Evidence of Human Bourbon Virus Infections, North Carolina, USA

Abstract

Bourbon virus is a tickborne virus that can cause human disease. Cases have been reported in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, USA. We identified Bourbon virus-specific neutralizing antibodies in patients from North Carolina. Bourbon virus infections are likely more common than previously thought, highlighting the need for improved diagnostics and surveillance.

Keywords: Bourbon virus; North Carolina; United States; neutralizing antibodies; seroprevalence; surveillance; tick-borne; ticks; vector-borne infections; viruses.

Figure 1

Distribution of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and evidence of Bourbon virus detection throughout North Carolina, USA. The map is adapted from a previous publication (8) and updated with locations of known bourbon virus carrying ticks (North Carolina Division of Public Health, pers. comm., email, 2022 Jul 13), white-tailed deer with positive bourbon virus–specific neutralizing antibodies (9), and persons with bourbon virus–specific neutralizing antibodies. Created by using http://www.mapchart.net.

Figure 2

Results from a vesicular stomatitis virus and Bourbon virus rapid neutralization assay using serum samples from residents of North Carolina, USA. Normalized vesicular stomatitis virus-Bourbon virus neutralization (percentage foci compared with the control without serum) results are shown from 3 groups: antenatal women, persons with alpha-gal syndrome, and recent heart valve recipients. Colored dots represent singular serum sample.