Rocio Virus: An Updated View on an Elusive Flavivirus

Author(s)

Saivish, Marielena Vogel ^[1] ; da Costa, Vivaldo Gomes ^[2] ; Menezes, Gabriela de Lima ^[3] ; da Silva, Roosevelt Alves ^[3] ; Dutra da Silva, Gislaine Celestino ^[1] ; Moreli, Marcos Lazaro ^[3] ; Sacchetto, Livia ^[1] ; Pacca, Carolina Colombelli ^{[2, 4]} ; Vasilakis, Nikos ^{[5, 6, 7, 8, 9]} ; Nogueira, Mauricio Lacerda ^{[5, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Lab Pesquisas Virol, Dept Doencas Dermatol Infecciosas & Parasitarias, BR-15090000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas, BR-15054000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Jatai, Nucleo Colaborat Biosistemas, BR-75801615 Jatai, Go - Brazil

^[4] Fac Faceres, Inst Super Educ Ceres, BR-15090000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Texas Med Branch, Dept Pathol, 301 Univ Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555 - USA

^[6] Univ Texas Med Branch, Ctr Biodef & Emerging Infect Dis, 301 Univ Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555 - USA

^[7] Univ Texas Med Branch, Ctr Trop Dis, 301 Univ Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555 - USA

^[8] Univ Texas Med Branch, Inst Human Infect & Immun, 301 Univ Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555 - USA

^[9] Univ Texas Med Branch, Sealy Ctr Vector Borne & Zoonot Dis, 301 Univ Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555 - USA

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Viruses-Basel; v. 13, n. 11 NOV 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Rocio virus (ROCV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus and human pathogen. The virus is indigenous to Brazil and was first detected in 1975 in the Sao Paulo State, and over a period of two years was responsible for several epidemics of meningoencephalitis in coastal communities leading to over 100 deaths. The vast majority of ROCV infections are believed to be subclinical and clinical manifestations can range from uncomplicated fever to fatal meningoencephalitis. Birds are the natural reservoir and amplification hosts and ROCV is maintained in nature in a mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission cycle, primarily involving Psorophora ferox mosquitoes. While ROCV has remained mostly undetected since 1976, in 2011 it re-emerged in Goias State causing a limited outbreak. Control of ROCV outbreaks depends on sustainable vector control measures and public education. To date there is no specific treatment or licensed vaccine available. Here we provide an overview of the ecology, transmission cycles, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment options, aiming to improve our ability to understand, predict, and ideally avert further ROCV emergence. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/12875-5 - Development of the diagnostic method for Rocio virus and use of new compounds as inhibitors of flavivirus protease-helicase NS2B-NS3
• Grantee: Marielena Vogel Saivish
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/21719-3 - Epidemiological study of dengue (serotypes1-4) in a cohort of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, during 2014-2018
• Grantee: Maurício Lacerda Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants