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Biomedical subjects

G G Clark

Publications and source records attributed to G G Clark.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Identification of Aedes campestris from New Mexico: with notes on the isolation of western equine encephalitis and other arboviruses.

An arbovirus survey was conducted during August 1985 at White Sands Missile Range in southcentral New Mexico following a suspected arboviral disease epizootic among feral horses. A total of 20,566 mosquitoes (18,505 females and 2,061 males) and 8,900 biting gnats were collected and assayed for virus. Female mosquitoes were principally Aedes campestris (54.8%), Aedes dorsalis (30.4%) and Culex tarsalis (13.2%). Arboviruses were not isolated from biting gnats, but mosquitoes yielded a total of 37 viral isolates, including western equine encephalitis (WEE) (18), California serogroup (15), Cache Valey (1), and Hart Park (1) viruses in addition to 2, as yet unidentified, rhabdoviruses. Isolates of WEE virus were from 9 pools of Ae. campestris, 6 of Cx. tarsalis and 3 of Ae. dorsalis. California serogroup viruses, including 2 subtypes, were obtained from 7 pools of females and 1 pool of males of Ae. campestris and from 4 pools of Ae. dorsalis. Cache Valley and Hart Park viruses were isolated from single pools of Ae. dorsalis and Cx. tarsalis, respectively, and the rhabdoviruses were obtained from Ae. campestris and Psorophora signipennis.

Aedes↗

Absence of La Crosse virus in the presence of Aedes triseriatus on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Between 1980 and 1984, field studies were conducted in 2 areas on the Delmarva Peninsula to identify the presence of La Crosse (LAC) virus. Ovitraps were used to collect eggs of Aedes triseriatus complex mosquitoes. No virus was obtained from 969 pools containing 22,370 adult mosquitoes reared from eggs. Only 1 of 143 raccoon serum samples had neutralizing antibody to LAC virus; 36 sentinel domestic goats, and 99 other wild mammal serum samples were negative. The apparent absence of LAC virus may be due to the uncommon occurrence of the eastern chipmunk, a species which has been shown to be an amplifying host for this virus, on the Peninsula.

Aedes↗

Persistence of La Crosse virus (California encephalitis serogroup) in north-central Illinois.

La Crosse (LAC) virus was first isolated in Illinois from a pool of 50 female Aedes triseriatus mosquitoes collected in July 1976, in Peoria Heights. From 1978 through 1981, 27 strains (11 from males and 16 from females) of LAC virus were recovered from 888 pools containing 22,021 adult A. triseriatus mosquitoes from the same study area. These mosquitoes had developed from larvae and pupae collected from 50 individually identified treeholes. Of the 14 trees that yielded LAC virus-positive mosquitoes, one was positive in 3 of 4 years and another was positive in all 4 years. The latter tree had minimum mosquito field infection rates (MFIR) ranging from 3.4 to 12.7/1,000. Eight (57%) of the trees with positive mosquitoes were red oak (Quercus rubra) while 10 (71%) were in the oak genus (Quercus). The four most productive treeholes accounted for 30% of mosquitoes tested and 52% of the LAC isolations. In 1979, 6,729 A. triseriatus mosquitoes were collected in man-baits and tested for virus. From 1,282 tested in 259 pools (mean = 5), 13 LAC isolates were made, resulting in a field infection rate (FIR) of 11.4/1,000. The remaining 5,447 were tested in 218 pools (mean = 25) and 48 strains of LAC were isolated for a FIR of 9.9/1,000. The relationship of these findings to the occurrence of human LAC encephalitis cases in Peoria County, Illinois is discussed. Repeated recovery of virus from this study area reflects a stable, yet dynamic, focus of LAC virus transmission.

Aedes↗

Occurrence of La Crosse (California serogroup) encephalitis viral infections in Illinois.

La Crosse (LAC) virus (California encephalitis serogroup) was identified as the etiologic agent of disease in 61 cases of California encephalitis (CE) that occurred in Illinois between 1976 and 1980. This group represented 54% of all 114 laboratory-diagnosed cases of CE between 1966 and 1980. Key epidemiologic observations included: 88% of the 61 cases had onset in July, August, or September; the 5- to 9-year-old age group represented 48% of the cases; the male:female sex ratio was 2:1; 97% of the cases occurred in the northern half of the state; and 61% of the cases occurred in Peoria County. Four instances of probable common source of exposure were reported. Average length of hospitalization was 8.3 days (range 3-31 days). Hospitalization costs were estimated at $3,967-$5,750 per case. An "average" year in Illinois yields 12 cases of LAC encephalitis with direct hospitalization costs of $47,604-$69,000.

