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Horton EB, Robertson SL. A stochastic multi-host model for West Nile virus transmission. J Biol Dyn 2024; 18:2293780. [PMID: 38153263 DOI: 10.1080/17513758.2023.2293780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
When initially introduced into a susceptible population, a disease may die out or result in a major outbreak. We present a Continuous-Time Markov Chain model for enzootic WNV transmission between two avian host species and a single vector, and use multitype branching process theory to determine the probability of disease extinction based upon the type of infected individual initially introducing the disease into the population - an exposed vector, infectious vector, or infectious host of either species. We explore how the likelihood of disease extinction depends on the ability of each host species to transmit WNV, vector biting rates on host species, and the relative abundance of host species, as well as vector abundance. Theoretical predictions are compared to the outcome of stochastic simulations. We find the community composition of hosts and vectors, as well as the means of disease introduction, can greatly affect the probability of disease extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily B Horton
- SYSM PhD Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Suzanne L Robertson
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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2
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Drwiega EN, Danziger LH, Burgos RM, Michienzi SM. Commonly Reported Mosquito-Borne Viruses in the United States: A Primer for Pharmacists. J Pharm Pract 2024; 37:741-752. [PMID: 37018738 DOI: 10.1177/08971900231167929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases are a public health concern. Pharmacists are often a patient's first stop for health information and may be asked questions regarding transmission, symptoms, and treatment of mosquito borne viruses (MBVs). The objective of this paper is to review transmission, geographic location, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of MBVs. We discuss the following viruses with cases in the US in recent years: Dengue, West Nile, Chikungunya, LaCrosse Encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, and Zika. Prevention, including vaccines, and the impact of climate change are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N Drwiega
- College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Larry H Danziger
- College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rodrigo M Burgos
- College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah M Michienzi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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3
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Bayles BR, George MF, Christofferson RC. Long-term trends and spatial patterns of West Nile Virus emergence in California, 2004-2021. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:258-266. [PMID: 38110854 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS West Nile Virus (WNV) has remained a persistent source of vector-borne disease risk in California since first being identified in the state in 2003. The geographic distribution of WNV activity is relatively widespread, but varies considerably across different regions within the state. Spatial variation in human WNV infection depends upon social-ecological factors that influence mosquito populations and virus transmission dynamics. Measuring changes in spatial patterns over time is necessary for uncovering the underlying regional drivers of disease risk. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study, we utilized statewide surveillance data to quantify temporal changes and spatial patterns of WNV activity in California. We obtained annual WNV mosquito surveillance data from 2004 through 2021 from the California Arbovirus Surveillance Program. Geographic coordinates for mosquito pools were analysed using a suite of spatial statistics to identify and classify patterns in WNV activity over time. CONCLUSIONS We detected clear patterns of non-random WNV risk during the study period, including emerging hot spots in the Central Valley and non-random periods of oscillating WNV risk in Southern and Northern California subregions. Our findings offer new insights into 18 years of spatio-temporal variation in WNV activity across California, which may be used for targeted surveillance efforts and public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett R Bayles
- Department of Global Public Health, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California, USA
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Michaela F George
- Department of Global Public Health, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California, USA
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Fonzo M, Bertoncello C, Tudor L, Miccolis L, Serpentino M, Petta D, Amoruso I, Baldovin T, Trevisan A. Do we protect ourselves against West Nile Virus? A systematic review on knowledge, attitudes, and practices and their determinants. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:868-880. [PMID: 38555655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus. In humans, 80% of infections are asymptomatic, while approximately 20% experience influenza-like symptoms. Fewer than 1% develop the neuroinvasive form which can lead to encephalitis, meningitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and even death. The global spread of the virus to areas where it was not previously present has become a growing concern. Since the 2000 s, there have been numerous outbreaks affecting local and travelling populations worldwide. Given the lack of a vaccine, preventative measures are primarily focused on surveillance, vector control, and the use of personal protective behaviours (PPBs). The importance of PPBs is central to public health recommendations. However, translating these messages into coherent action by the public can prove challenging, as the uptake of such measures is inevitably influenced by socio-economic factors, awareness, knowledge, and risk perception. METHODS A PRISMA-based systematic research was conducted on EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. PROSPERO registration number CRD42023459714. Quality of studies included in the final stage was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Cross-Sectional Study (CEBMa). RESULTS 2963 articles were screened, and 17 studies were included in the final round. Out of these, six were deemed of high quality, ten were of medium quality, and one was of low quality. In almost all studies considered, both awareness and knowledge of WNV transmission were above 90%, while concern about WNV ranged from 50% to 80%. Concern about the safety of repellents, either with or without DEET, ranged from 27% to 70%. The percentage of people actually using repellents ranged from 30% to 75%, with the lowest usage reported among individuals over 60 years old (29%) and pregnant women (33%), and the highest among students aged 9-11 (75%). Concern for West Nile Virus (WNV) was consistently linked to an increase in taking preventative measures, including the use of repellents, by two to four times across studies. The school-based intervention was effective in increasing the practice of removing standing water (AOR=4.6; 2.7-8.0) and wearing long clothing (AOR=2.4; 95%CI: 1.3-4.3), but did not have a significant impact on the use of repellents. CONCLUSIONS The present systematic review provides an overview of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of WNV and their determinants. While concern about West Nile Virus (WNV) and its effects can be a significant motivator, it is important to promote evidence-based personal protective behaviours (PPBs) to counter unwarranted fears. For example, the use of repellents among the most vulnerable age groups. Given the geographical expansion of WNV, it is necessary to target the entire population preventively, including those who are difficult to reach and areas not yet endemic. The findings of this investigation could have significant implications for public health and support well-informed and effective communication strategies and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fonzo
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Bertoncello
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Liliana Tudor
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Liana Miccolis
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Michele Serpentino
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Daniele Petta
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Irene Amoruso
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Tatjana Baldovin
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Trevisan
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Simonin Y. Circulation of West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus in Europe: Overview and Challenges. Viruses 2024; 16:599. [PMID: 38675940 PMCID: PMC11055060 DOI: 10.3390/v16040599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) and Usutu Virus (USUV) are both neurotropic mosquito-borne viruses belonging to the Flaviviridae family. These closely related viruses mainly follow an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes as vectors and birds as amplifying hosts, but humans and other mammals can also be infected through mosquito bites. WNV was first identified in Uganda in 1937 and has since spread globally, notably in Europe, causing periodic outbreaks associated with severe cases of neuroinvasive diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis. USUV was initially isolated in 1959 in Swaziland and has also spread to Europe, primarily affecting birds and having a limited impact on human health. There has been a recent expansion of these viruses' geographic range in Europe, facilitated by factors such as climate change, leading to increased human exposure. While sharing similar biological traits, ecology, and epidemiology, there are significant distinctions in their pathogenicity and their impact on both human and animal health. While WNV has been more extensively studied and is a significant public health concern in many regions, USUV has recently been gaining attention due to its emergence in Europe and the diversity of its circulating lineages. Understanding the pathophysiology, ecology, and transmission dynamics of these viruses is important to the implementation of effective surveillance and control measures. This perspective provides a brief overview of the current situation of these two viruses in Europe and outlines the significant challenges that need to be addressed in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Simonin
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France
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Valsecchi N, Veronese C, Roda M, Ciardella AP, Fontana L. Bilateral multifocal chorioretinitis as the only presentation of acute West Nile virus infection: a case report. BMC Ophthalmol 2024; 24:160. [PMID: 38600458 PMCID: PMC11008036 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03423-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To describe a case of bilateral multifocal chorioretinitis as the only presentation of acute West Nile virus (WNV) infection in the absence of neurological involvement. CASE PRESENTATION A 78-year-old Italian woman was admitted to our emergency department because she noticed blurry vision in both eyes. She did not report fever, fatigue, or neurological symptoms in the last few days. Multimodal imaging showed the presence of bilateral hyperfluorescent lesions with a linear distribution, that corresponded to hypocyanescent spots on indocyanine green angiography. Antibody serology showed the presence of IgM antibodies, IgG antibodies, and ribonucleic acid (RNA) for WNV. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain ruled out central nervous system involvement. Three months later, the patient reported spontaneous resolution of her symptoms and remission of the chorioretinal infiltrates. CONCLUSIONS In endemic areas, it is important to think of acute WNV infection as an explanatory etiology in cases of multifocal chorioretinitis, even without neurological involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Valsecchi
- Ophthalmology Unit, Dipartimento Di Scienze Mediche E Chirurgiche, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Chiara Veronese
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matilde Roda
- Ophthalmology Unit, Dipartimento Di Scienze Mediche E Chirurgiche, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Fontana
- Ophthalmology Unit, Dipartimento Di Scienze Mediche E Chirurgiche, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Khan MA, Adnan F, Khursheed N. From mosquitoes to menace: Unveiling the dangers of West Nile virus in Pakistan. Trop Doct 2024; 54:89-90. [PMID: 38225191 DOI: 10.1177/00494755231224095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Pakistan, a subtropical nation, has seen a rapid rise in Arboviral transmission in the past decade. Environmental hazards such as intense monsoon rains and yearly floods in addition to unsanitary living conditions pose an increased risk of arboviral infections. In recent years, the emergence and spread of West Nile virus (WNV), which can lead to a life-threatening meningoencephalitis, in Pakistan has alarmed the health care authorities of an impending outbreak. Health professionals and policymakers should give paramount importance to prevent its transmission across Pakistan as another arboviral outbreak would wreak havoc on the already fragile health infrastructure of the country. Proactive surveillance and prompt reporting are crucial for mitigating this threat as there are no vaccines available to prevent WNV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moiz Ahmed Khan
- Senior Registrar, Microbiology Department, The Indus Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Fareeha Adnan
- Consultant, Microbiology Department, The Indus Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nazia Khursheed
- Consultant, Microbiology Department, The Indus Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
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Carmena de la Asunción A, Jiménez Pérez de Heredia I, Belda Mira A. West Nile virus infection: first autochthonous case in the Community of Valencia. Rev Clin Esp 2024; 224:249-251. [PMID: 38452898 DOI: 10.1016/j.rceng.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - A Belda Mira
- Servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain
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Mumoli N, Evangelista I, Capra C, Mantegazza P, Cei F. West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease: An emerging climate-change related sneaky syndrome. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:609-611. [PMID: 38394879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mumoli
- Department of Internal Medicine, ASST Ovest Milanese, Magenta Hospital, Magenta, MI, Italy.
