1
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Koch RT, Erazo D, Folly AJ, Johnson N, Dellicour S, Grubaugh ND, Vogels CBF. Genomic epidemiology of West Nile virus in Europe. One Health 2024; 18:100664. [PMID: 38193029 PMCID: PMC10772404 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus is one of the most widespread mosquito-borne zoonotic viruses, with unique transmission dynamics in various parts of the world. Genomic surveillance has provided important insights in the global patterns of West Nile virus emergence and spread. In Europe, multiple West Nile virus lineages have been isolated, with lineage 1a and 2 being the main lineages responsible for human infections. In contrast to North America, where a single introduction of lineage 1a resulted in the virus establishing itself in a new continent, at least 13 introductions of lineages 1a and 2 have occurred into Europe, which is likely a vast underestimation of the true number of introductions. Historically, lineage 1a was the main lineage circulating in Europe, but since the emergence of lineage 2 in the early 2000s, the latter has become the predominant lineage. This shift in West Nile virus lineage prevalence has been broadly linked to the expansion of the virus into northerly temperate regions, where autochthonous cases in animals and humans have been reported in Germany and The Netherlands. Here, we discuss how genomic analysis has increased our understanding of the epidemiology of West Nile virus in Europe, and we present a global Nextstrain build consisting of publicly available West Nile virus genomes (https://nextstrain.org/community/grubaughlab/WNV-Global). Our results elucidate recent insights in West Nile virus lineage dynamics in Europe, and discuss how expanded programs can fill current genomic surveillance gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tobias Koch
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Diana Erazo
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Arran J Folly
- Vector-Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Vector-Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | - Simon Dellicour
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathan D Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Public Health Modeling Unit, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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2
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Principi N, Esposito S. Development of Vaccines against Emerging Mosquito-Vectored Arbovirus Infections. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:87. [PMID: 38250900 PMCID: PMC10818606 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12010087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Among emergent climate-sensitive infectious diseases, some mosquito-vectored arbovirus infections have epidemiological, social, and economic effects. Dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) disease, previously common only in the tropics, currently pose a major risk to global health and are expected to expand dramatically in the near future if adequate containment measures are not implemented. The lack of safe and effective vaccines is critical as it seems likely that emerging mosquito-vectored arbovirus infections will be con-trolled only when effective and safe vaccines against each of these infections become available. This paper discusses the clinical characteristics of DENV, WNV, and CHIKV infections and the state of development of vaccines against these viruses. An ideal vaccine should be able to evoke with a single administration a prompt activation of B and T cells, adequate concentrations of protecting/neutralizing antibodies, and the creation of a strong immune memory capable of triggering an effective secondary antibody response after new infection with a wild-type and/or mutated infectious agent. Moreover, the vaccine should be well tolerated, safe, easily administrated, cost-effective, and widely available throughout the world. However, the development of vaccines against emerging mosquito-vectored arbovirus diseases is far from being satisfactory, and it seems likely that it will take many years before effective and safe vaccines for all these infections are made available worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
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3
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Mencattelli G, Ndione MHD, Silverj A, Diagne MM, Curini V, Teodori L, Di Domenico M, Mbaye R, Leone A, Marcacci M, Gaye A, Ndiaye E, Diallo D, Ancora M, Secondini B, Di Lollo V, Mangone I, Bucciacchio A, Polci A, Marini G, Rosà R, Segata N, Fall G, Cammà C, Monaco F, Diallo M, Rota-Stabelli O, Faye O, Rizzoli A, Savini G. Spatial and temporal dynamics of West Nile virus between Africa and Europe. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6440. [PMID: 37833275 PMCID: PMC10575862 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is unclear whether West Nile virus (WNV) circulates between Africa and Europe, despite numerous studies supporting an African origin and high transmission in Europe. We integrated genomic data with geographic observations and phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences to uncover the spatial and temporal viral dynamics of WNV between these two continents. We focused our analysis towards WNV lineages 1 (L1) and 2 (L2), the most spatially widespread and pathogenic WNV lineages. Our study shows a Northern-Western African origin of L1, with back-and-forth exchanges between West Africa and Southern-Western Europe; and a Southern African origin of L2, with one main introduction from South Africa to Europe, and no back introductions observed. We also noticed a potential overlap between L1 and L2 Eastern and Western phylogeography and two Afro-Palearctic bird migratory flyways. Future studies linking avian and mosquito species susceptibility, migratory connectivity patterns, and phylogeographic inference are suggested to elucidate the dynamics of emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Mencattelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy.
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | | | - Andrea Silverj
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Curini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Liana Teodori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Rassoul Mbaye
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Alessandra Leone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maurilia Marcacci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Alioune Gaye
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - ElHadji Ndiaye
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Diawo Diallo
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Massimo Ancora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Barbara Secondini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Valeria Di Lollo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Iolanda Mangone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Bucciacchio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Polci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Marini
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Roberto Rosà
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Nicola Segata
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Gamou Fall
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Cesare Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Mawlouth Diallo
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Oumar Faye
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
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Kouroupis D, Charisi K, Pyrpasopoulou A. The Ongoing Epidemic of West Nile Virus in Greece: The Contribution of Biological Vectors and Reservoirs and the Importance of Climate and Socioeconomic Factors Revisited. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:453. [PMID: 37755914 PMCID: PMC10536956 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8090453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases have inflicted a significant health and socioeconomic burden upon the global population and governments worldwide. West Nile virus, a zoonotic, mosquito-borne flavivirus, was originally isolated in 1937 from a febrile patient in the West Nile Province of Uganda. It remained confined mainly to Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Europe and Australia until 1999, circulating in an enzootic mosquito-bird transmission cycle. Since the beginning of the 21st century, a new, neurotropic, more virulent strain was isolated from human outbreaks initially occurring in North America and later expanding to South and South-eastern Europe. Since 2010, when the first epidemic was recorded in Greece, annual incidence has fluctuated significantly. A variety of environmental, biological and socioeconomic factors have been globally addressed as potential regulators of the anticipated intensity of the annual incidence rate; circulation within the zoonotic reservoirs, recruitment and adaptation of new potent arthropod vectors, average winter and summer temperatures, precipitation during the early summer months, and socioeconomic factors, such as the emergence and progression of urbanization and the development of densely populated areas in association with insufficient health policy measures. This paper presents a review of the biological and socioenvironmental factors influencing the dynamics of the epidemics of West Nile virus (WNV) cases in Greece, one of the highest-ranked European countries in terms of annual incidence. To date, WNV remains an unpredictable opponent as is also the case with other emerging infectious diseases, forcing the National Health systems to develop response strategies, control the number of infections, and shorten the duration of the epidemics, thus minimizing the impact on human and material resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kouroupis
- 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Konstantina Charisi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Hippokration Hospital, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Athina Pyrpasopoulou
- 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Hippokration Hospital, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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5
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Laabassi F, Dheilly N, Beck C, Amaral R, Gonzalez G, Gaudaire D, Madeline A, Lecouturier F, Lecollinet S, Zientara S, Hans A, Valle-Casuso JC. Serological evidence of circulation of West Nile virus in equids in Algerian eastern drylands and its epidemiological risk factors. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 94:101947. [PMID: 36638646 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.101947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In order to determine the prevalence of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), Usutu virus (USUV), and West Nile virus (WNV) in eastern Algerian drylands, 340 sera from distinct equids have been collected from 2015 to 2017. Serological analysis for the presence of antibodies against EIAV and flaviviruses was performed using commercially available ELISAs. Sera detected positive, doubtful, or negative close to the doubtful threshold in flavivirus ELISA were tested by the virus neutralization test (VNT), using WNV and USUV strains. The prevalence of WNV antibodies with ELISA was 11.47% (39/340) against 13.53% (46/340) by WNV VNT. EIAV antibodies were not detected in any samples. WNV seroprevalence varies with species, breed and location of horses. Only, one equid was positive for both WNV and USUV neutralizing antibodies. This is the first screening on equids sera of EIAV and USUV in Algeria. This study indicate that WNV and possibly USUV have circulated/are circulating in the Algerian equine population, unlike EIAV does not seem to be present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farouk Laabassi
- PIAD Research Team, ESPA Laboratory, Department of Veterinary, Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Agronomics Sciences, University of Batna-1, 05000 Batna, Algeria.
| | - Nolwenn Dheilly
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Cécile Beck
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Rayane Amaral
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Gaëlle Gonzalez
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Delphine Gaudaire
- ANSES-Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France.
| | - Anthony Madeline
- ANSES-Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France.
| | - Fanny Lecouturier
- ANSES-Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France.
| | - Sylvie Lecollinet
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Stéphan Zientara
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Aymeric Hans
- ANSES-Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France.
| | - José-Carlos Valle-Casuso
- ANSES-Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France.
