particularly difficult to identify (CBM).

  3. 3.

    This is a species complex, whose females are very difficult to differentiate (CBM).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Arbovirus, Institute of Virology “Dr. J. M. Vanella” Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, National University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Argentina

    Marta S. Contigiani & Luis A. Diaz

  2. Institute for Biological and Technical Researches, CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina

    Luis A. Diaz

Authors
  1. Marta S. Contigiani
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  2. Luis A. Diaz
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Correspondence to Marta S. Contigiani .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology Immunology and Parasitology Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Carlos Brisola Marcondes

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Contigiani, M.S., Diaz, L.A. (2017). Togaviridae. In: Marcondes, C. (eds) Arthropod Borne Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13884-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13884-8_9

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