Poster 7: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Question 1

What is the pathogen?

Answer 1

• vesicular stomatitis virus, New Jersey strain
• family rhabdoviridae
• genus vesicuolovirus
• arbovirus

Question 2

Mechanism of action

Answer 2

• virion binds to cell surface and is endocytosed
• viral G protein allows release of virion nucleocapsid and proteins into cytoplasm
• viral M protein inhibits nuclear enzyme responsible for mediating transport of mRNA out of host cell nucleus
• as a result, viral RNA in cytoplasm is only RNA available and host ribosomes forced to translate it
• M protein induces cell destruction resulting in breakdown of connective fibres and dissolution of cytoskeleton
• cytoskeletal dissolution and apoptosis are the means by which tissue damage, and VSV lesion arise

Question 3

Epidemiology.

Answer 3

• endemic in South and Central America
• NA emergence considered endemic
• geographic spread indirectly dependent on wind patterns and environmental impacts on arthropod population
• animal infection occurs through infected arthropod bite
• human infection occurs through ocular, oronasal and cutaneous transmission also common
• virus is shed in saliva and can remain viable on fomites or in shared water of 3-4 days

Question 4

Mitigation

Answer 4

• control of vector populations
• prophylactic sanitation (heat, UV, detergent, trucks and fomites)
• biosecurity (quarantine up to 30 days after lesions heal)
• surveillance and testing (lab testing of saliva samples)
• use of mutagenic agents results in error catastrophe