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Giakountis A, Stylianidou Z, Zaka A, Pappa S, Papa A, Hadjichristodoulou C, Mathiopoulos KD. Development of Toehold Switches as a Novel Ribodiagnostic Method for West Nile Virus. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:237. [PMID: 36672977 PMCID: PMC9859090 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging neurotropic RNA virus and a member of the genus Flavivirus. Naturally, the virus is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes as vectors and birds that are the principal amplifying virus hosts. In humans, the incubation period for WNV disease ranges from 3 to 14 days, with an estimated 80% of infected persons being asymptomatic, around 19% developing a mild febrile infection and less than 1% developing neuroinvasive disease. Laboratory diagnosis of WNV infection is generally accomplished by cross-reacting serological methods or highly sensitive yet expensive molecular approaches. Therefore, current diagnostic tools hinder widespread surveillance of WNV in birds and mosquitoes that serve as viral reservoirs for infecting secondary hosts, such as humans and equines. We have developed a synthetic biology-based method for sensitive and low-cost detection of WNV. This method relies on toehold riboswitches designed to detect WNV genomic RNA as transcriptional input and process it to GFP fluorescence as translational output. Our methodology offers a non-invasive tool with reduced operating cost and high diagnostic value that can be used for field surveillance of WNV in humans as well as in bird and mosquito populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Giakountis
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis-Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Zoe Stylianidou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis-Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Anxhela Zaka
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis-Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Styliani Pappa
- Department of Microbiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anna Papa
- Department of Microbiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Kostas D. Mathiopoulos
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis-Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
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Santos PD, Günther A, Keller M, Homeier-Bachmann T, Groschup MH, Beer M, Höper D, Ziegler U. An advanced sequence clustering and designation workflow reveals the enzootic maintenance of a dominant West Nile virus subclade in Germany. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead013. [PMID: 37197362 PMCID: PMC10184446 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is the most widespread arthropod-borne (arbo) virus and the primary cause of arboviral encephalitis globally. Members of WNV species genetically diverged and are classified into different hierarchical groups below species rank. However, the demarcation criteria for allocating WNV sequences into these groups remain individual and inconsistent, and the use of names for different levels of the hierarchical levels is unstructured. In order to have an objective and comprehensible grouping of WNV sequences, we developed an advanced grouping workflow using the 'affinity propagation clustering' algorithm and newly included the 'agglomerative hierarchical clustering' algorithm for the allocation of WNV sequences into different groups below species rank. In addition, we propose to use a fixed set of terms for the hierarchical naming of WNV below species level and a clear decimal numbering system to label the determined groups. For validation, we applied the refined workflow to WNV sequences that have been previously grouped into various lineages, clades, and clusters in other studies. Although our workflow regrouped some WNV sequences, overall, it generally corresponds with previous groupings. We employed our novel approach to the sequences from the WNV circulation in Germany 2020, primarily from WNV-infected birds and horses. Besides two newly defined minor (sub)clusters comprising only three sequences each, Subcluster 2.5.3.4.3c was the predominant WNV sequence group detected in Germany from 2018 to 2020. This predominant subcluster was also associated with at least five human WNV infections in 2019-20. In summary, our analyses imply that the genetic diversity of the WNV population in Germany is shaped by enzootic maintenance of the dominant WNV subcluster accompanied by sporadic incursions of other rare clusters and subclusters. Moreover, we show that our refined approach for sequence grouping yields meaningful results. Although we primarily aimed at a more detailed WNV classification, the presented workflow can also be applied to the objective genotyping of other virus species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Markus Keller
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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Mencattelli G, Ndione MHD, Rosà R, Marini G, Diagne CT, Diagne MM, Fall G, Faye O, Diallo M, Faye O, Savini G, Rizzoli A. Epidemiology of West Nile virus in Africa: An underestimated threat. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010075. [PMID: 35007285 PMCID: PMC8789169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which has been posing continuous challenges to public health worldwide due to the identification of new lineages and clades and its ability to invade and establish in an increasing number of countries. Its current distribution, genetic variability, ecology, and epidemiological pattern in the African continent are only partially known despite the general consensus on the urgency to obtain such information for quantifying the actual disease burden in Africa other than to predict future threats at global scale. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS References were searched in PubMed and Google Scholar electronic databases on January 21, 2020, using selected keywords, without language and date restriction. Additional manual searches of reference list were carried out. Further references have been later added accordingly to experts' opinion. We included 153 scientific papers published between 1940 and 2021. This review highlights: (i) the co-circulation of WNV-lineages 1, 2, and 8 in the African continent; (ii) the presence of diverse WNV competent vectors in Africa, mainly belonging to the Culex genus; (iii) the lack of vector competence studies for several other mosquito species found naturally infected with WNV in Africa; (iv) the need of more competence studies to be addressed on ticks; (iv) evidence of circulation of WNV among humans, animals and vectors in at least 28 Countries; (v) the lack of knowledge on the epidemiological situation of WNV for 19 Countries and (vii) the importance of carrying out specific serological surveys in order to avoid possible bias on WNV circulation in Africa. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the state of art on WNV investigation carried out in Africa, highlighting several knowledge gaps regarding i) the current WNV distribution and genetic diversity, ii) its ecology and transmission chains including the role of different arthropods and vertebrate species as competent reservoirs, and iii) the real disease burden for humans and animals. This review highlights the needs for further research and coordinated surveillance efforts on WNV in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Mencattelli
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
- Center Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Rosà
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
- Center Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Giovanni Marini
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | | | | | - Gamou Fall
- Department of Virology, Fondation Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Ousmane Faye
- Department of Virology, Fondation Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Mawlouth Diallo
- Department of Zoology, Fondation Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Oumar Faye
- Department of Virology, Fondation Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Department of Public Health, OIE Reference Laboratory for WND, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
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9
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Srihi H, Chatti N, Ben Mhadheb M, Gharbi J, Abid N. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis of the complete genome of the West Nile virus lineage 2 (WNV-2) in the Mediterranean basin. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:183. [PMID: 34579648 PMCID: PMC8477494 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01902-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The West Nile virus is a highly contagious agent for a wide range of hosts. Its spread in the Mediterranean region raises several questions about its origin and the risk factors underlying the virus’s dispersal. Materials and methods The present study aims to reconstruct the temporal and spatial phylodynamics of West Nile virus lineage 2 in the Mediterranean region using 75 complete genome sequences from different host species retrieved from international databases. Results This data set suggests that current strains of WNV-2 began spreading in South Africa or nearby regions in the early twentieth century, and it migrated northwards via at least one route crossing the Mediterranean to reach Hungary in the early 2000s, before spreading throughout Europe. Another introduction event, according to the data set collected and analyses performed, is inferred to have occurred in around 1978. Migratory birds constitute, among others, additional risk factors that enhance the geographical transmission of the infection.
Conclusion Our data underline the importance of the spatial–temporal tracking of migratory birds and phylodynamic reconstruction in setting up an efficient surveillance system for emerging and reemerging zoonoses in the Mediterranean region. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-021-01902-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haythem Srihi
- Research Unit UR17ES30 "Genomics, Biotechnology and Antiviral Strategies", Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tahar Hadded Avenue, PB 74, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.
| | - Noureddine Chatti
- Research Unit UR17ES30 "Genomics, Biotechnology and Antiviral Strategies", Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tahar Hadded Avenue, PB 74, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Manel Ben Mhadheb
- Research Unit UR17ES30 "Genomics, Biotechnology and Antiviral Strategies", Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tahar Hadded Avenue, PB 74, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Jawhar Gharbi
- Research Unit UR17ES30 "Genomics, Biotechnology and Antiviral Strategies", Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tahar Hadded Avenue, PB 74, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, PB 400, Post Code 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabil Abid
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biological Active Substances LR99ES27, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Ibn Sina Street, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. .,High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, Department of Biotechnology, University of Manouba, BiotechPôlet Sidi Thabet, PB 66, 2020, Ariana-Tunis, Tunisia.
