SEROLOGIC EVIDENCE OF VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS INFECTIONS IN RACCOONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL FLORIDA

¹ Florida Division of Health, Jacksonville, Fla. 32201

A presumed second human case of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) approximately 175 miles north of the Everglades National Park, prompted an epizootiological survey to document the presence and distribution of VEE virus in small mammals throughout the state. Sera from 339 small mammals from 25 counties in Florida were tested for hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against VEE, eastern encephalitis (EE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) viruses. Sera reactive to VEE in HI tests were also examined for neutralizing antibody to VEE and EE. Significant HI and neutralizing antibody to VEE virus was detected in raccoons (Procyon lotor), cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) and an opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) in various habitats along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts of Florida. These data indicated that (1) VEE virus may be widespread in south central Florida; perhaps endemic in Indian River County (2) Raccoons may be excellent indicators of VEE activity in a statewide arbovirus monitoring system.