Surveillance and Genetic Analysis of Jamestown Canyon Virus in New York State: 2001-2022

Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) (Peribunyavirdae; Orthobunyavirus) is a mosquito-borne pathogen endemic to North America. The genome is composed of three segmented negative-sense RNA fragments designated as small, medium, and large. Jamestown Canyon virus is an emerging threat to public health, and infection in humans can cause severe neurological diseases, including encephalitis and meningitis. We report JCV mosquito surveillance data from 2001 to 2022 in New York state. Jamestown Canyon virus was detected in 12 mosquito species, with the greatest prevalence in Aedes canadensis and Anopheles punctipennis. Detection fluctuated annually, with the highest levels recorded in 2020. Overall, JCV infection rates were significantly greater from 2012 to 2022 compared with 2001 to 2011. Full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were also performed with representative JCV isolates collected from 2003 to 2022. These data demonstrated the circulation of numerous genetic variants, broad geographic separation, and the first identification of lineage B JCV in New York state in 2022.