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10
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Pontremoli C, Forni D, Clerici M, Cagliani R, Sironi M. Alternation between taxonomically divergent hosts is not the major determinant of flavivirus evolution. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab040. [PMID: 33976907 PMCID: PMC8093920 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses display diverse epidemiological and ecological features. Tick-borne and mosquito-borne flaviviruses (TBFV and MBFV, respectively) are important human pathogens that alternate replication in invertebrate vectors and vertebrate hosts. The Flavivirus genus also includes insect-specific viruses (ISFVs) and viruses with unknown invertebrate hosts. It is generally accepted that viruses that alternate between taxonomically different hosts evolve slowly and that the evolution of MBFVs and TBFVs is dominated by strong constraints, with limited episodes of positive selection. We exploited the availability of flavivirus genomes to test these hypotheses and to compare their rates and patterns of evolution. We estimated the substitution rates of CFAV and CxFV (two ISFVs) and, by taking into account the time-frame of measurement, compared them with those of other flaviviruses. Results indicated that CFAV and CxFV display relatively different substitution rates. However, these data, together with estimates for single-host members of the Flaviviridae family, indicated that MBFVs do not display relatively slower evolution. Conversely, TBFVs displayed some of lowest substitution rates among flaviviruses. Analysis of selective patterns over longer evolutionary time-frames confirmed that MBFVs evolve under strong purifying selection. Interestingly, TBFVs and ISFVs did not show extremely different levels of constraint, although TBFVs alternate among hosts, whereas ISFVs do not. Additional results showed that episodic positive selection drove the evolution of MBFVs, despite their high constraint. Positive selection was also detected on two branches of the TBFVs phylogeny that define the seabird clade. Thus, positive selection was much more common during the evolution of arthropod-borne flaviviruses than previously thought. Overall, our data indicate that flavivirus evolutionary patterns are complex and most likely determined by multiple factors, not limited to the alternation between taxonomically divergent hosts. The frequency of both positive and purifying selection, especially in MBFVs, suggests that a minority of sites in the viral polyprotein experience weak constraint and can evolve to generate new viral phenotypes and possibly promote adaptation to new hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego Forni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini 23842, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan 20122, Italy,Don C. Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, IRCCS, Milan 20121, Italy
| | - Rachele Cagliani
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini 23842, Italy
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini 23842, Italy
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11
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Capoferri AA, Sorrell EM. Assessment of West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Dynamics in Greece and Future Implications. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:466-474. [PMID: 33857383 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of West Nile Virus lineage 2 (WNV-2) has contributed to multiple major human outbreaks in Greece since 2010. Studies to date investigating biological and environmental factors that contribute to West Nile Virus (WNV) transmission have resulted in complex statistical models. We sought to examine open publicly available data to ascertain if a predictive risk assessment could be employed for WNV-2 in Greece. Based on accessible data, factors such as precipitation, temperature, and range of avian host species did not yield conclusive outcomes. However, by measuring the average rate of temperature change leading up to peak caseloads, we found a predictive characteristic to the timing of outbreaks. Detailed evolutionary studies revealed possible multiple introductions of WNV-2 in Europe, and that Greece acts through a source-sink inversion model, thereby allowing continued reseeding of WNV transmission each year by overwintering the Culex pipiens mosquito vector. Greece has proven an excellent model in WNV surveillance and has demonstrated the importance of rapid reporting for proper preparedness and response to vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam A Capoferri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Erin M Sorrell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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12
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Guggemos HD, Fendt M, Hieke C, Heyde V, Mfune JKE, Borgemeister C, Junglen S. Simultaneous circulation of two West Nile virus lineage 2 clades and Bagaza virus in the Zambezi region, Namibia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009311. [PMID: 33798192 PMCID: PMC8046352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses include a great diversity of mosquito-borne arboviruses with epidemic potential and high global disease burden. Several flaviviruses are circulating in southern Africa affecting humans and livestock, among them West Nile virus (WNV) and Wesselsbron virus. Despite their high relevance, no arbovirus surveillance study has been conducted for more than 35 years in Namibia. In this study we assessed the diversity of flaviviruses circulating in mosquitoes in the densely populated, semi-tropical Zambezi region of north-eastern Namibia. In total, 10,206 mosquitoes were sampled in Bwabwata and Mudumu national parks and Mashi and Wuparo conservancies and screened for flavivirus infections. A high infection rate with insect-specific flaviviruses was found with 241 strains of two previously known and seven putative novel insect-specific flaviviruses. In addition, we identified ten strains of WNV in the main vector Cx. univittatus sampled in the Mashi conservancy. Surprisingly, the strains fell into two different clades of lineage 2, 2b and 2d. Further, three strains of Bagaza Virus (BAGV) were found in Cx. univittatus mosquitoes originating from Mudumu national park. Assessment of BAGV growth in different cell lines showed high replication rates in mosquito and duck cells and about 100,000fold lower replication in human, primate and rodent cells. We demonstrate a wide genetic diversity of flaviviruses is circulating in mosquitoes in the Zambezi region. Importantly, WNV and BAGV can cause outbreaks including severe disease and mortality in humans and birds, respectively. Future studies should focus on WNV and BAGV geographic distribution, as well as on their potential health impacts in and the associated social and economic implications for southern Africa. Mosquitoes serve as vectors for the transmission of infectious diseases. Some of the most important mosquito-borne arboviruses belong to the genus Flavivirus, which can induce severe disease in humans and livestock. Surveillance of vector populations provide information on circulating arboviruses and may help to identify local outbreaks. Here we sampled mosquitoes over three wet seasons in the densely populated, semi-tropical Zambezi region of north-eastern Namibia and tested them for infections with flaviviruses. We observed simultaneous circulation of two different West Nile virus clades in the main vector species Cx. univittatus. Humans infected with West Nile virus can develop flu-like symptoms or in rare cases meningoencephalitis. Further, we detected Bagaza virus in Cx. univittatus from another locality and season. Bagaza virus infects birds leading to high mortality rates and may also infect humans. Our data suggest that both viruses are endemic in the Zambezi region and may affect human health and well-being in Namibia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko D. Guggemos
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Fendt
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Hieke
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
| | - Verena Heyde
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
| | - John K. E. Mfune
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
| | | | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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13
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Autochthonous Transmission of West Nile Virus by a New Vector in Iran, Vector-Host Interaction Modeling and Virulence Gene Determinants. Viruses 2020; 12:v12121449. [PMID: 33339336 PMCID: PMC7766443 DOI: 10.3390/v12121449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Using molecular techniques and bioinformatics tools, we studied the vector-host interactions and the molecular epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV) in western Iran. Mosquitoes were collected during 2017 and 2018. DNA typing assays were used to study vector-host interactions. Mosquitoes were screened by RT-PCR for the genomes of five virus families. WNV-positive samples were fully sequenced and evolutionary tree and molecular architecture were constructed by Geneious software and SWISS-MODEL workspace, respectively. A total of 5028 mosquito specimens were collected and identified. The most prevalent species was Culex (Cx.) pipiens complex (57.3%). Analysis of the blood-feeding preferences of blood-fed mosquitoes revealed six mammalian and one bird species as hosts. One mosquito pool containing non-blood-fed Cx. theileri and one blood-fed Culex pipiens pipiens (Cpp.) biotype pipiens were positive for WNV. A phylogram indicated that the obtained WNV sequences belonged to lineage 2, subclade 2 g. Several amino acid substitutions suspected as virulence markers were observed in the Iranian WNV strains. The three-dimensional structural homology model of the E-protein identified hot spot domains known to facilitate virus invasion and neurotropism. The recent detection of WNV lineage 2 in mosquitoes from several regions of Iran in consecutive years suggests that the virus is established in the country.
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Contrasted Epidemiological Patterns of West Nile Virus Lineages 1 and 2 Infections in France from 2015 to 2019. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110908. [PMID: 33143300 PMCID: PMC7692118 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2015, annual West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks of varying intensities have been reported in France. Recent intensification of enzootic WNV circulation was observed in the South of France with most horse cases detected in 2015 (n = 49), 2018 (n = 13), and 2019 (n = 13). A WNV lineage 1 strain was isolated from a horse suffering from West Nile neuro-invasive disease (WNND) during the 2015 episode in the Camargue area. A breaking point in WNV epidemiology was achieved in 2018, when WNV lineage 2 emerged in Southeastern areas. This virus most probably originated from WNV spread from Northern Italy and caused WNND in humans and the death of diurnal raptors. WNV lineage 2 emergence was associated with the most important human WNV epidemics identified so far in France (n = 26, including seven WNND cases and two infections in blood and organ donors). Two other major findings were the detection of WNV in areas with no or limited history of WNV circulation (Alpes-Maritimes in 2018, Corsica in 2018–2019, and Var in 2019) and distinct spatial distribution of human and horse WNV cases. These new data reinforce the necessity to enhance French WNV surveillance to better anticipate future WNV epidemics and epizootics and to improve the safety of blood and organ donations.
