Detection of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus from Brain Samples of Equines with Encephalitis

Alphavirus species are globally distributed zoonoses primarily transmitted by arthropods. The Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern (EEEV) endemic in Costa Rica. This study aims to detect these viruses brain samples from equines displaying nervous signs. For this purpose, four published Universal RT-PCR methods were compared. most sensitive specific method was used test a total of 70 samples, including 40 bovines 30 equines, all exhibiting In the positive cases, eight different regions extracted tested using RT-PCR. Positive cases confirmed through sequencing. Torii demonstrated highest sensitivity specificity for diagnosing VEEV EEEV/Sind among assays. Not assessed showed DNA amplification. None bovine brains positive, out only sequencing two as subtype IE. successfully detected pools hippocampus, spinal cord, basal nuclei, making suitable virus. EEEV or WEEV.