| | - Isabella Evangelista
- Department of Internal Medicine, ASST Ovest Milanese, Magenta Hospital, Magenta, MI, Italy
| | - Carlo Capra
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, ASST Ovest Milanese, Magenta Hospital, Magenta, MI, Italy
| | - Paola Mantegazza
- Department of Neurology, ASST Ovest Milanese, Magenta Hospital, Magenta, MI, Italy
| | - Francesco Cei
- Department of Internal Medicine, San Giuseppe Hospital, Empoli, Italy
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Varga Z, Bueno-Marí R, Risueño Iranzo J, Kurucz K, Tóth GE, Zana B, Zeghbib S, Görföl T, Jakab F, Kemenesi G. Accelerating targeted mosquito control efforts through mobile West Nile virus detection. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:140. [PMID: 38500161 PMCID: PMC10949795 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06231-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different mosquito control strategies have been implemented to mitigate or prevent mosquito-related public health situations. Modern mosquito control largely relies on multiple approaches, including targeted, specific treatments. Given this, it is becoming increasingly important to supplement these activities with rapid and mobile diagnostic capacities for mosquito-borne diseases. We aimed to create and test the applicability of a rapid diagnostic system for West Nile virus that can be used under field conditions. METHODS In this pilot study, various types of adult mosquito traps were applied within the regular mosquito monitoring activity framework for mosquito control. Then, the captured specimens were used for the detection of West Nile virus RNA under field conditions with a portable qRT-PCR approach within 3-4 h. Then, positive samples were subjected to confirmatory RT-PCR or NGS sequencing in the laboratory to obtain genome information of the virus. We implemented phylogenetic analysis to characterize circulating strains. RESULTS A total of 356 mosquito individuals representing 7 species were processed in 54 pools, each containing up to 20 individuals. These pools were tested for the presence of West Nile virus, and two pools tested positive, containing specimens from the Culex pipiens and Anopheles atroparvus mosquito species. As a result of subsequent sequencing, we present the complete genome of West Nile virus and Bagaza virus. CONCLUSIONS The rapid identification of infected mosquitoes is the most important component of quick response adulticide or larvicide treatments to prevent human cases. The conceptual framework of real-time surveillance can be optimized for other pathogens and situations not only in relation to West Nile virus. We present an early warning system for mosquito-borne diseases and demonstrate its application to aid rapid-response mosquito control actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsaklin Varga
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Rubén Bueno-Marí
- Department of Research and Development, Laboratorios Lokímica, Valencia, Spain
- Parasite & Health Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - José Risueño Iranzo
- Department of Research and Development, Laboratorios Lokímica, Valencia, Spain
| | - Kornélia Kurucz
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Endre Tóth
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Brigitta Zana
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Safia Zeghbib
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Görföl
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jakab
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
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Cochet M, Piumi F, Gorna K, Berry N, Gonzalez G, Danckaert A, Aulner N, Blanchet O, Zientara S, Donadeu FX, Munier-Lehmann H, Richardson J, Benchoua A, Coulpier M. An equine iPSC-based phenotypic screening platform identifies pro- and anti-viral molecules against West Nile virus. Vet Res 2024; 55:32. [PMID: 38493182 PMCID: PMC10943879 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01290-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) occur periodically, affecting both human and equine populations. There are no vaccines for humans, and those commercialised for horses do not have sufficient coverage. Specific antiviral treatments do not exist. Many drug discovery studies have been conducted, but since rodent or primate cell lines are normally used, results cannot always be transposed to horses. There is thus a need to develop relevant equine cellular models. Here, we used induced pluripotent stem cells to develop a new in vitro model of WNV-infected equine brain cells suitable for microplate assay, and assessed the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of forty-one chemical compounds. We found that one nucleoside analog, 2'C-methylcytidine, blocked WNV infection in equine brain cells, whereas other compounds were either toxic or ineffective, despite some displaying anti-viral activity in human cell lines. We also revealed an unexpected proviral effect of statins in WNV-infected equine brain cells. Our results thus identify a potential lead for future drug development and underscore the importance of using a tissue- and species-relevant cellular model for assessing the activity of antiviral compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marielle Cochet
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - François Piumi
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Kamila Gorna
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Noémie Berry
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Gaëlle Gonzalez
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Anne Danckaert
- UTechS Photonics Bioimaging/C2RT, Institut Pasteur Paris, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Aulner
- UTechS Photonics Bioimaging/C2RT, Institut Pasteur Paris, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Odile Blanchet
- Centre de Ressources Biologiques, BB-0033-00038, CHU Angers, 49933, Angers, France
| | - Stéphan Zientara
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Francesc Xavier Donadeu
- Division of Translational Bioscience, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | | | - Jennifer Richardson
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Muriel Coulpier
- UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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Mbonde AA, Gritsch D, Harahsheh EY, Kasule SN, Hasan S, Parsons AM, Zhang N, Butterfield R, Shiue H, Norville KA, Reynolds JL, Vikram HR, Chong B, Grill MF. Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus Infection in Immunosuppressed and Immunocompetent Adults. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e244294. [PMID: 38546642 PMCID: PMC10979308 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.4294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of human arboviral disease in the US, peaking during summer. The incidence of WNV, including its neuroinvasive form (NWNV), is increasing, largely due to the expanding distribution of its vector, the Culex mosquito, and climatic changes causing heavy monsoon rains. However, the distinct characteristics and outcomes of NWNV in individuals who are immunosuppressed (IS) and individuals who are not IS remain underexplored. Objective To describe and compare clinical and radiographic features, treatment responses, and outcomes of NWNV infection in individuals who are IS and those who are not IS. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study used data from the Mayo Clinic Hospital system collected from July 2006 to December 2021. Participants were adult patients (age ≥18 years) with established diagnosis of NWNV infection. Data were analyzed from May 12, 2020, to July 20, 2023. Exposure Immunosuppresion. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes of interest were clinical and radiographic features and 90-day mortality among patients with and without IS. Results Of 115 participants with NWNV infection (mean [SD] age, 64 [16] years; 75 [66%] male) enrolled, 72 (63%) were not IS and 43 (37%) were IS. Neurologic manifestations were meningoencephalitis (98 patients [85%]), encephalitis (10 patients [9%]), and myeloradiculitis (7 patients [6%]). Patients without IS, compared with those with IS, more frequently reported headache (45 patients [63%] vs 18 patients [42%]) and myalgias (32 patients [44%] vs 9 patients [21%]). In contrast, patients with IS, compared with those without, had higher rates of altered mental status (33 patients [77%] vs 41 patients [57%]) and myoclonus (8 patients [19%] vs 8 patients [4%]). Magnetic resonance imaging revealed more frequent thalamic T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities in individuals with IS than those without (4 patients [11%] vs 0 patients). Individuals with IS had more severe disease requiring higher rates of intensive care unit admission (26 patients [61%] vs 24 patients [33%]) and mechanical ventilation (24 patients [56%] vs 22 patients [31%]). The 90-day all-cause mortality rate was higher in the patients with IS compared with patients without IS (12 patients [28%] vs 5 patients [7%]), and this difference in mortality persisted after adjusting for Glasgow Coma Scale score (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.07-4.27; P = .03). Individuals with IS were more likely to receive intravenous immunoglobulin than individuals without IS (12 individuals [17%] vs 24 individuals [56%]), but its use was not associated with survival (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.50-3.09; P = .64). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of individuals with NWNV infection, individuals with IS had a higher risk of disease complications and poor outcomes than individuals without IS, highlighting the need for innovative and effective therapies to improve outcomes in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir A. Mbonde
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - David Gritsch
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ehab Y. Harahsheh
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Sabirah N. Kasule
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Shemonti Hasan
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | | | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Richard Butterfield
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Harn Shiue
- Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Kathryn A. Norville
- Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Jenna L. Reynolds
- Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Holenarasipur R. Vikram
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Brian Chong
- Department of Neuroradiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Marie F. Grill
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona
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Ferraguti M, Magallanes S, Mora-Rubio C, Bravo-Barriga D, Marzal A, Hernandez-Caballero I, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Llorente F, Pérez-Ramírez E, Guerrero-Carvajal F, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Frontera E, Ortiz JA, de Lope F. Implications of migratory and exotic birds and the mosquito community on West Nile virus transmission. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:206-219. [PMID: 38160682 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2288614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) pose a global health challenge, with rising incidence and distribution. Culex mosquitoes are crucial WNV vectors. Avian species composition and bird community diversity, along with vector communities, influence WNV transmission patterns. However, limited knowledge exists on their impact in southwestern Spain, an area with active WNV circulation in wild birds, mosquitoes, and humans. METHODS To address this, we conducted a comprehensive study investigating the contributions of migratory and exotic bird species to WNV transmission and the influence of mosquito community composition. RESULTS Analysing 1194 serum samples from 44 avian species, we detected WNV antibodies in 32 samples from 11 species, four for the first time in Europe. Migratory birds had higher WNV exposure likelihood than native and exotic species, and higher phylogenetic diversity in bird communities correlated with lower exposure rates. Moreover, in 5859 female mosquitoes belonging to 12 species, we identified WNV competent vectors like Cx. pipiens s.l. and the Univittatus subgroup. Birds with WNV antibodies were positively associated with competent vector abundance, but negatively with overall mosquito species richness. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the complex interactions between bird species, their phylogenetics, and mosquito vectors in WNV transmission. Understanding these dynamics will help to implement effective disease control strategies in southwestern Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Seville, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Seville, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Mora-Rubio
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Universidad de Córdoba, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Zoonosis y Sanidad Animal (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Córdoba, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Veterinaria, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Parasitología, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Tarapoto, Perú
| | - Irene Hernandez-Caballero
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Llorente
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Elisa Pérez-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Eva Frontera
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Tarapoto, Perú
| | | | - Florentino de Lope
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
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14
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Rehbein MM, Viadero R, Hunt JR, Miller C. The Role of Temperature, Wind Speed, and Precipitation on the Abundance of Culex Species and West Nile Virus Infection Rate in Rural West-Central Illinois. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2024; 40:1-10. [PMID: 38314881 DOI: 10.2987/23-7152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
While most research on West Nile virus (WNV) and its main vector, the Culex mosquito, has been conducted in laboratory or urban settings, studies with field-caught mosquitoes in rural areas, such as west-central Illinois, are lacking. The objective of this research was to investigate key abiotic factors using macroclimate data, including temperature, precipitation, and wind speed, to determine their influence on field-caught mosquito abundance in 4 rural counties in Illinois from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, the relationship between minimum infection rate (MIR) and thermal time was examined. Using gravid traps at 15 sites, Culex mosquitoes were collected twice a week. A total of 5,255 adult female Culex mosquitoes (Cx. pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and Cx. restuans) were collected in 2014; 9,138 in 2015; and 5,702 in 2016. Regression models were developed based on outcomes of relationships between field-caught mosquitoes and abiotic factors. Precipitation and thermal time had the most significant relationship with mosquito abundance (r2 = 0.993 and r2 = 0.993, respectively), while wind speed was less (r2 = 0.714). The greatest number of Culex and the highest annual MIR were observed in 2015, which was also the driest of the 3 sampling seasons. Mosquito abundance was observed to increase with warmer degree days and MIR was found to increase with abundance in mosquitoes. These models can be used for other mosquito surveillance and monitoring studies in various climate types and environments.