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15
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Camp JV, Nowotny N. The knowns and unknowns of West Nile virus in Europe: what did we learn from the 2018 outbreak? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 18:145-154. [PMID: 31914833 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1713751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne human and animal pathogen with nearly worldwide distribution. In Europe, the virus is endemic with seasonal regional outbreaks that have increased in frequency over the last 10 years. A massive outbreak occurred across southern and central Europe in 2018 with the number of confirmed human cases increasing up to 7.2-fold from the previous year, and expanding to include previously virus-free regions.Areas covered: This review focuses on potential causes that may explain the 2018 European WNV outbreak. We discuss the role genetic, ecological, and environmental aspects may have played in the increased activity during the 2018 transmission season, summarizing the latest epidemiological and virological publications.Expert opinion: Optimal environmental conditions, specifically increased temperature, were most likely responsible for the observed outbreak. Other factors cannot be ruled out due to limited available information, including factors that may influence host/vector abundance and contact. Europe will likely experience even larger-scale outbreaks in the coming years. Increased surveillance efforts should be implemented with a focus on early-warning detection methods, and large-scale host and vector surveys should continue to fill gaps in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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16
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Chaintoutis SC, Papa A, Pervanidou D, Dovas CI. Evolutionary dynamics of lineage 2 West Nile virus in Europe, 2004–2018: Phylogeny, selection pressure and phylogeography. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 141:106617. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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17
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Prediction of unfavorable outcomes in West Nile virus neuroinvasive infection - Result of a multinational ID-IRI study. J Clin Virol 2019; 122:104213. [PMID: 31778945 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.104213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WNV causes 1.4% of all central nervous system infections and is the most common cause of epidemic neuro-invasive disease in humans. OBJECTIVES Our main objective was to investigate retrospectively West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease (WNND) cases hospitalized during 2010-2017 and identified factors that can influence prognosis. STUDY DESIGN We documented the demographic, epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory data of WNND and identified factors that can influence prognosis. The data were recruited through Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI), which serves as a network for clinical researches. RESULTS We investigated 165 patients with WNND in 10 countries from three continents. 27 patients died and the mortality rate was 16.4%. In an univariate analysis age, congestive heart failure, neoplasm and ischemic heart disease (p < 0.001), neuropsychiatric disorders (p = 0.011), chronic hepatitis (p = 0.024) and hypertension (p = 0.043) were risk factors for death. Fatal evolution was also correlated with ICU addmission, disorientation, speech disorders, change in consciousnes, coma, a low Glasgow coma score, obtundation, confusion (p < 0.001), history of syncope (p = 0.002) and history of unconsciousness (p = 0.037). In a binomial logistic regresssion analysis only age and coma remained independent prediction factors for death. We created an equation that was calculated according to age, co-morbidities and clinical manifestations that may be used to establish the prognosis of WNND patients. CONCLUSIONS WNND remain an important factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide, evolution to death or survival with sequelae are not rare. Our study creates an equation that may be used in the future to establish the prognosis of WNND patients.
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Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a widely spread human pathogenic arthropod-borne virus. It can lead to severe, sometimes fatal, neurological disease. Over the last two decades, several vaccine candidates for the protection of humans from WNV have been developed. Some technologies were transferred into clinical testing, but these approaches have not yet led to a licensed product. This review summarizes the current status of a human WNV vaccine and discusses reasons for the lack of clinically advanced product candidates. It also discusses the problem of immunological cross-reactivity between flaviviruses and how it can be addressed during vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Ulbert
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Immunology , Leipzig , Germany
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19
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Bonica MB, Goenaga S, Martin ML, Feroci M, Luppo V, Muttis E, Fabbri C, Morales MA, Enria D, Micieli MV, Levis S. Vector competence of Aedes aegypti for different strains of Zika virus in Argentina. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007433. [PMID: 31188869 PMCID: PMC6561534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of Zika virus (ZIKV) has increased noticeably since the outbreak in the Americas in 2015, when the illness was associated with congenital disorders. Although there is evidence of sexual transmission of the virus, the mosquito Aedes aegypti is believed to be the main vector for transmission to humans. This species of mosquito has not only been found naturally infected with ZIKV, but also has been the subject of study in many vector competence assays that employ different strains of ZIKV around the world. In Argentina, the first case was reported in February 2016 and a total of 278 autochthonous cases have since been confirmed, however, ZIKV virus has not been isolated from any mosquito species yet in Argentina. In order to elucidate if Argentinian Ae. aegypti populations could be a possible vector of ZIKV, we conducted vector competence studies that involved a local strain of ZIKV from Chaco province, and a Venezuelan strain obtained from an imported case. For this purpose, Ae. aegypti adults from the temperate area of Argentina (Buenos Aires province) were fed with infected blood. Body, legs and saliva were harvested and tested by plaque titration on plates of Vero cells for ZIKV at 7, 11 and 14 days post infection (DPI) in order to calculate infection, transmission, and dissemination rates, respectively. Both strains were able to infect mosquitoes at all DPIs, whereas dissemination and transmission were observed at all DPIs for the Argentinian strain but only at 14 DPI for the Venezuelan strain. This study proves the ability of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from Argentina to become infected with two different strains of ZIKV, both belonging to the Asian lineage, and that the virus can disseminate to the legs and salivary glands. Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, isolated for the first time in the Ziika Forest in Uganda in 1947 from a rhesus macaque monkey. The disease is usually asymptomatic, but sometimes it causes a mild illness that comes with fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. The World Health Organization focused the attention on this virus after the outbreak in the Americas, when the virus was linked to microcephaly and serious neurological diseases, including Guillain-Barré syndrome. Aedes aegypti was incriminated as the main vector of the virus as it was found both naturally and experimentally infected. This mosquito species was declared eradicated in Argentina by 1970 but re-emerged in 1989. Recent studies found a peculiarity in the genetics of Argentinian Ae. aegypti populations that consists in a combination between both subspecies: Ae. aegypti formosus and Ae. aegypti aegypti. Our study tries to elucidate if Ae. aegypti from Argentina are able to transmit the virus in order to add these mosquitoes to the list of possible vectors of ZIKV and, in future prospect, orient to fight the virus by controlling the vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Berenice Bonica
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (MBB); (SG)
| | - Silvina Goenaga
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (MBB); (SG)
| | - María Laura Martin
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariel Feroci
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Victoria Luppo
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Evangelina Muttis
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cintia Fabbri
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Alejandra Morales
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Delia Enria
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Micieli
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvana Levis
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas “Dr. Julio Maiztegui” (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Cotar AI, Fălcuță E, Dinu S, Necula A, Bîrluțiu V, Ceianu CS, Prioteasa FL. West Nile virus lineage 2 in Romania, 2015-2016: co-circulation and strain replacement. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:562. [PMID: 30367671 PMCID: PMC6203995 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3145-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background West Nile virus (WNV) is endemic in southeastern Romania and, after the unprecedented urban epidemic in Bucharest in 1996 caused by lineage 1 WNV, cases of West Nile fever have been recorded every year. Furthermore, a new outbreak occurred in 2010, this time produced by a lineage 2 WNV belonging to the Eastern European clade (Volgograd 2007-like strain), which was detected in humans and mosquitoes in the following years. Results We report here, for the first time, the emergence, in 2015, of lineage 2 WNV belonging to the monophyletic Central/Southern European group of strains which replaced in 2016, the previously endemized lineage 2 WNV Volgograd 2007-like strain in mosquito populations. The emerged WNV strain harbors H249P (NS3 protein) and I159T (E glycoprotein) substitutions, which have been previously associated in other studies with neurovirulence and efficient vector transmission. Conclusions In 2016, both early amplification of the emerged WNV and complete replacement in mosquito populations of the previously endemized WNV occurred in southeastern Romania. These events were associated with a significant outbreak of severe West Nile neuroinvasive disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ani Ioana Cotar
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena Fălcuță
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sorin Dinu
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Adriana Necula
- National Institute of Blood Transfusion, 2-8 Dr. C-tin Caracaş, 011155, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Victoria Bîrluțiu
- Faculty of Medicine, Lucian Blaga University, 2A Lucian Blaga, 550169, Sibiu, Romania.,Academic Emergency Hospital, 2-4 Corneliu Coposu Boulevard, 550245, Sibiu, Romania
| | - Cornelia Svetlana Ceianu
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florian Liviu Prioteasa
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
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Integrated analysis of human-animal-vector surveillance: West Nile virus infections in Austria, 2015-2016. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018. [PMID: 29535293 PMCID: PMC5849732 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0021-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The results of integrated human and veterinary surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Austria during the transmission seasons 2015 and 2016 are shown. Altogether WNV nucleic acid was detected in 21 humans, horses, wild birds and mosquito pools. In detail: in four human clinical cases [two cases of West Nile fever (WNF) and two cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND)]; eight blood donors [among 145,541 tested donations], of which three remained asymptomatic and five subsequently developed mild WNF; two horses with WNND, of which one recovered and one had to be euthanized; two wild birds [one goshawk and one falcon, both succumbed to WNND]; and five Culex pipiens mosquito pools. Compared to previous years the number of infections increased remarkably. All infections were recorded in the city of Vienna and neighboring regions of Lower Austria. Sixteen coding-complete WNV sequences were established which were closely related to each other and to other Austrian, Czech and Italian viruses, all belonging to the Central/Southern European cluster of WNV sublineage 2d. However, several genetically slightly different WNV strains seem to co-circulate in the same area, as demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis. Based on detailed sequence analysis, all newly discovered Austrian WNV strains had the potential to cause neurological disease, but no correlation was found between severity of disease and the analyzed genetic virulence/neuroinvasiveness markers. Results of integrated human-animal-vector surveillance presented in this paper provide a comprehensive description of WNV activity in the region and will facilitate proactive public health measures to prevent or mitigate potential outbreaks.
