Madariaga Virus in Colombia, Detection of Alphavirus in Colombian Caribbean

Abstracts Alphaviruses are agents of neurotropic arboviral infections, several complications include encephalitis, meningoencephalitis and hemorrhagic fever. In Colombia, Venezuelan Encephalitis Equine virus (VEEV) is an endemic virus detected in Caribbean and Santander region, however, scarce information has evidenced about Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus complex (EEEV sensu estricto and Madariaga virus), with reports in Antioquia and Pacific region. We detected Madariaga virus infecting mosquito species (Culex erraticus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Psorophora ferox, Mansonia titillans and Culex spp.), in the rural locality of “Alto Cotoca” - Lorica, belongs to Northern – Cordoba (Colombia). The phylogenetic analysis allows verified to Lineage III for Madariaga virus.