The broad objective of the proposed research is to advance our knowledge on the epidemiology of arena viruses associated with rodents native to the southern United States. Knowledge of the rodent host relationship (including duration and magnitude of virus shedding in infected rodents) and geographical distribution of infected rodents is essential to an accurate understanding of the human diseases caused by arena viruses. Recent studies provided the first unequivocal evidence that arena viruses are geographically widely distributed u the southern U.S. in associateion with rodents belonging to the genera Neotome, Peromyscus and Sigmodon.
The specific aims of the proposed research are to: 1) Extend our knowledge on the geographic range, rodent host relationship, genotypic diversity off arena viruses naturally associated with signodontine rodents in the southern U.S.; 2) refine our knowledge on the ecology of Whitewater Arroyo (WWA) and Bear Canyon (BCN) viruses; 3) investigate the pathogenesis of WWA and BCN viruses inb their principal rodent hosts (Neotoma and Permyscus rodents, respectively); 4) assess whether knowledge of the phylogenetic history of North American rodents can be used to accurately predict the geographic range and rodent host associations of the various area viruses indigenous to the southern U.S.; and, 5) investigate further the human health significance of North American rodent-borne arena viruses.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI041435-06
Application #
6532731
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-TMP (01))
Program Officer
Meegan, James M
Project Start
1997-08-01
Project End
2005-05-31
Budget Start
2002-08-01
Budget End
2003-05-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$326,393
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Medical Br Galveston
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041367053
City
Galveston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77555
Milazzo, Mary Louise; Cajimat, Maria N B; Mauldin, Matthew R et al. (2015) Epizootiology of Tacaribe serocomplex viruses (Arenaviridae) associated with neotomine rodents (Cricetidae, Neotominae) in southern California. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 15:156-66
Milazzo, Mary L; Amman, Brian R; Cajimat, Maria N B et al. (2013) Ecology of Catarina virus (family Arenaviridae) in southern Texas, 2001-2004. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 13:50-9
Cajimat, Maria N B; Milazzo, Mary Louise; Mauldin, Matthew R et al. (2013) Diversity among Tacaribe serocomplex viruses (Family Arenaviridae) associated with the southern plains woodrat (Neotoma micropus). Virus Res 178:486-94
Milazzo, Mary L; Fulhorst, Charles F (2012) Duration of Catarina virus infection in the southern plains woodrat (Neotoma micropus). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 12:321-4
Cajimat, Maria N B; Milazzo, Mary Louise; Bradley, Robert D et al. (2012) Ocozocoautla de espinosa virus and hemorrhagic fever, Mexico. Emerg Infect Dis 18:401-5
Milazzo, Mary L; Cajimat, Maria N B; Romo, Hannah E et al. (2012) Geographic distribution of hantaviruses associated with neotomine and sigmodontine rodents, Mexico. Emerg Infect Dis 18:571-6
Cajimat, Maria N B; Milazzo, Mary Louise; Haynie, Michelle L et al. (2011) Diversity and phylogenetic relationships among the North American Tacaribe serocomplex viruses (family Arenaviridae). Virology 421:87-95
Milazzo, Mary Louise; Campbell, Grant L; Fulhorst, Charles F (2011) Novel arenavirus infection in humans, United States. Emerg Infect Dis 17:1417-20
Pinto, C Miguel; Baxter, B Dnate; Hanson, J Delton et al. (2010) Using museum collections to detect pathogens. Emerg Infect Dis 16:356-7
Inizan, Catherine C; Cajimat, Maria N B; Milazzo, Mary Louise et al. (2010) Genetic evidence for a tacaribe serocomplex virus, Mexico. Emerg Infect Dis 16:1007-10

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