Adolescent↗

Genotypic varieties of La Crosse virus isolated from different geographic regions of the continental United States and evidence for a naturally occurring intertypic recombinant La Crosse virus.

The tripartite ribonucleic acid (RNA) genomes of 23 alternate isolates of La Crosse virus have been analyzed by the procedure of oligonucleotide fingerprinting. By comparison with the fingerprints of the three viral RNA species (large, medium and small) of prototype La Crosse virus, the viruses have been categorized in terms of the degree of their RNA sequence relatedness. The A type La Crosse viruses, which have been recovered from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio, have viral RNA sequences that are closely related to those of prototype La Crosse virus. The B type La Crosse viruses, which have been recovered from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, have RNA sequences which, although related, are easily distinguished from those of type A viruses. A La Crosse virus isolate obtained from Rochester, Minnesota, appears to be an intertypic type A/B recombinant, it has a small size RNA segment like those of the B type La Crosse virus isolates, but medium- and large-sized RNA species like those of the A type La Crosse virus isolates. The C type La Crosse viruses have viral RNA sequences that neither closely resemble the A or B type La Crosse viruses. They have been recovered from eastern Ohio, New York State, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina.

Bunyaviridae↗

Effect of a community-based Aedes aegypti control programme on mosquito larval production sites in El Progreso, Honduras.

This paper describes the results of a trial to assess the efficacy in reducing the density of larval production sites of utilizing community involvement in the planning and implementation of an Aedes aegypti control programme, in a dengue-endemic city in Honduras. In addition to a substantial increase in knowledge about dengue transmission and prevention, a relative reduction in Ae. aegypti larval infestation indices was found in those city neighbourhoods where community involvement was utilized compared with their untreated counterparts. Several methods of improving the impact of this type of programme are discussed.

Aedes↗

Dengue surveillance in Florida, 1997-98.

Recent dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean and Central and South America and the presence of competent mosquito vectors increase the likelihood of future autochthonous transmission in Florida. During April 1997 to March 1998, a laboratory-based active surveillance program detected 18 cases of dengue involving all four dengue serotypes. All patients reported recent travel to countries with indigenous dengue transmission. These results demonstrate that dengue infections are imported into Florida at a much higher rate than reflected by previous passive surveillance; therefore, the risk for local dengue transmission may be increasing.

Adolescent↗

The dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever epidemic in Puerto Rico, 1994-1995.

From June 1, 1994 to May 31, 1995 a total of 24,700 cases of dengue (7.01/1,000 population) were reported to the laboratory-based surveillance system in Puerto Rico (1991-1994, annual average: 2.55/1,000). Dengue virus 2 predominated. The earliest indicator of epidemic activity was the virus isolation rate in May 1994 (14.0% versus 5.7% average). The male-to-female ratio among cases was 1:1.1; 65.4% were younger than 30 years (the 10 to 19 year age group had the highest incidence, 11.8/1,000). At least 5,687 cases (23.0%) showed a hemorrhagic manifestation; 4,662 (18.9%) were hospitalized, and 40 died (0.2%; 10 laboratory-positive). Two cases documented by laboratory were transmitted by unusual routes--intrapartum and through a bone marrow transplant. Among 2,004 hospitalized cases reported by infection control nurses, 139 (6.9%) fulfilled the criteria for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and another 13 cases (0.6%) had dengue shock syndrome. This epidemic produced the largest number of hospitalizations, DHF cases, and deaths from any dengue epidemic in Puerto Rico. Severity did not change throughout the year. Surveillance capabilities were maintained by temporary, simplified reporting methods, none of which could be recommended as the single method of choice for surveillance; each must be used (on site, or as a service available from a reference laboratory) at the right time in the epidemic cycle. The utility of comparisons of current and previous data underscores the value of long-term surveillance. Our analysis was unable to document whether significantly increased transmission occurred more often in cities where the water supply was rationed or where the local landfill was closed.

Adolescent↗