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Does adaptation to vertebrate codon usage relate to flavivirus emergence potential? PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191652. [PMID: 29385205 PMCID: PMC5792106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Codon adaptation index (CAI) is a measure of synonymous codon usage biases given a usage reference. Through mutation, selection, and drift, viruses can optimize their replication efficiency and produce more offspring, which could increase the chance of secondary transmission. To evaluate how higher CAI towards the host has been associated with higher viral titers, we explored temporal trends of several historic and extensively sequenced zoonotic flaviviruses and relationships within the genus itself. To showcase evolutionary and epidemiological relationships associated with silent, adaptive synonymous changes of viruses, we used codon usage tables from human housekeeping and antiviral immune genes, as well as tables from arthropod vectors and vertebrate species involved in the flavivirus maintenance cycle. We argue that temporal trends of CAI changes could lead to a better understanding of zoonotic emergences, evolutionary dynamics, and host adaptation. CAI appears to help illustrate historically relevant trends of well-characterized viruses, in different viral species and genetic diversity within a single species. CAI can be a useful tool together with in vivo and in vitro kinetics, phylodynamics, and additional functional genomics studies to better understand species trafficking and viral emergence in a new host.
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Kumar R, Patil RD. Cryptic etiopathological conditions of equine nervous system with special emphasis on viral diseases. Vet World 2017; 10:1427-1438. [PMID: 29391683 PMCID: PMC5771167 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.1427-1438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of horse (Equus caballus) to equine practitioners and researchers cannot be ignored. An unevenly distributed population of equids harbors numerous diseases, which can affect horses of any age and breed. Among these, the affections of nervous system are potent reason for death and euthanasia in equids. Many episodes associated with the emergence of equine encephalitic conditions have also pose a threat to human population as well, which signifies their pathogenic zoonotic potential. Intensification of most of the arboviruses is associated with sophisticated interaction between vectors and hosts, which supports their transmission. The alphaviruses, bunyaviruses, and flaviviruses are the major implicated groups of viruses involved with equines/humans epizootic/epidemic. In recent years, many outbreaks of deadly zoonotic diseases such as Nipah virus, Hendra virus, and Japanese encephalitis in many parts of the globe addresses their alarming significance. The equine encephalitic viruses differ in their global distribution, transmission and main vector species involved, as discussed in this article. The current review summarizes the status, pathogenesis, pathology, and impact of equine neuro-invasive conditions of viral origin. A greater understanding of these aspects might be able to provide development of advances in neuro-protective strategies in equine population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr. G.C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur - 176 062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Rajendra D Patil
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr. G.C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur - 176 062, Himachal Pradesh, India
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Fall G, Di Paola N, Faye M, Dia M, Freire CCDM, Loucoubar C, Zanotto PMDA, Faye O, Sall AA. Biological and phylogenetic characteristics of West African lineages of West Nile virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006078. [PMID: 29117195 PMCID: PMC5695850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The West Nile virus (WNV), isolated in 1937, is an arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus) that infects thousands of people each year. Despite its burden on global health, little is known about the virus’ biological and evolutionary dynamics. As several lineages are endemic in West Africa, we obtained the complete polyprotein sequence from three isolates from the early 1990s, each representing a different lineage. We then investigated differences in growth behavior and pathogenicity for four distinct West African lineages in arthropod (Ap61) and primate (Vero) cell lines, and in mice. We found that genetic differences, as well as viral-host interactions, could play a role in the biological properties in different WNV isolates in vitro, such as: (i) genome replication, (ii) protein translation, (iii) particle release, and (iv) virulence. Our findings demonstrate the endemic diversity of West African WNV strains and support future investigations into (i) the nature of WNV emergence, (ii) neurological tropism, and (iii) host adaptation. The West Nile virus (WNV) can cause severe neurological diseases including meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid paralysis. Differences in WNV genetics could play a role in the frequency of neurological symptoms from an infection. For the first time, we observed how geographically similar but genetically distinct lineages grow in cellular environments that agree with the transmission chain of West Nile virus—vertebrate-arthropod-vertebrate. We were able to connect our in vitro and in vivo results with relevant epidemiological and molecular data. Our findings highlight the existence of West African lineages with higher virulence and replicative efficiency in vitro and in vivo compared to lineages similar to circulating strains in the United States and Europe. Our investigation of four West African lineages of West Nile virus will help us better understand the biology of the virus and assess future epidemiological threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamou Fall
- Pôle de Virologie, Unité des Arbovirus et virus des fièvres hémorragiques, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Nicholas Di Paola
- Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Martin Faye
- Pôle de Virologie, Unité des Arbovirus et virus des fièvres hémorragiques, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Moussa Dia
- Pôle de Virologie, Unité des Arbovirus et virus des fièvres hémorragiques, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
| | | | - Cheikh Loucoubar
- Groupe à 4 ans de Biostatistiques, Bioinformatique et modélisation, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Paolo Marinho de Andrade Zanotto
- Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Ousmane Faye
- Pôle de Virologie, Unité des Arbovirus et virus des fièvres hémorragiques, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Amadou Alpha Sall
- Pôle de Virologie, Unité des Arbovirus et virus des fièvres hémorragiques, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal
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Zhang HL, Ye HQ, Deng CL, Liu SQ, Shi PY, Qin CF, Yuan ZM, Zhang B. Generation and characterization of West Nile pseudo-infectious reporter virus for antiviral screening. Antiviral Res 2017; 141:38-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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26
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Betsem E, Kaidarova Z, Stramer SL, Shaz B, Sayers M, LeParc G, Custer B, Busch MP, Murphy EL. Correlation of West Nile Virus Incidence in Donated Blood with West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease Rates, United States, 2010-2012. Emerg Infect Dis 2017; 23:212-219. [PMID: 27935796 PMCID: PMC5324803 DOI: 10.3201/eid2302.161058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, West Nile virus (WNV) has spread across the United States. We aggregated blood donor data from 2010–2012 and then calculated the incidence of WNV RNA–positive donations and compared the incidence with neuroinvasive disease (NID) case data from the ArboNET surveillance system. Of 10,107,853 donations, 640 were confirmed positive. The seasonal WNV incidence rate per 100,000 persons was 33.4 (95% CI 22–45) in 2010, 25.7 (95% CI 15–34) in 2011, and 119.9 (95% CI 98–141) in 2012. NID to blood donor ratios were 1 in 164 (95% CI 152–178) in 2010, 1 in 158 (95% CI 145–174) in 2011, and 1 in 131 (95% CI 127–136) in 2012. We updated estimates of the ratio of NID to WNV infection rates, demonstrating stable disease penetrance over the study period. Blood donor WNV RNA screening is a valuable public health tool for WNV surveillance.
