scholarly journals The challenge of West Nile virus in Europe: knowledge gaps and research priorities

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Rizzoli ◽  
M A Jiménez-Clavero ◽  
L Barzon ◽  
P Cordioli ◽  
J Figuerola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
The European Union ◽  
West Nile ◽  
High Genetic Diversity ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Safety Regulations ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
And Control

West Nile virus (WNV) is continuously spreading across Europe, and other continents, i.e. North and South America and many other regions of the world. Despite the overall sporadic nature of outbreaks with cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) in Europe, the spillover events have increased and the virus has been introduced into new areas. The high genetic diversity of the virus, with remarkable phenotypic variation, and its endemic circulation in several countries, require an intensification of the integrated and multidisciplinary research efforts built under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union (FP7). It is important to better clarify several aspects of WNV circulation in Europe, including its ecology, genomic diversity, pathogenicity, transmissibility, diagnosis and control options, under different environmental and socio-economic scenarios. Identifying WNV endemic as well as infection-free areas is becoming a need for the development of human vaccines and therapeutics and the application of blood and organs safety regulations. This review, produced as a joint initiative among European experts and based on analysis of 118 scientific papers published between 2004 and 2014, provides the state of knowledge on WNV and highlights the existing knowledge and research gaps that need to be addressed with high priority in Europe and neighbouring countries.

scholarly journals Hospital-based enhanced surveillance for West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (15) ◽  
pp. 3170-3175 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. P. LINDSEY ◽  
M. FISCHER ◽  
D. NEITZEL ◽  
E. SCHIFFMAN ◽  
M. L. SALAS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Viral Meningitis ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Optimal Tests ◽  
Attending Physician ◽  
And Control

SUMMARYAccurate data on the incidence of West Nile virus (WNV) disease are important for directing public health education and control activities. The objective of this project was to assess the underdiagnosis of WNV neuroinvasive disease through laboratory testing of patients with suspected viral meningitis or encephalitis at selected hospitals serving WNV-endemic regions in three states. Of the 279 patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens tested for WNV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, 258 (92%) were negative, 19 (7%) were positive, and two (1%) had equivocal results. Overall, 63% (12/19) of patients with WNV IgM-positive CSF had WNV IgM testing ordered by their attending physician. Seven (37%) cases would not have been identified as probable WNV infections without the further testing conducted through this project. These findings indicate that over a third of WNV infections in patients with clinically compatible neurological illness might be undiagnosed due to either lack of testing or inappropriate testing, leading to substantial underestimates of WNV neuroinvasive disease burden. Efforts should be made to educate healthcare providers and laboratorians about the local epidemiology of arboviral diseases and the optimal tests to be used in different clinical situations.

Completeness of West Nile virus testing in patients with meningitis and encephalitis during an outbreak in Arizona, USA

2011 ◽  
Vol 140 (9) ◽  
pp. 1632-1636 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. B. WEBER ◽  
N. P. LINDSEY ◽  
A. M. BUNKO-PATTERSON ◽  
G. BRIGGS ◽  
T. J. WADLEIGH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
And Control ◽  
Virus Testing

SUMMARYAccurate data on West Nile virus (WNV) cases help guide public health education and control activities, and impact regional WNV blood product screening procedures. During an outbreak of WNV disease in Arizona, records from patients with meningitis or encephalitis were reviewed to determine the proportion tested for WNV. Of 60 patients identified with meningitis or encephalitis, 24 (40%) were tested for WNV. Only 12 (28%) of 43 patients aged <50 years were tested for WNV compared to 12 (71%) of 17 patients aged ⩾50 years (P<0·01). Patients with clinical signs of weakness or paralysis, elevated CSF protein, admitted to an inpatient facility, or discharged to a rehabilitation facility were also more likely to have WNV testing performed. The lack of testing in younger age groups and in those with less severe disease probably resulted in substantial underestimates of WNV neuroinvasive disease burden.

Malignant glial neuronal tumors after west nile virus neuroinvasive disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyx B Porter ◽  
Akanksha Sharma ◽  
Marie F Grill ◽  
Scott Spritzer ◽  
A Arturo Leis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Neuronal Tumors

scholarly journals Animal and Human Vaccines against West Nile Virus

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1073
Author(s):  
Juan-Carlos Saiz
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Specific Therapy ◽  
Phase Iii Clinical Trials ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Status

West Nile virus (WNV) is a widely distributed enveloped flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, which main hosts are birds. The virus sporadically infects equids and humans with serious economic and health consequences, as infected individuals can develop a severe neuroinvasive disease that can even lead to death. Nowadays, no WNV-specific therapy is available and vaccines are only licensed for use in horses but not for humans. While several methodologies for WNV vaccine development have been successfully applied and have contributed to significantly reducing its incidence in horses in the US, none have progressed to phase III clinical trials in humans. This review addresses the status of WNV vaccines for horses, birds, and humans, summarizing and discussing the challenges they face for their clinical advance and their introduction to the market.

Pediatric West Nile Virus-Associated Neuroinvasive Disease: A Review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 16-25
Author(s):  
Rachelle Herring ◽  
Nilesh Desai ◽  
Mered Parnes ◽  
Imad Jarjour
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease

scholarly journals Increase in human West Nile and Usutu virus infections, Austria, 2018

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (43) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan W. Aberle ◽  
Jolanta Kolodziejek ◽  
Christof Jungbauer ◽  
Karin Stiasny ◽  
Judith H. Aberle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
West Nile Fever ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Usutu Virus ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Human West Nile Virus ◽  
Imported Cases

Between 28 June and 17 September 2018, 27 cases of human West Nile virus infections were recorded in Austria; four cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease, 11 cases of West Nile fever, six infections detected by blood donation screening and six imported cases. In addition, 18 cases of human Usutu virus infections (all blood donors) were recorded. This is the highest number of annual infections recorded in Austria since the introduction of both viruses.

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