Getah virus, a re-emerging arbovirus: epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostics and biosecurity

The re-emergence of neglected vector-borne viruses has attracted attention globally in recent years. Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus first discovered in 1955 in Malaysia, caused sporadic mild clinical disease in horses in Asia. A highly pathogenic strain of GETV emerged in 2014 in Japan and spread to China causing multiple outbreaks in horses, pigs, and blue foxes with an expanding geographical distribution. Notably, there appears to be continued active transmission of GETV between China and Japan. While infections in horses are often mild and self-limiting, infected blue foxes, pregnant sows and piglets can present with reproductive and neurological signs. Mortality in piglets can reach up to 100% whereas adult pigs suffer from high morbidity without mortality. A case fatality rate of 24% was reported in blue foxes. This review provides an update on current understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of GETV infection and addresses the diagnostic and biosecurity considerations for disease investigation, diagnosis, and management.