Arthropod-borne virus

Arthropod-borne virus (often abbreviated as arbovirus) is a term used to refer to any virus that is transmitted to humans and other vertebrates by certain species of arthropod. This group of viruses includes over 500 members, which are spread by mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and other arthropods. Arboviruses can cause a wide range of diseases in humans, including encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue fever, and zika virus disease.

Classification

Arboviruses belong to several different families, including Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Bunyaviridae, and Reoviridae. These families are classified based on the type of genome they possess (RNA or DNA), their method of replication, and their structure.

Transmission

Arboviruses are primarily transmitted through the bites of infected arthropods. The virus replicates in the arthropod's body and is then passed on to a vertebrate host when the arthropod feeds on the host's blood. Some arboviruses can also be transmitted from one host to another through vertical transmission, where an infected female arthropod passes the virus to her offspring.

Diseases caused by arboviruses

Arboviruses are responsible for a number of serious diseases in humans. These include:

• Encephalitis: This is a severe inflammation of the brain that can be caused by several different arboviruses, including the West Nile virus and the Eastern equine encephalitis virus.
• Yellow fever: This is a potentially fatal disease that is caused by the yellow fever virus, a member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
• Dengue fever: This is a painful and debilitating disease that is caused by the dengue virus, another member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
• Zika virus disease: This is a disease that is caused by the Zika virus, yet another member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes and can cause birth defects in the babies of infected pregnant women.

Prevention and control

Prevention and control of arboviral diseases primarily involve controlling the arthropod vectors that transmit the viruses and vaccinating against certain arboviral diseases where vaccines are available, such as yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis.

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