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15
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Genc AC, Karabay O, Güçlü E, Çalıca Utku A, Vatan A, Tuna N, Budak G, Şimşek A, Uzun C, Alan S, Okan HD, Genc FT, Öğütlü A. New Prognostic Parameter of West Nile Virus: Platelet Distribution Width. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:166-171. [PMID: 37824783 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: West Nile virus (WNV) infection is a viral disease caused by arboviruses. It can cause epidemics of febrile diseases and meningoencephalitis, especially at the end of the summer season. In this study, we aimed to determine the risk factors of WNV encephalitis with a case-control study of the patients followed in our clinic. Materials and Methods: Among the patients who applied to our hospital with sudden onset fever, headache, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, maculopapular rash, viral meningitis, or encephalitis findings in late summer and early autumn, those diagnosed with positive WNV PCR and antibody tests were defined as WNV cases. In the same date range, patients with clinically compatible but negative serological and PCR tests for WNV in our hospital were considered as the control group. Results: WNV infection was diagnosed in 26 of 48 patients who were examined with a preliminary diagnosis of WNV infection, and the other 22 patients were considered as the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, 1-h erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alkaline phosphatase, platelet, and platelet distribution width (PDW). PDW >17.85% indicated WNV infection with 82% sensitivity and 91% specificity. PDW percentage >17.85 increased the risk of WNV infection by 6.1 times. The power of the study was calculated as 83%. Conclusion: The most common findings in WNV cases were fever and confusion. WNV infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with fever and confusion in September and October in settlements on the migration route of birds. The percentage of PDW in whole blood examination can guide the differential diagnosis of WNV cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Cihad Genc
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hendek State Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Oğuz Karabay
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Ertuğrul Güçlü
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Aylin Çalıca Utku
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Aslı Vatan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Nazan Tuna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Namık Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Gökçen Budak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Adem Şimşek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Cem Uzun
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Sevgi Alan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Doğuş Okan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
| | | | - Aziz Öğütlü
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey
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16
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Rucci KA, Arias-Builes DL, Visintin AM, Diaz A. Serological survey reveals enzootic circulation of St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile viruses in semiarid Monte ecosystem of Argentina. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4994. [PMID: 38424362 PMCID: PMC10904362 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55723-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are arboviruses transmitted by Culex mosquitoes and amplified in avian hosts. The present study aimed to investigate the presence and seasonal circulation of SLEV and WNV in La Rioja province, within the semiarid ecoregion of the Monte, Argentina. Over a two-year period, avian sera were collected and tested for neutralizing antibodies against SLEV and WNV. Our results reveal the enzootic activity of both viruses in this challenging environment. SLEV seroprevalence was 4.5% (35/778), with higher activity in spring (2016) and autumn (2017). WNV seroprevalence was 3.5% (27/778), peaking during the summer 2016-2017. Greater seroprevalence for SLEV in 2016 was detected for the Lark-like Brushrunner (Coryphistera alaudina) and the Short-billed Canastero (Asthenes baeri) and in 2017 for the Black-crested Finch (Lophospingus pusillus) and Lark-like Brushrunner, whereas for WNV greater seroprevalence in 2016 was detected for the Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui) and in 2017 for the Lark-like Brushrunner and Band-tailed Seedeater (Catamenia analis). Additionally, five avian individuals experienced seroconversion during the sampling period, namely the Lark-like Brushrunner and White-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum) for SLEV, and the Lark-like Brushrunner, Greater Wagtail Tyrant (Stigmatura budytoides) and Many-colored Chaco Finch (Saltatricula multicolor) for WNV. The study highlights the persistence and circulation of these viruses in a semiarid ecosystem, raising questions about overwintering mechanisms and transmission dynamics. This research contributes to understanding arbovirus ecology in diverse environments. Further investigations are needed to assess the specific mechanisms facilitating virus persistence in the Monte ecoregion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Rucci
- Laboratorio de Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego L Arias-Builes
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de Chilecito, Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina
| | - Andrés M Visintin
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (CENIIT), Instituto de Biología de la Conservación y Paleobiología (IBICOPA), Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Adrián Diaz
- Laboratorio de Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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17
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Erazo D, Grant L, Ghisbain G, Marini G, Colón-González FJ, Wint W, Rizzoli A, Van Bortel W, Vogels CBF, Grubaugh ND, Mengel M, Frieler K, Thiery W, Dellicour S. Contribution of climate change to the spatial expansion of West Nile virus in Europe. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1196. [PMID: 38331945 PMCID: PMC10853512 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45290-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen in Europe where it represents a new public health threat. While climate change has been cited as a potential driver of its spatial expansion on the continent, a formal evaluation of this causal relationship is lacking. Here, we investigate the extent to which WNV spatial expansion in Europe can be attributed to climate change while accounting for other direct human influences such as land-use and human population changes. To this end, we trained ecological niche models to predict the risk of local WNV circulation leading to human cases to then unravel the isolated effect of climate change by comparing factual simulations to a counterfactual based on the same environmental changes but a counterfactual climate where long-term trends have been removed. Our findings demonstrate a notable increase in the area ecologically suitable for WNV circulation during the period 1901-2019, whereas this area remains largely unchanged in a no-climate-change counterfactual. We show that the drastic increase in the human population at risk of exposure is partly due to historical changes in population density, but that climate change has also been a critical driver behind the heightened risk of WNV circulation in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Erazo
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Luke Grant
- Department of Water and Climate, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guillaume Ghisbain
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Marini
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | | | - William Wint
- Environmental Research Group Oxford Ltd, Department of Biology, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Wim Van Bortel
- Unit Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Outbreak Research team, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - 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
| | - Matthias Mengel
- Department Transformation Pathways, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Katja Frieler
- Department Transformation Pathways, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Wim Thiery
- Department of Water and Climate, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - 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.
