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Update on Powassan virus: emergence of a North American tick-borne flavivirus

Gregory D Ebel1

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. gebel@salud.unm.edu

Annual Review of Entomology
|December 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Powassan virus (POW), a tick-borne Flavivirus, causes severe neuroinvasive disease. Recent research shows increasing human cases, genetic diversity, and distinct enzootic cycles, highlighting the need for further study.

Area of Science:

  • * Virology
  • * Epidemiology
  • * Ecology

Background:

  • * Powassan virus (POW) is a tick-borne Flavivirus responsible for rare but severe neuroinvasive illnesses in North America and Russia.
  • * POW is transmitted among mammals by ixodid ticks, with human infections resulting from spillover events.
  • * The incidence of POW-associated human disease has appeared to increase since the late 1990s.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To review recent research on Powassan virus.
  • * To focus on POW virus genetics, ecology, and associated human disease.
  • * To identify key areas for future research.

Main Methods:

  • * Literature review of recent scientific publications on Powassan virus.
  • * Synthesis of data on POW virus genetics, enzootic transmission cycles, and clinical manifestations.
  • * Analysis of trends in human disease incidence.

Main Results:

  • * POW comprises a genetically diverse group of genotypes, including Deer tick virus.
  • * Distinct enzootic transmission cycles are maintained for different POW genotypes.
  • * Evidence suggests an increasing trend in human POW infections.

Conclusions:

  • * Powassan virus presents a growing public health concern due to increasing incidence and genetic diversity.
  • * Understanding the complex ecological and genetic factors of POW is crucial.
  • * Further research is essential to mitigate the impact of POW on human health.

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