Phylogenetic characterization of Central/Southern European lineage 2 West Nile virus: analysis of human outbreaks in Italy and Greece, 2013–2014

This study reports on a fatal case of a captive great grey owl infected with the West Nile virus (WNV) in the zoological garden Košice, eastern Slovakia (Central Europe). The tissue samples of the dead owl were used for virus isolation and genetic characterization. The novel isolate is genetically closer to Hungarian, Greek, and Bulgarian strains from the central/southern European clade of lineage 2 than to the strains previously isolated in Slovakia. Interestingly, it carries NS3-249P, a molecular virulence determinant associated with higher neurovirulence, which has not previously been observed in Slovakia. Subsequent serological investigation of the captive owls revealed additional seropositive animals, indicating local WNV transmission. Although no WNV-positive mosquitoes were found, the presence of the WNV principal vector Culex pipiens complex together with the described fatal case and further serological findings indicate an endemic focus of bird-neurovirulent WNV variant in the area.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Equine encephalomyelitis outbreak caused by a genetic lineage 2 West Nile virus in Hungary.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.10115956.10883054 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Lyle Petersen

Keyword(s):

West Nile Virus ◽

Genetic Lineage ◽

West Nile ◽

Lineage 2

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Characterization of non-lethal West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in horses: Subclinical pathology and innate immune response.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.727148595.793543588 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Tian Wang

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

West Nile Virus ◽

Innate Immune Response ◽

Innate Immune ◽

West Nile

Download Full-text

Contrasted Epidemiological Patterns of West Nile Virus Lineages 1 and 2 Infections in France from 2015 to 2019

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9110908 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 908 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cécile Beck ◽

Isabelle Leparc Goffart ◽

Florian Franke ◽

Gaelle Gonzalez ◽

Marine Dumarest ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

West Nile Virus ◽

Invasive Disease ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Breaking Point ◽

Organ Donors ◽

West Nile ◽

Organ Donations ◽

History Of ◽

Lineage 2

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.

Download Full-text