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18
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Nikolić N, Poluga J, Milošević I, Todorović N, Filipović A, Jegorović B, Mitrović N, Karić U, Gmizić I, Stevanović G, Milošević B. Neurological and neuromuscular manifestations in patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, Belgrade area, Serbia, season 2022. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:719-726. [PMID: 37606743 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07025-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We aimed to describe neurological manifestations and functional outcome at discharge in patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease. METHODS This retrospective study enrolled inpatients treated in the University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Belgrade, Serbia, from 1 June until 31 October 2022. Functional outcome at discharge was assessed using modified Rankin scale. RESULTS Among the 135 analyzed patients, encephalitis, meningitis and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) were present in 114 (84.6%), 20 (14.8%), and 21 (15.6%), respectively. Quadriparesis/quadriplegia and monoparesis were the most frequent forms of AFP, present in 9 (6.7%) and 6 (4.4%) patients, respectively. Fourty-five (33.3%) patients had cerebellitis, 80 (59.3%) had rhombencephalitis, and 5 (3.7%) exhibited Parkinsonism. Ataxia and wide-based gait were present in 79 (58.5%) patients each. Fifty-one (37.8%) patients had tremor (41 (30.3%) had postural and/or kinetic tremor, 10 (7.4%) had resting tremor). Glasgow coma score (GCS) ≤ 8 and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation developed in 39 (28.9%), and 33 (24.4%) patients, respectively. Quadriparesis was a risk factor for prolonged ventilator support (29.5 ± 16.8 vs. 12.4 ± 8.7 days, p = 0.001). At discharge, one patient with monoparesis recovered full muscle strength, whereas 8 patients with AFP were functionally dependent. Twenty-nine (21.5%) patients died. All of the succumbed had encephalitis, and 7 had quadriparesis. Ataxia, tremor and cognitive deficit persisted in 18 (16.9%), 15 (14.2%), and 22 (16.3%) patients at discharge, respectively. Age, malignancy, coronary disease, quadriparesis, mechanical ventilation, GCS ≤ 8 and healthcare-associated infections were risk factors for death (p = 0.001; p = 0.019; p = 0.004; p = 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataša Nikolić
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jasmina Poluga
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Milošević
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nevena Todorović
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Filipović
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Boris Jegorović
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nikola Mitrović
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Uroš Karić
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Gmizić
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Goran Stevanović
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branko Milošević
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
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19
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Wan G, Allen J, Ge W, Rawlani S, Uelmen J, Mainzer LS, Smith RL. Two-step light gradient boosted model to identify human west nile virus infection risk factor in Chicago. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296283. [PMID: 38181002 PMCID: PMC10769082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a flavivirus transmitted by mosquito bites, causes primarily mild symptoms but can also be fatal. Therefore, predicting and controlling the spread of West Nile virus is essential for public health in endemic areas. We hypothesized that socioeconomic factors may influence human risk from WNV. We analyzed a list of weather, land use, mosquito surveillance, and socioeconomic variables for predicting WNV cases in 1-km hexagonal grids across the Chicago metropolitan area. We used a two-stage lightGBM approach to perform the analysis and found that hexagons with incomes above and below the median are influenced by the same top characteristics. We found that weather factors and mosquito infection rates were the strongest common factors. Land use and socioeconomic variables had relatively small contributions in predicting WNV cases. The Light GBM handles unbalanced data sets well and provides meaningful predictions of the risk of epidemic disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangya Wan
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Statistics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Joshua Allen
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Weihao Ge
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Shubham Rawlani
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
- Information School, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - John Uelmen
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Liudmila Sergeevna Mainzer
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
- Car R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Lee Smith
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
- Car R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
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20
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Parums DV. Editorial: Climate Change and the Spread of Vector-Borne Diseases, Including Dengue, Malaria, Lyme Disease, and West Nile Virus Infection. Med Sci Monit 2024; 29:e943546. [PMID: 38161310 PMCID: PMC10768291 DOI: 10.12659/msm.943546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The major health threats from climate change include increasing temperatures, air pollution, extreme weather events, changes in the spread of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, emerging pathogens, and an increase in vector-borne disease. Between October and December 2023, in 200 medical journal, epidemiologists, clinicians, healthcare policymakers, and journal editors published an emergency call to action to health professionals, the United Nations, and political leaders on climate change and its effects on the ecosystem and human health. Also, in December 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its sixth Assessment Report (AR6) that summarizes current knowledge, impacts, and health risks from climate change, as well as suggestions for mitigation and adaptation. For over a decade, the IPCC has reported that the prevalence of vector-borne diseases has increased and highlighted the importance of monitoring dengue, malaria, Lyme disease, West Nile virus infection, and other vector-borne diseases. This editorial aims to provide an update on the association between climate change and the spread of vector-borne diseases and highlights the urgent need for public health and disease prevention and treatment strategies to control the rise in vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinah V Parums
- Science Editor, Medical Science Monitor, International Scientific Information, Inc., Melville, NY, USA
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21
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Lu L, Zhang F, Oude Munnink BB, Munger E, Sikkema RS, Pappa S, Tsioka K, Sinigaglia A, Dal Molin E, Shih BB, Günther A, Pohlmann A, Ziegler U, Beer M, Taylor RA, Bartumeus F, Woolhouse M, Aarestrup FM, Barzon L, Papa A, Lycett S, Koopmans MPG. West Nile virus spread in Europe: Phylogeographic pattern analysis and key drivers. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011880. [PMID: 38271294 PMCID: PMC10810478 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks in birds, humans, and livestock have occurred in multiple areas in Europe and have had a significant impact on animal and human health. The patterns of emergence and spread of WNV in Europe are very different from those in the US and understanding these are important for guiding preparedness activities. METHODS We mapped the evolution and spread history of WNV in Europe by incorporating viral genome sequences and epidemiological data into phylodynamic models. Spatially explicit phylogeographic models were developed to explore the possible contribution of different drivers to viral dispersal direction and velocity. A "skygrid-GLM" approach was used to identify how changes in environments would predict viral genetic diversity variations over time. FINDINGS Among the six lineages found in Europe, WNV-2a (a sub-lineage of WNV-2) has been predominant (accounting for 73% of all sequences obtained in Europe that have been shared in the public domain) and has spread to at least 14 countries. In the past two decades, WNV-2a has evolved into two major co-circulating clusters, both originating from Central Europe, but with distinct dynamic history and transmission patterns. WNV-2a spreads at a high dispersal velocity (88km/yr-215 km/yr) which is correlated to bird movements. Notably, amongst multiple drivers that could affect the spread of WNV, factors related to land use were found to strongly influence the spread of WNV. Specifically, the intensity of agricultural activities (defined by factors related to crops and livestock production, such as coverage of cropland, pasture, cultivated and managed vegetation, livestock density) were positively associated with both spread direction and velocity. In addition, WNV spread direction was associated with high coverage of wetlands and migratory bird flyways. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that-in addition to ecological conditions favouring bird- and mosquito- presence-agricultural land use may be a significant driver of WNV emergence and spread. Our study also identified significant gaps in data and the need to strengthen virological surveillance in countries of Central Europe from where WNV outbreaks are likely seeded. Enhanced monitoring for early detection of further dispersal could be targeted to areas with high agricultural activities and habitats of migratory birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Lu
- Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Feifei Zhang
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Bas B. Oude Munnink
- Erasmus MC, Viroscience and Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Emmanuelle Munger
- Erasmus MC, Viroscience and Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Reina S. Sikkema
- Erasmus MC, Viroscience and Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Styliani Pappa
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Katerina Tsioka
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | - Barbara B. Shih
- Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Günther
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Riems, Germany
| | - Anne Pohlmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Riems, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Riems, Germany
| | - Rachel A. Taylor
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, United Kingdom
| | - Frederic Bartumeus
- Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Girona, Spain
- Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mark Woolhouse
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Frank M. Aarestrup
- Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Papa
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Samantha Lycett
- Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Marion P. G. Koopmans
- Erasmus MC, Viroscience and Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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22
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Bektore B, Dogan B, Ozkul A, Gozalan A. West Nile virus seropositivity in Alanya, a coastal city in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Ann Saudi Med 2024; 44:48-54. [PMID: 38311862 PMCID: PMC10839453 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2024.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV)-related illness is a global health problem. Understanding the seropositivity rates and identifying the risk factors related to WNV in various animal species including humans is crucial for the implementation of effective prevention strategies. OBJECTIVES Assess the rate of seropositivity and the risk factors associated with WNV seropositivity. DESIGN Descriptive, cross-sectional. SETTING Microbiology and virology departments in a veterinary college. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a sample of healthy human participants in Alanya, located close to regions where WNV activity has been detected, anti-WNV IgG antibody detection was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The positive results were confirmed by virus neutralization tests (VNTs). The sample was compared with a second group of age- and gender-matched healthy subjects selected from a previous cross-sectional study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Determination of the seropositivity and risk factors that were associated with WNV in healthy humans. SAMPLE SIZE 87 in current study; 356 in previous study. RESULTS The first group of 87, which had a high risk of encountering vector mosquitoes, had a positivity rate of 8% (7/87), whereas positivity in the second group was 4.5% (16/356; P=.181). In the entire sample, the anti-WNV IgG antibody was positive in 23 out of 443 (5.2%) samples by the ELISA test. Among these 23 samples, ten were confirmed as positive using VNTs. Therefore, the WNV IgG seropositivity was 2.3% (10/442). Confirmed IgG seropositivity rates were higher among male (3.8%) than female participants (0.9%; P=.054) and among adults aged ≥45 years (4%) than those aged 18-44 years (0.8%; P=.048). CONCLUSION This study highlights the presence of WNV infection in the research region. More comprehensive and multidisciplinary studies are required to increase our knowledge about this zoonotic infection including risk factors in line with the One Health approach. LIMITATIONS Small sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayhan Bektore
- From the Department of Medical Microbiology, Ministry of Health Alanya Alaadin Keykubat University, Alanya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Alanya, Turkey
| | - Bora Dogan
- From the Department of Medical Microbiology, Urla State Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Akyut Ozkul
- From the Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Gozalan
- From the Department of Medical Microbiology, Ministry of Health Alanya Alaadin Keykubat University, Alanya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Alanya, Turkey
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23
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Emmerich P, Jakupi X, Sherifi K, Dreshaj S, Kalaveshi A, Hemmer C, Hajdari DP, von Possel R, Cadar D, Tomazatos A. Serologic and Genomic Investigation of West Nile Virus in Kosovo. Viruses 2023; 16:66. [PMID: 38257766 PMCID: PMC10818488 DOI: 10.3390/v16010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) is increasing across Europe, with cases emerging in previously unaffected countries. Kosovo is situated in a WNV-endemic region where the seroepidemiological data on WNV in humans remains absent. To address this issue, we have conducted a seroepidemiological investigation of 453 randomly selected sera from a hospital in Kosovo, revealing a 1.55% anti-WNV IgG seroprevalence. Comparative and phylogeographic analyses of the WNV genomes obtained by sequencing archived samples from patients with West Nile fever indicate at least two recent and distinct introductions of WNV lineage 2 into Kosovo from neighboring countries. These findings confirm the eco-epidemiological status of WNV in southeast Europe, where long- and short-range dispersion of lineage 2 strains contributes to a wider circulation via central Europe. Our results suggest an increasing risk for WNV spreading in Kosovo, underscoring the need for an integrated national surveillance program targeting vectors and avian populations for early epidemic detection, as well as the screening of blood donors to gauge the impact of virus circulation on the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Emmerich
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Xhevat Jakupi
- National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Kurtesh Sherifi
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Shemsedin Dreshaj
- University Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Ariana Kalaveshi
- National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Christoph Hemmer
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Ronald von Possel
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Dániel Cadar
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexandru Tomazatos
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
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24
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Loconsole D, Centrone F, Sallustio A, Casulli D, Colella V, Mongelli O, Venturi G, Bella A, Marino L, Martinelli D, Chironna M. Abrupt Increase in Detection of Locally Acquired West-Nile-Virus-Lineage-2-Mediated Neuroinvasive Disease in a Previously Non-Endemic Area of Southern Italy (2023). Viruses 2023; 16:53. [PMID: 38257753 PMCID: PMC10819189 DOI: 10.3390/v16010053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a public health concern in Europe. Rising temperatures and the migration of potential vectors promote the spread of viruses to previously unaffected areas. In 2023, the Apulia region of Southern Italy experienced an unexpected increase in West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND); no such cases had been reported in the previous 10 years. Overall, eight autochthonous cases of WNV infection were identified between July and October 2023, six of which were WNND. All cases were male (median age, 73 years). Two of the cases were blood donors. All WNND cases were hospitalized and all recovered within a few weeks. Surveillance data showed that, in the Apulia region, WNV Lineage 2 was detected in humans, mosquitoes, and horses. Based on the number of WNND cases reported, we can assume that a high number of infections occurred during the summer period. Changes in the climate in the region over recent years could be considered among the main drivers of the rapid increase in WNV infections. Therefore, integrated surveillance should be strengthened to avoid the potential massive spread of WNV in Southern Italy. Moreover, the implementation of whole-genome sequencing of WNV strains, as well as seroepidemiological studies in the area, will facilitate a better understanding of circulation dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Loconsole
- Hygiene Section, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.L.)
| | - Francesca Centrone
- Hygiene Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Anna Sallustio
- Hygiene Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Daniele Casulli
- Hygiene Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Colella
- Hygiene Section, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.L.)
| | - Onofrio Mongelli
- Department of Health Promotion and Animal Welfare, Apulia Region, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giulietta Venturi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonino Bella
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Marino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Domenico Martinelli
- Hygiene Section, Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Chironna
- Hygiene Section, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.L.)
