Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV)

Single stranded, positive sense RNA, enveloped, 40- 50 nm diameters. Family Flaviviridae. Japanese encephalitis (JE, Asia) is the prototype member of Japanese encephalitis antigenic (serologic) complex which also contains St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLE, North America), Murray valley virus (MVE, Australasia), and West Nile virus (WN).

Cell culture

Humans, pigs, and wading birds, cattle, horses, bats and reptiles

Mosquito bites. Culex tritaeniorhynchus (major epidemic vector.

Sudden onset of fever, headache, and vomiting. Other: Mental status changes, focal neurologic deficits, generalized weakness, and movement disorders may develop over the next few days. Case fatality ratio is ~20%-30%

Unknown.

Usually 5-15 days.

Avoid mosquito bites. Use insect repellent (containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus and paramenthane-diol products) when travelling to countries with JEV. Wear long sleeves and pants. Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.

The Ixiaro vaccine is licensed and available in the United States. 

No specific antiviral treatment is available. Treatment is limited to support therapy and management of complications.

Monitor for symptoms, serological studies (detection of immunoglobulin M and G antibodies) or isolation of virus from blood, CSF or other body fluid. 

Report all exposures

22 cases reported up to 1980 and no fatalities

Contact with blood, cerebrospinal fluid, tissues, infected arthropods; needle stick, inhalation

Pathogen Safety Data Sheets 

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL)  

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)  

Japanese encephalitis Fact Sheet 

All work involving infectious or potentially infectious material, including, but not limited to infected tissue cultures, animals, or arthropods JEV live-attenuated vaccine may be handled in BSL-2.

All work involving infectious or potentially infectious material, including, but not limited to infected tissue cultures, animals, or arthropods.

Notify others working in the lab. Allow aerosols to settle. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels and apply an EPA registered disinfectant, working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 30 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials. Decontaminate before disposal: steam sterilization, incineration, chemical disinfection

Contact Emory’s Biosafety Officer (404-727-8863),
the EHSO Office (404-727-5922), or
The Spill Response Team (404-727-2888).

Flush eyes, mouth or nose for 15 minutes at eyewash station.

Wash area with soap and water for 15 minutes.

Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete an employee incident report in PeopleSoft.

7am-4pm (OIM): EUH (404-686-7941) EUHM (404-686-7106) WW (404-728-6431)

After Hours: OIM NP On Call 404-686-5500 PIC# 50464

Needle Stick (OIM): EUH (404-686-8587) EUHM (404-686-2352)

Yerkes: Maureen Thompson Office (404-727-8012) Cell (404-275-0963)

Virus can be inactivated with 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, 3–8% formaldehyde, 1% sodium hypochlorite, iodine, phenol iodophors and organic solvents/detergents. 

Virus is sensitive to heat, ultraviolet light and gamma irradiation.

Japanese encephalitis virus does not persist outside a living host. 

Personnel are required to don gloves, closed toed shoes, lab coat, and appropriate face and eye protection prior to working with JEV. Additional PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs.

All procedures that may produce aerosols, or involve high concentrations or large volumes should be conducted in a biological safety cabinet (BSC). The use of needles, syringes, and other sharp objects should be strictly limited. Additional precautions should be considered with work involving animals or large scale activities.