# ECOLOGY OF VECTORS OF JAMESTOWN CANYON VIRUS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME · 1988 · $119,801

## Abstract

Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) has been implicated as the etiologic agent of
human aseptic meningitis and encephalitis only since 1982.  Isolations from
mosquitoes and serologic surveys have indicated that JCV has a distribution
encompassing most of North America.  Currently employed diagnostic
procedures fail to detect virtually all human infection.  When a specific
and rapid diagnostic procedure is available, JCV encephalitis has the
potential of being the most widely diagnosed mosquito-borne disease in the
U.S.  The first specific aim of this proposal is to expand the basic
working description of the Midwestern cycle.  The primary objectives here
are to 1) identify all primary and secondary vectors, including those
transmitting to humans in the late season, 2) describe these vectors'
mode(s) of transmission of JCV to vertebrates, and the importance of
transovarial transmission in viral amplification, dissemination, and
maintenance, 3) investigate vector competence of the primary mosquito
vectors, and 4) evaluate the role of bovine, cervid, and equine vertebrate
hosts in viral amplification, and dissemination.  The second specific aim
is to develop a more complete description of the epidemiology of human
infection.  The primary objectives here are to 1) more clearly detail the
human clinical syndrome, including prodromal symptoms and possible
coinvolvement of herpes viruses in clinical illnesses, 2) identify
additional major Midwestern foci of human infection such as those just
recently found in suburban Chicago, IL, and the Lansing/E. Lansing, MI,
areas, 3) generate computer-drawn maps delineating these foci for use in
control programs, and 4) develop several ELISA procedures to provide rapid
diagnosis of human illness and rapid detection of JCV antigen in arthropod
tissues and vertebrate serum/blood.  Standard entomological and virological
methodologies including arthropod trapping and pooling, virus isolation,
transmission trials, and vector competence evaluations will be employed.
Serologic methodologies will include ELISA and neutralization tests in cell
culture.  The primary study site is in rural northcentral Michigan and has
a large captive breeding deer herd that is available for long-term studies
of JCV.  Long-term objectives are to 1) complete the description of the
natural cycle of JCV, 2) complete the elucidation of the ecology and vector
competence of the primary vectors of JCV, 3) expand understanding of the
epidemiology of human infection, 4) provide and ELISA for nation-wide rapid
diagnosis of human infection, and 5) develop basic information that will
permit the eventual control of JCV transmission and thus prevent human
infection.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129048
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019679-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FPU6XGFXMBE9
- **Principal Investigator:** PAUL R GRIMSTAD
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $119,801
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-02-01 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129048

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129048, ECOLOGY OF VECTORS OF JAMESTOWN CANYON VIRUS (5R01AI019679-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129048. Licensed CC0.

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