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25
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Ruiz-López MJ, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Cebrián-Camisón S, Figuerola J, Magallanes S, Varona S, Cuesta I, Cano-Gómez C, Sánchez-Mora P, Camacho J, Sánchez-Peña C, Marchena FJ, Ameyugo U, Ruíz S, Sánchez-Seco MP, Agüero M, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Fernández-Pinero J, Vázquez A. Re-Emergence of a West Nile Virus (WNV) Variant in South Spain with Rapid Spread Capacity. Viruses 2023; 15:2372. [PMID: 38140614 PMCID: PMC10747266 DOI: 10.3390/v15122372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito vector-borne zoonosis with an increasing incidence in Europe that has become a public health concern. In Spain, although local circulation has been known for decades, until 2020, when a large outbreak occurred, West Nile Virus cases were scarce and mostly occurred in southern Spain. Since then, there have been new cases every year and the pathogen has spread to new regions. Thus, monitoring of circulating variants and lineages plays a fundamental role in understanding WNV evolution, spread and dynamics. In this study, we sequenced WNV consensus genomes from mosquito pools captured in 2022 as part of a newly implemented surveillance program in southern Spain and compared it to other European, African and Spanish sequences. Characterization of WNV genomes in mosquitoes captured in 2022 reveals the co-circulation of two WNV lineage 1 variants, the one that caused the outbreak in 2020 and another variant that is closely related to variants reported in Spain in 2012, France in 2015, Italy in 2021-2022 and Senegal in 2012-2018. The geographic distribution of these variants indicates that WNV L1 dynamics in southern Europe include an alternating dominance of variants in some territories.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Ruiz-López
- Estación Biológica de Doñana—CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (S.C.-C.); (S.M.)
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Sonia Cebrián-Camisón
- Estación Biológica de Doñana—CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (S.C.-C.); (S.M.)
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana—CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (S.C.-C.); (S.M.)
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Estación Biológica de Doñana—CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (S.C.-C.); (S.M.)
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sarai Varona
- Unidad Bioinformática, Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (S.V.); (I.C.)
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado de la UNED (EIDUNED), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), 28232 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Cuesta
- Unidad Bioinformática, Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (S.V.); (I.C.)
| | - Cristina Cano-Gómez
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain; (P.A.-S.)
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (LCV), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Algete, 28110 Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Sánchez-Mora
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CNM-ISCIII, Carretera Pozuelo-Majadahonda, Km. 2.2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (P.S.-M.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Camacho
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CNM-ISCIII, Carretera Pozuelo-Majadahonda, Km. 2.2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (P.S.-M.)
| | - Carolina Sánchez-Peña
- Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Dirección General de Salud Pública y Ordenación Farmaceútica, Subdirección de Protección de la Salud, 41020 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco José Marchena
- Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Dirección General de Salud Pública y Ordenación Farmaceútica, Subdirección de Protección de la Salud, 41020 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ulises Ameyugo
- Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Dirección General de Salud Pública y Ordenación Farmaceútica, Subdirección de Protección de la Salud, 41020 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Santiago Ruíz
- Servicio de Control de Mosquitos de la Diputación Provincial de Huelva, Ctra. Hospital Infanta Elena s/n, 21007 Huelva, Spain
| | - María Paz Sánchez-Seco
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CNM-ISCIII, Carretera Pozuelo-Majadahonda, Km. 2.2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (P.S.-M.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Agüero
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (LCV), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Algete, 28110 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain; (P.A.-S.)
| | - Jovita Fernández-Pinero
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain; (P.A.-S.)
| | - Ana Vázquez
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CNM-ISCIII, Carretera Pozuelo-Majadahonda, Km. 2.2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (P.S.-M.)
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26
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Mingione M, Branda F, Maruotti A, Ciccozzi M, Mazzoli S. Monitoring the West Nile virus outbreaks in Italy using open access data. Sci Data 2023; 10:777. [PMID: 37935727 PMCID: PMC10630380 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02676-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper introduces a comprehensive dataset on West Nile virus outbreaks that have occurred in Italy from September 2012 to November 2022. We have digitized bulletins published by the Italian National Institute of Health to demonstrate the potential utilization of this data for the research community. Our aim is to establish a centralized open access repository that facilitates analysis and monitoring of the disease. We have collected and curated data on the type of infected host, along with additional information whenever available, including the type of infection, age, and geographic details at different levels of spatial aggregation. By combining our data with other sources of information such as weather data, it becomes possible to assess potential relationships between West Nile virus outbreaks and environmental factors. We strongly believe in supporting public oversight of government epidemic management, and we emphasize that open data play a crucial role in generating reliable results by enabling greater transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mingione
- Dept. of Political Sciences, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Applied Computing "M. Picone" (IAC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Branda
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonello Maruotti
- Dept. of Law, Economics, Politics, and Modern Languages, LUMSA University, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandra Mazzoli
- STDs Centre, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy
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27
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MacIntyre C, Lourens C, Mendes A, de Villiers M, Avenant T, du Plessis NM, Leendertz FH, Venter M. West Nile Virus, an Underdiagnosed Cause of Acute Fever of Unknown Origin and Neurological Disease among Hospitalized Patients in South Africa. Viruses 2023; 15:2207. [PMID: 38005884 PMCID: PMC10674603 DOI: 10.3390/v15112207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is endemic to South Africa. However, its contribution to acute febrile and neurological disease in hospitalized patients in South Africa is unknown. This study examined two patient cohorts for WNV using molecular testing and IgM serology with confirmation of serological results by viral neutralization tests (VNT) to address this knowledge gap. Univariate analysis was performed using collected demographic and clinical information to identify risk factors. In the first cohort, 219 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from patients with acute neurological disease in Gauteng hospitals collected in January to June 2017 were tested for WNV. The study identified WNV in 8/219 (3.65%, 95.00% CI (1.59-7.07)) patients with unsolved neurological infections. The second cohort, from 2019 to 2021, included 441 patients enrolled between January and June with acute febrile or neurological disease from urban and rural sites in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces. West Nile virus was diagnosed in 40/441 (9.07%, 95.00% CI (6.73-12.12)) of patients, of which 29/40 (72.50%, 95.00% CI (56.11-85.40)) had neurological signs, including headaches, encephalitis, meningitis, and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). Notably, most of the cases were identified in children although adolescents and senior adults had a significantly higher risk of testing WNV positive. This suggests a previously underestimated disease burden and that WNV might be underrecognized as a cause of febrile and neurological diseases in hospitalized patients in South Africa, especially in children. This emphasizes the importance of further research and awareness regarding arboviruses of public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin MacIntyre
- Zoonotic Arbo- and Respiratory Virus Program, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa; (C.M.); (C.L.); (A.M.)
| | - Carla Lourens
- Zoonotic Arbo- and Respiratory Virus Program, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa; (C.M.); (C.L.); (A.M.)
| | - Adriano Mendes
- Zoonotic Arbo- and Respiratory Virus Program, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa; (C.M.); (C.L.); (A.M.)
| | - Maryke de Villiers
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa;
| | - Theunis Avenant
- Department of Pediatrics, Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa; (T.A.); (N.M.d.P.)
| | - Nicolette M. du Plessis
- Department of Pediatrics, Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa; (T.A.); (N.M.d.P.)
| | - Fabian H. Leendertz
- Helmholtz Institute for One Health and University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Marietjie Venter
- Zoonotic Arbo- and Respiratory Virus Program, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0031, South Africa; (C.M.); (C.L.); (A.M.)
