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[Isolation of Getah virus (Togaviridae, Alfavirus) strains in North- Eastern Asia]

S D l'vov, V L Gromashevski'i, V A Aristova

    Voprosy Virusologii
    |December 7, 2000
    PubMed

    Insights

    Getah alfavirus was newly identified in mosquitoes across diverse Russian regions and Mongolia, marking the first detection in these areas. This alphavirus uniquely thrives in harsh northern climates, extending into the tundra zone.

    Area of Science:

    • Arbovirology
    • Virology
    • Medical Entomology

    Context:

    • Getah virus (GEAV) is an alphavirus with a wide geographic distribution.
    • Previous studies have not documented GEAV in the extreme northern latitudes of the Russian Federation or Mongolia.
    • Mosquitoes serve as primary vectors for many arboviruses, including alphaviruses.

    Purpose:

    • To report the first isolation and identification of Getah alfavirus strains.
    • To determine the geographic distribution and ecological zones of Getah alfavirus dissemination.
    • To investigate the presence of alphaviruses in severe climatic conditions.

    Summary:

    • Fifteen strains of Getah alfavirus were isolated from Aedes and Culex mosquitoes.
    • The virus was detected in Yakutia, Magadan region, Buryatia, Khabarovsk region (Russian Federation), and Mongolia.
    • Virus dissemination spanned steppe, mixed forest, Northern taiga, and forest-tundra zones, reaching the tundra zone.

    Impact:

    • This study expands the known geographic range of Getah alfavirus.
    • It highlights the adaptability of Getah alfavirus to extreme cold and northern environments.
    • The findings are crucial for understanding arbovirus ecology in understudied, climatically severe regions and for public health surveillance.

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