Vesicular Stomatitis Virus.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a significant vector-borne livestock disease endemic in parts of the Americas.
• Caused by vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) and vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus (VSIV), VS occasionally leads to outbreaks in the United States.
• The disease has shown periodic outbreaks in the southwestern and Rocky Mountain regions over the last two decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the epidemiology and transmission patterns of vesicular stomatitis in the United States.
• To highlight the role of regulatory responses in managing VS outbreaks and trade.
• To explore potential links between recent outbreaks and climate change impacts on disease vectors.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical outbreak data in the United States over the past 20 years.
• Analysis of disease circulation patterns in endemic regions (South America, Central America, Mexico).
• Consideration of factors influencing disease incursion, overwintering, and expansion.

Main Results:

• VS outbreaks in the US have occurred periodically, with specific patterns of incursion, overwintering, and expansion.
• Animal health regulations are crucial for controlling disease spread and mitigating trade disruptions.
• Recent outbreaks suggest a potential influence of climate change on insect vectors and VS transmission.

Conclusions:

• Vesicular stomatitis remains a recurrent threat to livestock in the US, influenced by geographic and temporal factors.
• Effective disease management relies on robust regulatory frameworks and surveillance.
• Climate change may be altering the epidemiology of VS, necessitating adaptive management strategies.