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Ruscher C, Patzina-Mehling C, Melchert J, Graff SL, McFarland SE, Hieke C, Kopp A, Prasser A, Tonn T, Schmidt M, Isner C, Drosten C, Werber D, Corman VM, Junglen S. Ecological and clinical evidence of the establishment of West Nile virus in a large urban area in Europe, Berlin, Germany, 2021 to 2022. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2300258. [PMID: 38037727 PMCID: PMC10690859 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.48.2300258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV), found in Berlin in birds since 2018 and humans since 2019, is a mosquito-borne virus that can manifest in humans as West Nile fever (WNF) or neuroinvasive disease (WNND). However, human WNV infections and associated disease are likely underdiagnosed.AimWe aimed to identify and genetically characterise WNV infections in humans and mosquitoes in Berlin.MethodsWe investigated acute WNV infection cases reported to the State Office for Health and Social Affairs Berlin in 2021 and analysed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with encephalitis of unknown aetiology (n = 489) for the presence of WNV. Mosquitoes were trapped at identified potential exposure sites of cases and examined for WNV infection.ResultsWest Nile virus was isolated and sequenced from a blood donor with WNF, a symptomatic patient with WNND and a WNND case retrospectively identified from testing CSF. All cases occurred in 2021 and had no history of travel 14 days prior to symptom onset (incubation period of the disease). We detected WNV in Culex pipiens mosquitoes sampled at the exposure site of one case in 2021, and in 2022. Genome analyses revealed a monophyletic Berlin-specific virus clade in which two enzootic mosquito-associated variants can be delineated based on tree topology and presence of single nucleotide variants. Both variants have highly identical counterparts in human cases indicating local acquisition of infection.ConclusionOur study provides evidence that autochthonous WNV lineage 2 infections occurred in Berlin and the virus has established an endemic maintenance cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ruscher
- State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Corinna Patzina-Mehling
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Melchert
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Charité, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Selina L Graff
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Christian Hieke
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Kopp
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anita Prasser
- State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- Experimentelle Transfusionsmedizin, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden and Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, DRK Blutspendedienst Nord-Ost, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Schmidt
- Experimentelle Transfusionsmedizin, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden and Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, DRK Blutspendedienst Nord-Ost, Dresden, Germany
| | - Caroline Isner
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vivantes Auguste-Viktoria-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Charité, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Werber
- State Office for Health and Social Affairs (SOHSA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor M Corman
- Labor Berlin - Charité Vivantes GmbH, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Charité, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Hiraldo JDG, Fuerte-Hortigón A, Domínguez-Mayoral A, De la Rosa Riestra S, Palacios-Baena ZR, Fernández FS, Ruiz RL, Pascual-Vaca D, de León CM, Hurtado RJ, Sanbonmatsu-Gámez S. Uncovering the neurological effects of West Nile virus during a record-breaking southern Spain outbreak in 2020-2021. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 383:578179. [PMID: 37657130 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The 2020-21 West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreak in Andalusia, Spain, was the largest reported in the country, with eight cases of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND) diagnosed in a tertiary hospital. Diagnosis of WNND is based on detecting WNV RNA, viral isolation, or demonstrating a specific immune response against the virus, with additional tests used to support the diagnosis. Treatment remains supportive, with variable outcomes. The potential efficacy of plasma exchange (PLEX) in select cases raises the possibility of an autoimmune component secondary to infectious pathology of the central nervous system. The influence of climate change on the expansion of WNV into new regions is a significant concern. It is crucial for physicians practicing in high-risk areas to be knowledgeable about the disease for early prevention and effective control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sandra De la Rosa Riestra
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena/Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), Spain
| | - Zaira R Palacios-Baena
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena/Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), Spain
| | | | - Rocio López Ruiz
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain
| | - Diego Pascual-Vaca
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Rafael Jiménez Hurtado
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain
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Körsten C, Reemtsma H, Ziegler U, Fischer S, Tews BA, Groschup MH, Silaghi C, Vasic A, Holicki CM. Cellular co-infections of West Nile virus and Usutu virus influence virus growth kinetics. Virol J 2023; 20:234. [PMID: 37833787 PMCID: PMC10576383 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02206-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito-borne flaviviruses West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) pose a significant threat to the health of humans and animals. Both viruses co-circulate in numerous European countries including Germany. Due to their overlapping host and vector ranges, there is a high risk of co-infections. However, it is largely unknown if WNV and USUV interact and how this might influence their epidemiology. Therefore, in-vitro infection experiments in mammalian (Vero B4), goose (GN-R) and mosquito cell lines (C6/36, CT) were performed to investigate potential effects of co-infections in vectors and vertebrate hosts. The growth kinetics of German and other European WNV and USUV strains were determined and compared. Subsequently, simultaneous co-infections were performed with selected WNV and USUV strains. The results show that the growth of USUV was suppressed by WNV in all cell lines. This effect was independent of the virus lineage but depended on the set WNV titre. The replication of WNV also decreased in co-infection scenarios on vertebrate cells. Overall, co-infections might lead to a decreased growth of USUV in mosquitoes and of both viruses in vertebrate hosts. These interactions can strongly affect the epidemiology of USUV and WNV in areas where they co-circulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Körsten
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Hannah Reemtsma
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Susanne Fischer
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Birke A Tews
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ana Vasic
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- Scientific Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Cora M Holicki
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
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García-Carrasco JM, Muñoz AR, Olivero J, Segura M, García-Bocanegra I, Real R. West Nile virus in the Iberian Peninsula: using equine cases to identify high-risk areas for humans. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2200844. [PMID: 37796440 PMCID: PMC10557382 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.40.2200844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus with an enzootic cycle between birds and mosquitoes; humans and horses are incidental dead-end hosts. In 2020, the largest outbreak of West Nile virus infection in the Iberian Peninsula occurred, with 141 clusters in horses and 77 human cases.AimWe analysed which drivers influence spillover from the cycle to humans and equines and identified areas at risk for WNV transmission.MethodsBased on data on WNV cases in horses and humans in 2020 in Portugal and Spain, we developed logistic regression models using environmental and anthropic variables to highlight risk areas. Models were adapted to a high-resolution risk map.ResultsCases of WNV in horses could be used as indicators of viral activity and thus predict cases in humans. The risk map of horses was able to define high-risk areas for previous cases in humans and equines in Portugal and Spain, as well as predict human and horse cases in the transmission seasons of 2021 and 2022. We found that the spatial patterns of the favourable areas for outbreaks correspond to the main hydrographic basins of the Iberian Peninsula, jointly affecting Portugal and Spain.ConclusionA risk map highlighting the risk areas for potential future cases could be cost-effective as a means of promoting preventive measures to decrease incidence of WNV infection in Europe, based on a One Health surveillance approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- José-María García-Carrasco
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Antonio-Román Muñoz
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Jesús Olivero
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Marina Segura
- International Vaccination Center of Malaga, Maritime Port of Malaga, Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare, Government of Spain, Málaga, Spain
| | | | - Raimundo Real
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
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Levasseur A, Arsenault J, Paré J. Distribution of West Nile virus cases in horses reveals different spatiotemporal patterns in eastern and western Canada. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2023; 261:1466-1474. [PMID: 37562783 DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.05.0259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE West Nile virus (WNV) became notifiable in horses in 2003 in Canada and has been reported every year since. The objective of this study was to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of WNV in horses between 2003 and 2020 in Canada. ANIMALS The 848 symptomatic and laboratory-confirmed WNV cases in horses reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency between 2003 and 2020. METHODS Canada was divided into eastern and western regions for analysis. For each case, location and date of notification were captured. Triennial maps were made to describe the spatiotemporal distribution and expansion of reported cases. The association between year and latitude of cases was investigated with simple linear regressions, and space-time clusters were detected with a permutation scan test. RESULTS Most of the western region showed an extended distribution of WNV cases from 2003 to 2005 and a high recurrence of cases at the census division level. In the eastern region, the expansion of cases was gradual, with new infected census divisions mostly contiguous to previous ones. There was no association between year and latitude of cases. Six spatiotemporal clusters were detected. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study confirmed the endemicity of WNV in parts of both regions with local peaks in risk varying in time. Prevention and control efforts should focus on previously infected areas based on the spatiotemporal regional distribution patterns. Incursions of WNV to new areas should also be anticipated. These findings could also contribute to enhancing monitoring and prevention of WNV infections in an integrated surveillance system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Levasseur
- 1Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health Research Unit (Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique) and Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Arsenault
- 1Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health Research Unit (Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique) and Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Paré
- 1Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health Research Unit (Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique) and Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- 2Animal Health Science Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