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Diseases of the Nervous System. Vet Med (Auckl) 2017. [PMCID: PMC7322266 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-5246-0.00014-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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28
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Tantely ML, Goodman SM, Rakotondranaivo T, Boyer S. Review of West Nile virus circulation and outbreak risk in Madagascar: Entomological and ornithological perspectives. Parasite 2016; 23:49. [PMID: 27849515 PMCID: PMC5112766 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2016058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile fever (WNF) is a zoonotic disease, occurring nearly globally. In Madagascar, West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in 1978 from wild birds and the virus is currently distributed across the island, but no epidemic or epizootic period has been recorded. One fatal human case of WNV infection was reported in 2011, suggesting a "tip of the iceberg" phenomenon of a possible WNF epidemic/epizootic on the island. The main objective of this literature-based survey is to review patterns of WNV circulation in Madagascar from the entomological and ornithological points of view. Among the 235 mosquito species described from Madagascar, 29 species are widely associated with WNV infection; 16 of them are found naturally infected with WNV on the island and categorized into major, candidate, and potential vectors of WNV according to their vector capacity. This study upholds the hypothesis that WNV enzooticity is independent of annual movements of migratory birds passing through Madagascar. Moreover, the lack of regular migratory bird flux between Africa and Madagascar would reduce the probability of transmission and the subsequent reintroduction of the virus into locally occurring mosquito species. Given that Palearctic migratory birds are strongly implicated in the transmission of WNV, we highlight notable differences in the movements and species diversity of these birds in Madagascar as compared to eastern and northern Africa. Risk factors from this two-pronged approach are presented for the emergence of WNF outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Luciano Tantely
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Medical Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Ambatofotsikely BP 1274 Antananarivo 101 Madagascar
| | - Steven M. Goodman
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Field Museum of Natural History 1400 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago
60605 Illinois USA
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Association Vahatra BP 3972 Antananarivo 101 Madagascar
| | - Tsirinaina Rakotondranaivo
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Medical Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Ambatofotsikely BP 1274 Antananarivo 101 Madagascar
| | - Sébastien Boyer
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Medical Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Ambatofotsikely BP 1274 Antananarivo 101 Madagascar
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29
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Mentoor JLD, Lubisi AB, Gerdes T, Human S, Williams JH, Venter M. Full-Genome Sequence of a Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Strain from a Fatal Horse Infection in South Africa. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2016; 4:e00740-16. [PMID: 27469963 PMCID: PMC4966467 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00740-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We report here the complete genome sequence of a lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV) strain that resulted in fatal neurological disease in a horse in South Africa. Several recent reports exist of neurological disease associated with lineage 2 WNV in humans and horses in South Africa and Europe; however, there are a lack of sequencing data from recent fatal cases in Southern Africa, where these strains likely originate. A better understanding of the genetic composition of highly neuroinvasive lineage 2 strains may facilitate the identification of putative genetic factors associated with increased virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet L D Mentoor
- Zoonosis Research Unit, Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Alison B Lubisi
- Virology Molecular Epidemiology and Diagnostics Programme, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Truuska Gerdes
- Virology Molecular Epidemiology and Diagnostics Programme, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Stacey Human
- Zoonosis Research Unit, Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - June H Williams
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marietjie Venter
- Zoonosis Research Unit, Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Centre for Global Disease Detection, South Africa, Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa
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30
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Plante JA, Torres M, Huang CYH, Beasley DWC. Plasticity of a critical antigenic determinant in the West Nile virus NY99 envelope protein domain III. Virology 2016; 496:97-105. [PMID: 27284640 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Revised: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes febrile illness, encephalitis, and occasionally death in humans. The envelope protein is the main component of the WNV virion surface, and domain III of the envelope protein (EIII) is both a putative receptor binding domain and a target of highly specific, potently neutralizing antibodies. Envelope E-332 (E-332) is known to have naturally occurring variation and to be a key determinant of neutralization for anti-EIII antibodies. A panel of viruses containing all possible amino acid substitutions at E-332 was constructed. E-332 was found to be highly tolerant of mutation, and almost all of these changes had large impacts on antigenicity of EIII but only limited effects on growth or virulence phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Plante
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
| | - Maricela Torres
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Claire Y-H Huang
- Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - David W C Beasley
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
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31
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Detection and sequencing of West Nile virus RNA from human urine and serum samples during the 2014 seasonal period. Arch Virol 2016; 161:1797-806. [PMID: 27038827 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-016-2844-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus, a widely distributed mosquito-borne flavivirus, is responsible for numerous animal and human infections in Europe, Africa and the Americas. In Hungary, the average number of human infections falls between 10 and 20 cases each year. The severity of clinically manifesting infections varies widely from the milder form of West Nile fever to West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). In routine laboratory diagnosis of human West Nile virus infections, serological methods are mainly applied due to the limited duration of viremia. However, recent studies suggest that detection of West Nile virus RNA in urine samples may be useful as a molecular diagnostic test for these infections. The Hungarian National Reference Laboratory for Viral Zoonoses serologically confirmed eleven acute human infections during the 2014 seasonal period. In three patients with neurological symptoms, viral RNA was detected from both urine and serum specimens, albeit for a longer period and in higher copy numbers with urine. Phylogenetic analysis of the NS3 genomic region of three strains and the complete genome of one selected strain demonstrated that all three patients had lineage-2 West Nile virus infections. Our findings reaffirm the utility of viral RNA detection in urine as a molecular diagnostic procedure for diagnosis of West Nile virus infections.
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32
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Szentpáli-Gavallér K, Lim SM, Dencső L, Bányai K, Koraka P, Osterhaus ADME, Martina BEE, Bakonyi T, Bálint Á. In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Mutations in the NS Region of Lineage 2 West Nile Virus Associated with Neuroinvasiveness in a Mammalian Model. Viruses 2016; 8:v8020049. [PMID: 26907325 PMCID: PMC4776204 DOI: 10.3390/v8020049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) strains may differ significantly in neuroinvasiveness in vertebrate hosts. In contrast to genetic lineage 1 WNVs, molecular determinants of pathogenic lineage 2 strains have not been experimentally confirmed so far. A full-length infectious clone of a neurovirulent WNV lineage 2 strain (578/10; Central Europe) was generated and amino acid substitutions that have been shown to attenuate lineage 1 WNVs were introduced into the nonstructural proteins (NS1 (P250L), NS2A (A30P), NS3 (P249H) NS4B (P38G, C102S, E249G)). The mouse neuroinvasive phenotype of each mutant virus was examined following intraperitoneal inoculation of C57BL/6 mice. Only the NS1-P250L mutation was associated with a significant attenuation of virulence in mice compared to the wild-type. Multiplication kinetics in cell culture revealed significantly lower infectious virus titres for the NS1 mutant compared to the wild-type, as well as significantly lower amounts of positive and negative stranded RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephanie M Lim
- Viroscience Laboratory, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - László Dencső
- Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office, H-1143, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1143, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Penelope Koraka
- Viroscience Laboratory, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Byron E E Martina
- Viroscience Laboratory, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3015CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Tamás Bakonyi
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1143, Budapest, Hungary.
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ádám Bálint
- Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office, H-1143, Budapest, Hungary.
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Reconstruction of the Evolutionary History and Dispersal of Usutu Virus, a Neglected Emerging Arbovirus in Europe and Africa. mBio 2016; 7:e01938-15. [PMID: 26838717 PMCID: PMC4742707 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01938-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV), one of the most neglected Old World encephalitic flaviviruses, causes epizootics among wild and captive birds and sporadic infection in humans. The dynamics of USUV spread and evolution in its natural hosts are unknown. Here, we present the phylogeny and evolutionary history of all available USUV strains, including 77 newly sequenced complete genomes from a variety of host species at a temporal and spatial scaled resolution. The results showed that USUV can be classified into six distinct lineages and that the most recent common ancestor of the recent European epizootics emerged in Africa at least 500 years ago. We demonstrated that USUV was introduced regularly from Africa into Europe in the last 50 years, and the genetic diversity of European lineages is shaped primarily by in situ evolution, while the African lineages have been driven by extensive gene flow. Most of the amino acid changes are deleterious polymorphisms removed by purifying selection, with adaptive evolution restricted to the NS5 gene and several others evolving under episodic directional selection, indicating that the ecological or immunological factors were mostly the key determinants of USUV dispersal and outbreaks. Host-specific mutations have been detected, while the host transition analysis identified mosquitoes as the most likely origin of the common ancestor and birds as the source of the recent European USUV lineages. Our results suggest that the major migratory bird flyways could predict the continental and intercontinental dispersal patterns of USUV and that migratory birds might act as potential long-distance dispersal vehicles. Usutu virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus of the Japanese encephalitis virus antigenic group, caused massive bird die-offs, mostly in Europe. There is increasing evidence that USUV appears to be pathogenic for humans, becoming a potential public health problem. The emergence of USUV in Europe allows us to understand how an arbovirus spreads, adapts, and evolves in a naive environment. Thus, understanding the epidemiological and evolutionary processes that contribute to the emergence, maintenance, and further spread of viral diseases is the sine qua non to develop and implement surveillance strategies for their control. In this work, we performed an expansive phylogeographic and evolutionary analysis of USUV using all published sequences and those generated during this study. Subsequently, we described the genetic traits, reconstructed the potential pattern of geographic spread between continents/countries of the identified viral lineages and the drivers of viral migration, and traced the origin of outbreaks and transition events between different hosts.
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34
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Paul B, Tham WL. Controlling Dengue: Effectiveness of Biological Control and Vaccine in Reducing the Prevalence of Dengue Infection in Endemic Areas. Health (London) 2016. [DOI: 10.4236/health.2016.81008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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35
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Lustig Y, Hindiyeh M, Orshan L, Weiss L, Koren R, Katz-Likvornik S, Zadka H, Glatman-Freedman A, Mendelson E, Shulman LM. Mosquito Surveillance for 15 Years Reveals High Genetic Diversity Among West Nile Viruses in Israel. J Infect Dis 2015; 213:1107-14. [PMID: 26597260 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Israel and has been the cause of several outbreaks in recent years. In 2000, a countrywide mosquito survey was established to monitor WNV activity and characterize viral genotypes in Israel. We analyzed data from 7135 pools containing 277 186 mosquitoes collected over the past 15 years and, here, report partial sequences of WNV genomes obtained from 102 of the 336 positive mosquito pools. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that cluster 4 and the Mediterranean and Eastern European subtypes of cluster 2 within WNV lineage 1 circulated in Israel, as did WNV lineage 2, highlighting a high genetic diversity of WNV genotypes in our region. As a major crossroads for bird migration between Africa and Eurasia and with a long history of human infection, Israel serves as a resource hub for WNV in Africa and Eurasia and provides valuable information on WNV circulation in these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaniv Lustig
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer
| | - Musa Hindiyeh
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | - Laor Orshan
- Laboratory of Entomology, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem
| | - Leah Weiss
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer
| | - Ravit Koren
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer
| | - Shiri Katz-Likvornik
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer
| | - Hila Zadka
- Israel Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer
| | - Aharona Glatman-Freedman
- Israel Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | - Lester M Shulman
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical center, Tel-Hashomer Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
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36
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Barzon L, Papa A, Lavezzo E, Franchin E, Pacenti M, Sinigaglia A, Masi G, Trevisan M, Squarzon L, Toppo S, Papadopoulou E, Nowotny N, Ulbert S, Piralla A, Rovida F, Baldanti F, Percivalle E, Palù G. Phylogenetic characterization of Central/Southern European lineage 2 West Nile virus: analysis of human outbreaks in Italy and Greece, 2013-2014. Clin Microbiol Infect 2015; 21:1122.e1-10. [PMID: 26235197 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 has been spreading and causing disease outbreaks in humans and animals in Europe. In order to characterize viral diversity, we performed full-length genome sequencing of WNV lineage 2 from human samples collected during outbreaks in Italy and Greece in 2013 and 2014. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these WNV lineage 2 genomes belonged to a monophyletic clade derived from a single introduction into Europe of the prototype Hungarian strain. Correlation of phylogenetic data with geospatial information showed geographical clustering of WNV genome sequences both in Italy and in Greece, indicating that the virus had evolved and diverged during its dispersal in Europe, leading to the emergence of novel genotypes, as it adapted to local ecological niches. These genotypes carried divergent conserved amino acid substitutions, which might have been relevant for viral adaptation, as suggested by selection pressure analysis and in silico and experimental modelling of sequence changes. In conclusion, the results of this study provide further information on WNV lineage 2 transmission dynamics in Europe, and emphasize the need for WNV surveillance activities to monitor viral evolution and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy.