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Lehrer S, Rheinstein PH. RORB, an Alzheimer's disease susceptibility gene, is associated with viral encephalitis, an Alzheimer's disease risk factor. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2023; 233:107984. [PMID: 37734269 PMCID: PMC10591837 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.107984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viral encephalitis increases later-life risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by a factor of 31. METHODS To further evaluate this finding, we examined the relationship of West Nile virus (WNV) to Alzheimer's disease in 50 US states. In addition, we performed a genome wide association study (GWAS) of viral encephalitis cases in UK Biobank (UKBB) to see if encephalitis genes might be related to AD. RESULTS WNV was significantly associated with deaths from Alzheimer's disease in 50 US states (r = 0.806, p < 0.001). One gene, RORB-AS1, was most significantly related on GWAS to viral encephalitis. RORB-AS1 (RORB Antisense RNA 1) is an RNA gene. Diseases associated with RORB-AS1 include childhood epilepsy and idiopathic generalized epilepsy. The closely related RORB (Related Orphan Receptor B) is a marker of selectively AD vulnerable excitatory neurons in the entorhinal cortex; these neurons are depleted and susceptible to neurofibrillary inclusions during AD progression. RORB variants significantly decreased the risk of AD, independent of the significant effects of epilepsy, age, and years of education. The total effect size of variant RORB on AD prevalence is small, 0.19%, probably the reason RORB has not turned up on genome wide association studies of AD. But the decrease in effect size on AD, no variant versus varian is larger 0.20-0.16%. To produce the 31-fold increase in AD risk associated with viral encephalitis, non-variant RORB may need to interact with encephalitis virus. LIMITATIONS A weakness in our correlative analysis is possible confounding by the ecological fallacy (or ecological inference fallacy), a logical fallacy in the interpretation of statistical data where inferences about the nature of individuals are derived from inference for the group to which those individuals belong. In this case, inferences about individuals are being drawn from the characteristics of U.S. states where they reside, rather than from the individuals themselves. A weakness in our GWAS is that UK Biobank had only 18 cases of viral encephalitis and none of these had AD. CONCLUSION data presented here confirm the association of viral encephalitis with AD and suggest that WNV infection is a significant AD risk factor. In addition, GWAS suggests that the gene RORB, an AD vulnerability factor, is significantly related to viral encephalitis. FUTURE PROSPECTS A human WNV vaccine could reduce Alzheimer's disease morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Lehrer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
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Allen SE, Kunkel MR, Nemeth NM. Using Opportunistic Samples to Monitor West Nile Virus Infection Status in Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in Wyoming, USA (2020-22). J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:774-779. [PMID: 37486882 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
The frequency of arthropod-borne viral disease in naïve hosts is subject to change based on complex interactions among vector, host, virus, and external factors (e.g., climate). Thus, continual monitoring for both disease susceptibility and host infection dynamics is needed, especially for viruses that have proven detrimental to the health of wildlife hosts of conservation concern. The Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a gamebird of ecological and economic importance in the western United States for which population declines have led to a Near Threatened conservation status. Although these declines have mainly been attributed to habitat loss, West Nile virus (WNV) also poses a threat, with regional transmission potentially fueled by anthropogenic landscape alterations that may facilitate mosquito breeding. With limited WNV monitoring in Greater Sage-grouse after recognition of high susceptibility to mortality early after its initial detection in the western United States, the potential long-term impacts of WNV on this species are poorly understood. We used the plaque reduction neutralization test of filter paper strip-eluted sera to assess for anti-WNV antibodies, indicating prior infection, in opportunistically collected samples. From 2020 to 2022, 85 Greater Sage-grouse in Wyoming were sampled; none had anti-WNV antibodies. This result corroborates findings of previous studies documenting low seroprevalence. With the tenuous conservation status of the species, all potential population health risks should be considered in future management strategies, especially in the face of changing climate and landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E Allen
- Veterinary Services, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 1174 Snowy Range Rd., Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, 1212 S. Adams St., Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
| | - Melanie R Kunkel
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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Riccetti N, Ferraccioli F, Fasano A, Stilianakis NI. Demographic characteristics associated with West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease - A retrospective study on the wider European area 2006-2021. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292187. [PMID: 37768957 PMCID: PMC10538693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With a case-fatality-risk ranging from 3.0 to >20.0% and life-long sequelae, West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) is the most dangerous outcome of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans. As no specific prophylaxis nor therapy is available for these infections, focus is on preventive strategies. We aimed to find variables associated with WNND diagnosis, hospitalisation or death, to identify high-risk sub-groups of the population, on whom to concentrate these strategies. METHODS We used data from The European Surveillance System-TESSy, provided by National Public Health Authorities, and released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In two Firth-penalised logistic regression models, we considered age, sex, clinical criteria, epidemiological link to other cases (epi-link), calendar year, and season as potential associated variables. In one model we considered also the rural/urban classification of the place of infection (RUC), while in the other the specific reporting country. FINDINGS Among confirmed West Nile Virus cases, 2,916 WNND cases were registered, of which 2,081 (71.4%), and 383 (13.1%) resulted in the hospitalisation and death of the patient, respectively. Calendar year, RUC/country, age, sex, clinical criteria, and epi-link were associated with WNND diagnosis. Hospitalisation was associated with calendar year and RUC/country; whereas death was associated with age, sex and country. INTERPRETATION Our results support previous findings on WNND associated variables (most notably age and sex); while by observing the whole population of WNND cases in the considered area and period, they also allow for stronger generalizations, conversely to the majority of previous studies, which used sample populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Riccetti
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra (VA), Italy
| | | | - Augusto Fasano
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra (VA), Italy
| | - Nikolaos I. Stilianakis
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra (VA), Italy
- Department of Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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McCarter MSJ, Self S, Dye-Braumuller KC, Lee C, Li H, Nolan MS. The utility of a Bayesian predictive model to forecast neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease in the United States of America, 2022. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290873. [PMID: 37682897 PMCID: PMC10490885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Arboviruses (arthropod-borne-viruses) are an emerging global health threat that are rapidly spreading as climate change, international business transport, and landscape fragmentation impact local ecologies. Since its initial detection in 1999, West Nile virus has shifted from being a novel to an established arbovirus in the United States of America. Subsequently, more than 25,000 cases of West Nile neuro-invasive disease have been diagnosed, cementing West Nile virus as an arbovirus of public health importance. Given its novelty in the United States of America, high-risk ecologies are largely underdefined making targeted population-level public health interventions challenging. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ArboNET neuroinvasive West Nile virus data from 2000-2021, this study aimed to predict neuroinvasive West Nile virus human cases at the county level for the contiguous USA using a spatio-temporal Bayesian negative binomial regression model. The model includes environmental, climatic, and demographic factors, as well as the distribution of host species. An integrated nested Laplace approximation approach was used to fit our model. To assess model prediction accuracy, annual counts were withheld, forecasted, and compared to observed values. The validated models were then fit to the entire dataset for 2022 predictions. This proof-of-concept mathematical, geospatial modelling approach has proven utility for national health agencies seeking to allocate funding and other resources for local vector control agencies tackling West Nile virus and other notifiable arboviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie S. J. McCarter
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States of America
| | - Stella Self
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States of America
| | - Kyndall C. Dye-Braumuller
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States of America
| | - Christopher Lee
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States of America
| | - Huixuan Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States of America
| | - Melissa S. Nolan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States of America
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Talbot B, Kulkarni MA, Rioux-Rousseau M, Siebels K, Kotchi SO, Ogden NH, Ludwig A. Ecological Niche and Positive Clusters of Two West Nile Virus Vectors in Ontario, Canada. Ecohealth 2023; 20:249-262. [PMID: 37985537 PMCID: PMC10757704 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen associated with uncommon but severe neurological complications in humans, especially among the elderly and immune-compromised. In Northeastern North America, the Culex pipiens/restuans complex and Aedes vexans are the two principal vector mosquito species/species groups of WNV. Using a 10-year surveillance dataset of WNV vector captures at 118 sites across an area of 40,000 km2 in Eastern Ontario, Canada, the ecological niches of Cx. pipiens/restuans and Aedes vexans were modeled by random forest analysis. Spatiotemporal clusters of WNV-positive mosquito pools were identified using Kulldorf's spatial scan statistic. The study region encompasses land cover types and climate representative of highly populated Southeastern Canada. We found highest vector habitat suitability in the eastern half of the study area, where temperatures are generally warmer (variable importance > 0.40) and residential and agricultural cropland cover is more prominent (variable importance > 0.25). We found spatiotemporal clusters of high WNV infection rates around the city of Ottawa in both mosquito vector species. These results support the previous literature in the same region and elsewhere suggesting areas surrounding highly populated areas are also high-risk areas for vector-borne zoonoses such as the WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Talbot
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
| | - Manisha A Kulkarni
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Maxime Rioux-Rousseau
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint- Hyacinthe, QC, and Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin Siebels
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint- Hyacinthe, QC, and Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Serge Olivier Kotchi
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint- Hyacinthe, QC, and Guelph, ON, Canada
- Signal, Image Processing and Multimedia (STIM), Research Unit and Digital Expertise (UREN), Université Virtuelle de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint- Hyacinthe, QC, and Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Antoinette Ludwig
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint- Hyacinthe, QC, and Guelph, ON, Canada
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Koller KK, Kernbach ME, Reese D, Unnasch TR, Martin LB. House Sparrows Vary Seasonally in Their Ability to Transmit West Nile Virus. Physiol Biochem Zool 2023; 96:332-341. [PMID: 37713719 DOI: 10.1086/725888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSeasonality in infectious disease prevalence is predominantly attributed to changes in exogenous risk factors. For vectored pathogens, high abundance, activity, and/or diversity of vectors can exacerbate disease risk for hosts. Conversely, many host defenses, particularly immune responses, are seasonally variable. Seasonality in host defenses has been attributed, in part, to the proximate (i.e., metabolic) and ultimate (i.e., reproductive fitness) costs of defense. In this study, our goal was to discern whether any seasonality is observable in how a common avian host, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), copes with a common zoonotic arbovirus, the West Nile virus (WNV), when hosts are studied under controlled conditions. We hypothesized that if host biorhythms play a role in vector-borne disease seasonality, birds would be most vulnerable to WNV when breeding and/or molting (i.e., when other costly physiological activities are underway) and thus most transmissive of WNV at these times of year (unless birds died from infection). Overall, the results only partly supported our hypothesis. Birds were most transmissive of WNV in fall (after their molt is complete and when WNV is most prevalent in the environment), but WNV resistance, WNV tolerance, and WNV-dependent mortality did not vary among seasons. These results collectively imply that natural arboviral cycles could be partially underpinned by endogenous physiological changes in hosts. However, other disease systems warrant study, as this result could be specific to the nonnative and highly commensal nature of the house sparrow or a consequence of the relative recency of the arrival of WNV to the United States.