| | - A Papa
- National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, Department of Microbiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - E Lavezzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - E Franchin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - M Pacenti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - A Sinigaglia
- IRCCS-IOV Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy
| | - G Masi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - M Trevisan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - L Squarzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - S Toppo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - E Papadopoulou
- National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, Department of Microbiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - N Nowotny
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - S Ulbert
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Piralla
- Molecular Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Rovida
- Molecular Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Baldanti
- Molecular Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences, Surgery, Diagnostics and Paediatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - E Percivalle
- Molecular Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
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Matranga CB, Andersen KG, Winnicki S, Busby M, Gladden AD, Tewhey R, Stremlau M, Berlin A, Gire SK, England E, Moses LM, Mikkelsen TS, Odia I, Ehiane PE, Folarin O, Goba A, Kahn SH, Grant DS, Honko A, Hensley L, Happi C, Garry RF, Malboeuf CM, Birren BW, Gnirke A, Levin JZ, Sabeti PC. Enhanced methods for unbiased deep sequencing of Lassa and Ebola RNA viruses from clinical and biological samples. Genome Biol 2015. [PMID: 25403361 PMCID: PMC4262991 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-014-0519-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a robust RNA sequencing method for generating complete de novo assemblies with intra-host variant calls of Lassa and Ebola virus genomes in clinical and biological samples. Our method uses targeted RNase H-based digestion to remove contaminating poly(rA) carrier and ribosomal RNA. This depletion step improves both the quality of data and quantity of informative reads in unbiased total RNA sequencing libraries. We have also developed a hybrid-selection protocol to further enrich the viral content of sequencing libraries. These protocols have enabled rapid deep sequencing of both Lassa and Ebola virus and are broadly applicable to other viral genomics studies.
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38
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Matranga CB, Andersen KG, Winnicki S, Busby M, Gladden AD, Tewhey R, Stremlau M, Berlin A, Gire SK, England E, Moses LM, Mikkelsen TS, Odia I, Ehiane PE, Folarin O, Goba A, Kahn SH, Grant DS, Honko A, Hensley L, Happi C, Garry RF, Malboeuf CM, Birren BW, Gnirke A, Levin JZ, Sabeti PC. Enhanced methods for unbiased deep sequencing of Lassa and Ebola RNA viruses from clinical and biological samples. Genome Biol 2015; 15:519. [PMID: 25403361 DOI: 10.1186/preaccept-1698056557139770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a robust RNA sequencing method for generating complete de novo assemblies with intra-host variant calls of Lassa and Ebola virus genomes in clinical and biological samples. Our method uses targeted RNase H-based digestion to remove contaminating poly(rA) carrier and ribosomal RNA. This depletion step improves both the quality of data and quantity of informative reads in unbiased total RNA sequencing libraries. We have also developed a hybrid-selection protocol to further enrich the viral content of sequencing libraries. These protocols have enabled rapid deep sequencing of both Lassa and Ebola virus and are broadly applicable to other viral genomics studies.
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Dinu S, Cotar AI, Pănculescu-Gătej IR, Fălcuţă E, Prioteasa FL, Sîrbu A, Oprişan G, Bădescu D, Reiter P, Ceianu CS. West Nile virus circulation in South-Eastern Romania, 2011 to 2013. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 20. [PMID: 26027486 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2015.20.20.21130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV), previously found only in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, was identified in Hungary in 2004 and has rapidly expanded in Europe in the past decade. Following a significant outbreak of West Nile fever with neurological cases caused by lineage 1 WNV in Romania in 1996, scattered cases have been recorded in the south-east of the country in each transmission season. Another outbreak, affecting a larger area and caused by lineage 2 WNV, was recorded in 2010. We analysed human sera from neuroinvasive West Nile fever cases and mosquitoes, sampled in south-eastern Romania between 2011 and 2013, for the presence of WNV genome, and obtained partial NS5 and envelope glycoprotein sequences. Human- and mosquito-derived WNV sequences were highly similar (99%) to Volgograd 2007 lineage 2 WNV and differed from isolates previously detected in central and southern Europe. WNV was detected in one pool of Culex pipiens s.l. males, documenting vertical transmission. Lineage 4 WNV, of unknown pathogenicity to mammals, was found in the amphibian-feeding mosquito Uranotaenia unguiculata from the Danube Delta. Our results present molecular evidence for the maintenance of the same isolates of Volgograd 2007-like lineage 2 WNV in south-eastern Romania between 2011 and 2013.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Dinu
- Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Cantacuzino National Institute of Research-Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Bucharest, Romania
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40
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Kolodziejek J, Seidel B, Jungbauer C, Dimmel K, Kolodziejek M, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Allerberger F, Nowotny N. West Nile virus positive blood donation and subsequent entomological investigation, Austria, 2014. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126381. [PMID: 25961567 PMCID: PMC4427133 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The detection of West Nile virus (WNV) nucleic acid in a blood donation from Vienna, Austria, as well as in Culex pipiens pupae and egg rafts, sampled close to the donor’s residence, is reported. Complete genomic sequences of the human- and mosquito-derived viruses were established, genetically compared and phylogenetically analyzed. The viruses were not identical, but closely related to each other and to recent Czech and Italian isolates, indicating co-circulation of related WNV strains within a confined geographic area. The detection of WNV in a blood donation originating from an area with low WNV prevalence in humans (only three serologically diagnosed cases between 2008 and 2014) is surprising and emphasizes the importance of WNV nucleic acid testing of blood donations even in such areas, along with active mosquito surveillance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Seidel
- Technical Office of Ecology and Landscape Assessment, Persenbeug, Austria
| | - Christof Jungbauer
- Austrian Red Cross, Blood Service for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Dimmel
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ivo Rudolf
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Franz Allerberger
- Department of Public Health, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
- * E-mail:
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41
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The global ecology and epidemiology of West Nile virus. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:376230. [PMID: 25866777 PMCID: PMC4383390 DOI: 10.1155/2015/376230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 307] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Since its initial isolation in Uganda in 1937 through the present, West Nile virus (WNV) has become an important cause of human and animal disease worldwide. WNV, an enveloped virus of the genus Flavivirus, is naturally maintained in an enzootic cycle between birds and mosquitoes, with occasional epizootic spillover causing disease in humans and horses. The mosquito vectors for WNV are widely distributed worldwide, and the known geographic range of WNV transmission and disease has continued to increase over the past 77 years. While most human infections with WNV are asymptomatic, severe neurological disease may develop resulting in long-term sequelae or death. Surveillance and preventive measures are an ongoing need to reduce the public health impact of WNV in areas with the potential for transmission.
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Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases affect horses worldwide. Mosquito-borne diseases generally cause encephalomyelitis in the horse and can be difficult to diagnose antemortem. In addition to general disease, and diagnostic and treatment aspects, this review article summarizes the latest information on these diseases, covering approximately the past 5 years, with a focus on new equine disease encroachments, diagnostic and vaccination aspects, and possible therapeutics on the horizon.
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43
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Arboviral bottlenecks and challenges to maintaining diversity and fitness during mosquito transmission. Viruses 2014; 6:3991-4004. [PMID: 25341663 PMCID: PMC4213574 DOI: 10.3390/v6103991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The term arbovirus denotes viruses that are transmitted by arthropods, such as ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting arthropods. The infection of these vectors produces a certain set of evolutionary pressures on the virus; involving migration from the midgut, where the blood meal containing the virus is processed, to the salivary glands, in order to transmit the virus to the next host. During this process the virus is subject to numerous bottlenecks, stochastic events that significantly reduce the number of viral particles that are able to infect the next stage. This article reviews the latest research on the bottlenecks that occur in arboviruses and the way in which these affect the evolution and fitness of these viruses. In particular we focus on the latest research on three important arboviruses, West Nile virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and Chikungunya viruses and compare the differing effects of the mosquito bottlenecks on these viruses as well as other evolutionary pressures that affect their evolution and transmission.
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44
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The complete sequence of a West Nile virus lineage 2 strain detected in a Hyalomma marginatum marginatum tick collected from a song thrush (Turdus philomelos) in eastern Romania in 2013 revealed closest genetic relationship to strain Volgograd 2007. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109905. [PMID: 25279973 PMCID: PMC4184904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study the first complete sequence of the West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 strain currently circulating in Romania was determined. The virus was detected in a Hyalomma marginatum marginatum tick collected from a juvenile song thrush (Turdus philomelos) in the Romanian Danube Delta close to the city of Tulcea, end of August 2013. Our finding emphasizes the role of ticks in introduction and maintenance of WNV infections. Sequence analyses revealed close genetic relationship of the Romanian WNV strain to strain Reb_Volgograd_07_H, which was isolated from human brain tissue during an outbreak of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) in Russia in 2007. In 2010 the Eastern European lineage 2 WNV caused an outbreak of human WNND in Romania. Partial sequences from subsequent years demonstrated that this WNV strain became endemic in Eastern Europe and has been causing outbreaks of varying sizes in southern Russia since 2007 and in Romania since 2010.
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45
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Plante JA, Burkhalter KL, Mann BR, Godsey MS, Mutebi JP, Beasley DWC. Co-circulation of West Nile virus variants, Arizona, USA, 2010. Emerg Infect Dis 2014; 20:272-5. [PMID: 24447818 PMCID: PMC3901498 DOI: 10.3201/eid2002.131008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular analysis of West Nile virus (WNV) isolates obtained during a 2010 outbreak in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, demonstrated co-circulation of 3 distinct genetic variants, including strains with novel envelope protein mutations. These results highlight the continuing evolution of WNV in North America and the current complexity of WNV dispersal and transmission.
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46
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Suen WW, Prow NA, Hall RA, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H. Mechanism of West Nile virus neuroinvasion: a critical appraisal. Viruses 2014; 6:2796-825. [PMID: 25046180 PMCID: PMC4113794 DOI: 10.3390/v6072796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an important emerging neurotropic virus, responsible for increasingly severe encephalitis outbreaks in humans and horses worldwide. However, the mechanism by which the virus gains entry to the brain (neuroinvasion) remains poorly understood. Hypotheses of hematogenous and transneural entry have been proposed for WNV neuroinvasion, which revolve mainly around the concepts of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and retrograde axonal transport, respectively. However, an over‑representation of in vitro studies without adequate in vivo validation continues to obscure our understanding of the mechanism(s). Furthermore, WNV infection in the current rodent models does not generate a similar viremia and character of CNS infection, as seen in the common target hosts, humans and horses. These differences ultimately question the applicability of rodent models for pathogenesis investigations. Finally, the role of several barriers against CNS insults, such as the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the CSF-brain and the blood-spinal cord barriers, remain largely unexplored, highlighting the infancy of this field. In this review, a systematic and critical appraisal of the current evidence relevant to the possible mechanism(s) of WNV neuroinvasion is conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willy W Suen
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia.
| | - Natalie A Prow
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Roy A Hall
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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47
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The West Nile virus-like flavivirus Koutango is highly virulent in mice due to delayed viral clearance and the induction of a poor neutralizing antibody response. J Virol 2014; 88:9947-62. [PMID: 24942584 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01304-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) is responsible for outbreaks of viral encephalitis in humans, horses, and birds, with particularly virulent strains causing recent outbreaks of disease in eastern Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Australia. Previous studies have phylogenetically separated WNV strains into two main genetic lineages (I and II) containing virulent strains associated with neurological disease. Several WNV-like strains clustering outside these lineages have been identified and form an additional five proposed lineages. However, little is known about whether these strains have the potential to induce disease. In a comparative analysis with the highly virulent lineage I American strain (WNVNY99), the low-pathogenicity lineage II strain (B956), a benign Australian strain, Kunjin (WNVKUN), the African WNV-like Koutango virus (WNVKOU), and a WNV-like isolate from Sarawak, Malaysia (WNVSarawak), were assessed for neuroinvasive properties in a murine model and for their replication kinetics in vitro. While WNVNY99 replicated to the highest levels in vitro, in vivo mouse challenge revealed that WNVKOU was more virulent, with a shorter time to onset of neurological disease and higher morbidity. Histological analysis of WNVKOU- and WNVNY99-infected brain and spinal cords demonstrated more prominent meningoencephalitis and the presence of viral antigen in WNVKOU-infected mice. Enhanced virulence of WNVKOU also was associated with poor viral clearance in the periphery (sera and spleen), a skewed innate immune response, and poor neutralizing antibody development. These data demonstrate, for the first time, potent neuroinvasive and neurovirulent properties of a WNV-like virus outside lineages I and II. IMPORTANCE In this study, we characterized the in vitro and in vivo properties of previously uncharacterized West Nile virus strains and West Nile-like viruses. We identified a West Nile-like virus, Koutango virus (WNVKOU), that was more virulent than a known virulent lineage I virus, WNVNY99. The enhanced virulence of WNVKOU was associated with poor viral clearance and the induction of a poor neutralizing antibody response. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of West Nile virus.
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Abstract
The resurgence of West Nile virus (WNV) in North America and Europe in recent years has raised the concerns of local authorities and highlighted that mosquito-borne disease is not restricted to tropical regions of the world. WNV is maintained in enzootic cycles involving, primarily, Culex spp. mosquitoes and avian hosts, with epizootic spread to mammals, including horses and humans. Human infection results in symptomatic illness in approximately one-fifth of cases and neuroinvasive disease in less than 1% of infected persons. The most consistently recognized risk factor for neuroinvasive disease is older age, although diabetes mellitus, alcohol excess, and a history of cancer may also increase risk. Despite the increasing public health concern, the current WNV treatments are inadequate. Current evidence supporting the use of ribavirin, interferon α, and WNV-specific immunoglobulin are reviewed. Nucleic acid detection has been an important diagnostic development, which is particularly important for the protection of the donated blood supply. While effective WNV vaccines are widely available for horses, no human vaccine has been registered. Uncertainty surrounds the magnitude of future risk posed by WNV, and predictive models are limited by the heterogeneity of environmental, vector, and host factors, even in neighboring regions. However, recent history has demonstrated that for regions where suitable mosquito vectors and reservoir hosts are present, there will be a risk of major epidemics. Given the potential for these outbreaks to include severe neuroinvasive disease, strategies should be implemented to monitor for, and respond to, outbreak risk. While broadscale mosquito control programs will assist in reducing the abundance of mosquito populations and subsequently reduce the risks of disease, for many individuals, the use of topical insect repellents and other personal protective strategies will remain the first line of defense against infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Gray
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Cameron E Webb
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Pathology West - Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia ; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
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49
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Brien JD, Lazear HM, Diamond MS. Propagation, quantification, detection, and storage of West Nile virus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 31:15D.3.1-15D.3.18. [PMID: 24510289 DOI: 10.1002/9780471729259.mc15d03s31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a member of the Flaviviridae family of enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses. WNV, an emerging viral pathogen, is transmitted by mosquitoes to birds and mammals and is responsible for an increasing incidence of human disease in North America and Europe. Due to its ease of use in the laboratory and the availability of robust mouse models of disease, WNV provides an excellent experimental system for studying molecular virology and pathogenesis of infection by flaviviruses. Here, we describe common laboratory techniques used to propagate, quantify, detect, and store WNV. We also briefly describe appropriate safety precautions required for the laboratory use of WNV, which is classified as a Biosafety Level 3 pathogen by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Brien
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Helen M Lazear
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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50
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Molecular epidemiology and evolution of West Nile virus in North America. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 10:5111-29. [PMID: 24135819 PMCID: PMC3823310 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10105111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Revised: 10/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) was introduced to New York in 1999 and rapidly spread throughout North America and into parts of Central and South America. Displacement of the original New York (NY99) genotype by the North America/West Nile 2002 (NA/WN02) genotype occurred in 2002 with subsequent identification of a novel genotype in 2003 in isolates collected from the southwestern Unites States region (SW/WN03 genotype). Both genotypes co-circulate to date. Subsequent WNV surveillance studies have confirmed additional genotypes in the United States that have become extinct due to lack of a selective advantage or stochastic effect; however, the dynamic emergence, displacement, and extinction of multiple WNV genotypes in the US from 1999–2012 indicates the continued evolution of WNV in North America.
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