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Rajaiah P, Mayilsamy M, Kumar A. West Nile virus in India: An update on its genetic lineages. J Vector Borne Dis 2023; 60:225-237. [PMID: 37843232 DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.374039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a rapidly spreading mosquito-transmitted zoonotic flavivirus. Mosquitoes belonging to the genus Culex are incriminated as the principal vectors of the virus, which causes West Nile fever (WNF) in humans. Manifestations of WNF include a mild, self-limiting, flu-like illness, which in severe cases (rare) may progress to encephalitis, resulting in life-threatening consequences. WNV is geographically distributed worldwide, covering Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia (except Antarctica). The virus exists in a bird-mosquito transmission cycle in nature, with humans and horses as incidental/accidental hosts. The virus can infect a large variety of hosts worldwide, i.e., about 300 birds and around 70 different mosquito species belonging to several genera. For a long time, it was believed that WNV was not highly virulent and caused only mild infection globally. However, the recent frequent and increasing incidence of clinically severe WNV infections, such as encephalitis in humans and horses with significant mortality, has been reported in the Americas, Europe, and several East Asian countries. The emergence of lineage 2 strains endemic to Africa, with epidemic potential in humans and horses in Europe, is considered a serious global health concern. Although WNV is known to circulate in India since 1952, its re-emergence with severe neuro-invasive pathogenic potential in humans in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu states signals urgent efforts to understand the dynamics of circulating strains with regard to its vector, hosts, and environment. This could be done by prioritizing "One Health" approach for developing effective preventive and control strategies. In view of the global interest, we present an overview of the circulating genetic lineages of WNV in India in comparison with the global scenario. In addition, we stress on holistic approaches of "One Health" strategy as the current need of the hour for designing effective preventive and control strategies in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paramasivan Rajaiah
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Muniaraj Mayilsamy
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Hale GL. Flaviviruses and the Traveler: Around the World and to Your Stage. A Review of West Nile, Yellow Fever, Dengue, and Zika Viruses for the Practicing Pathologist. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100188. [PMID: 37059228 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Flaviviruses are a genus of single-stranded RNA viruses that impose an important and growing burden to human health. There are over 3 billion individuals living in areas where flaviviruses are endemic. Flaviviruses and their arthropod vectors (which include mosquitoes and ticks) take advantage of global travel to expand their distribution and cause severe disease in humans, and they can be grouped according to their vector and pathogenicity. The mosquito-borne flaviviruses cause a spectrum of diseases from encephalitis to hepatitis and vascular shock syndrome, congenital abnormalities, and fetal death. Neurotropic infections such as Zika virus and West Nile virus cross the blood-brain barrier and infect neurons and other cells, leading to meningoencephalitis. In the hemorrhagic fever clade, there are yellow fever virus, the prototypical hemorrhagic fever virus that infects hepatocytes, and dengue virus, which infects cells of the reticuloendothelial system and can lead to a dramatic plasma cell leakage and shock syndrome. Zika virus also causes congenital infections and fetal death and is the first and only example of a teratogenic arbovirus in humans. Diagnostic testing for flaviviruses broadly includes the detection of viral RNA in serum (particularly within the first 10 days of symptoms), viral isolation by cell culture (rarely performed due to complexity and biosafety concerns), and histopathologic evaluation with immunohistochemistry and molecular testing on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. This review focuses on 4 mosquito-borne flaviviruses-West Nile, yellow fever, dengue, and Zika virus-and discusses the mechanisms of transmission, the role of travel in geographic distribution and epidemic emergence, and the clinical and histopathologic features of each. Finally, prevention strategies such as vector control and vaccination are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian L Hale
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Kretschmer M, Ruberto I, Townsend J, Zabel K, Will J, Maldonado K, Busser N, Damian D, Dale AP. Unprecedented Outbreak of West Nile Virus - Maricopa County, Arizona, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023; 72:452-457. [PMID: 37104168 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7217a1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquitoborne disease primarily transmitted through bites of infected Culex species mosquitos (1). In the United States, WNV is the leading domestically acquired arboviral disease; it can cause severe illness affecting the brain and spinal cord with an associated case fatality rate of 10% (2,3). On September 2, 2021, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, Vector Control Division (MCESD-VCD) notified the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) that the WNV vector index (VI), a measure of infected Culex mosquitoes, was substantially elevated. By that date, at least 100 WNV cases had already been reported among Maricopa County residents to MCDPH by health care providers and laboratories. Within 2 weeks, the VI reached its highest ever recorded level (53.61), with an associated tenfold increase in the number of human disease cases. During 2021, a total of 1,487 human WNV cases were identified; 956 (64.3%) patients had neuroinvasive disease, and 101 (6.8%) died. MCESD-VCD conducted daily remediation efforts to mitigate elevated VI and address mosquito-related complaints from residents (i.e., large numbers of outdoor mosquitoes from an unknown source and unmaintained swimming pools potentially breeding mosquitoes). MCDPH increased outreach to the community and providers through messaging, education events, and media. This was the largest documented focal WNV outbreak in a single county in the United States (4). Despite outreach efforts to communities and health care partners, clinicians and patients reported a lack of awareness of the WNV outbreak, highlighting the need for public health agencies to increase prevention messaging to broaden public awareness and to ensure that health care providers are aware of recommended testing methods for clinically compatible illnesses.
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Gorris ME, Randerson JT, Coffield SR, Treseder KK, Zender CS, Xu C, Manore CA. Assessing the Influence of Climate on the Spatial Pattern of West Nile Virus Incidence in the United States. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:47016. [PMID: 37104243 PMCID: PMC10137712 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in humans in the United States. Since the introduction of the disease in 1999, incidence levels have stabilized in many regions, allowing for analysis of climate conditions that shape the spatial structure of disease incidence. OBJECTIVES Our goal was to identify the seasonal climate variables that influence the spatial extent and magnitude of WNV incidence in humans. METHODS We developed a predictive model of contemporary mean annual WNV incidence using U.S. county-level case reports from 2005 to 2019 and seasonally averaged climate variables. We used a random forest model that had an out-of-sample model performance of R2=0.61. RESULTS Our model accurately captured the V-shaped area of higher WNV incidence that extends from states on the Canadian border south through the middle of the Great Plains. It also captured a region of moderate WNV incidence in the southern Mississippi Valley. The highest levels of WNV incidence were in regions with dry and cold winters and wet and mild summers. The random forest model classified counties with average winter precipitation levels <23.3mm/month as having incidence levels over 11 times greater than those of counties that are wetter. Among the climate predictors, winter precipitation, fall precipitation, and winter temperature were the three most important predictive variables. DISCUSSION We consider which aspects of the WNV transmission cycle climate conditions may benefit the most and argued that dry and cold winters are climate conditions optimal for the mosquito species key to amplifying WNV transmission. Our statistical model may be useful in projecting shifts in WNV risk in response to climate change. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10986.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E. Gorris
- Information Systems and Modeling, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
- Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - James T. Randerson
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shane R. Coffield
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kathleen K. Treseder
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Charles S. Zender
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Chonggang Xu
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Carrie A. Manore
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
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Beard CB, Holcomb KM. Invited Perspective: The Importance of Models in Preparing for West Nile Virus Outbreaks. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:41304. [PMID: 37104242 PMCID: PMC10137672 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles B. Beard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Karen M. Holcomb
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Kapadia RK, Staples JE, Gill CM, Fischer M, Khan E, Laven JJ, Panella A, Velez JO, Hughes HR, Brault A, Pastula DM, Gould CV. Severe Arboviral Neuroinvasive Disease in Patients on Rituximab Therapy: A Review. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:1142-1148. [PMID: 36103602 PMCID: PMC10011006 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing use of rituximab and other B-cell depleting monoclonal antibodies for multiple indications, infectious complications are being recognized. We summarize clinical findings of patients on rituximab with arboviral diseases identified through literature review or consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We identified 21 patients on recent rituximab therapy who were diagnosed with an arboviral disease caused by West Nile, tick-borne encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, Cache Valley, Jamestown Canyon, and Powassan viruses. All reported patients had neuroinvasive disease. The diagnosis of arboviral infection required molecular testing in 20 (95%) patients. Median illness duration was 36 days (range, 12 days to 1 year), and 15/19 (79%) patients died from their illness. Patients on rituximab with arboviral disease can have a severe or prolonged course with an absence of serologic response. Patients should be counseled about mosquito and tick bite prevention when receiving rituximab and other B-cell depleting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronak K Kapadia
- Neuro-Infectious Diseases Group, Department of Neurology and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - J Erin Staples
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Christine M Gill
- University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Marc Fischer
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Ezza Khan
- Hunterdon Infectious Disease Specialists, Flemington, New Jersey, USA
| | - Janeen J Laven
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda Panella
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Jason O Velez
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Holly R Hughes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Aaron Brault
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Daniel M Pastula
- Neuro-Infectious Diseases Group, Department of Neurology and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Carolyn V Gould
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Florescu AM, Lundbo LF, Knudsen JA, Kondziella D, Mens H. [Not Available]. Ugeskr Laeger 2023; 185:V11220708. [PMID: 36999283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This is a case report of encephalitis and myeloradiculitis due to West Nile virus (WNV) with a fatal outcome in a 76-year-old male returning from a vacation in Serbia. In 2022 during transmission season, there was an outbreak of WNV infection in the southern part of Europe and the incidence is expected to increase globally in the future due to global warming. Currently, no antiviral treatments or vaccines against WNV are available for humans; hence, mosquito bite prevention is crucial in epidemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Florescu
- Afdeling for Infektionssygdomme, Københavns Universitetshospital - Rigshospitalet
| | - Lene Fogt Lundbo
- Afdeling for Infektionssygdomme, Københavns Universitetshospital - Rigshospitalet
| | - Jesper Andreas Knudsen
- Afdeling for Lunge- og Infektionssygdomme, Københavns Universitetshospital - Bispebjerg Hospital
| | - Daniel Kondziella
- Afdeling for Hjerne- og Nervesygdomme, Københavns Universitetshospital - Rigshospitalet
| | - Helene Mens
- Afdeling for Infektionssygdomme, Københavns Universitetshospital - Rigshospitalet
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Bekele BK, Uwishema O, Nazir A, Kaushik I, Wellington J. Addressing the challenges of prevention and control of West Nile virus in Africa: A correspondence. Int J Surg 2023; 109:186-188. [PMID: 36799846 PMCID: PMC10389590 DOI: 10.1097/js9.0000000000000188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bezawit K. Bekele
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education, Kigali, Rwanda
- Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Olivier Uwishema
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education, Kigali, Rwanda
- Clinton Global Initiative University, New York, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Abubakar Nazir
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education, Kigali, Rwanda
- Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ikshwaki Kaushik
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education, Kigali, Rwanda
- David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Jack Wellington
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education, Kigali, Rwanda
- Faculty of Medicine, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Tsioka K, Gewehr S, Pappa S, Kalaitzopoulou S, Stoikou K, Mourelatos S, Papa A. West Nile Virus in Culex Mosquitoes in Central Macedonia, Greece, 2022. Viruses 2023; 15:224. [PMID: 36680264 PMCID: PMC9863787 DOI: 10.3390/v15010224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2022, Greece was the second most seriously affected European country in terms of the West Nile virus (WNV), after Italy. Specifically, Central Macedonia was the region with the most reported human cases (81.5%). In the present study, 30,816 female Culex pipiens sensu lato mosquitoes were collected from May to September 2022 in the seven regional units of Central Macedonia; they were then grouped into 690 pools and tested for WNV, while next-generation sequencing was applied to the samples, which showed a cycle threshold of Ct < 30 in a real-time RT-PCR test. WNV was detected in 5.9% of pools, with significant differences in the detection rate among regional units and months. It is of interest that in the Thessaloniki regional unit, where most of the human cases were observed, the virus circulation started earlier, peaked earlier, and lasted longer than in the other regional units. All sequences clustered into the Central European subclade of WNV lineage 2, and the virus strain differed from the initial Greek strain of 2010 by 0.52% and 0.27% at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Signature substitutions were present, such as S73P and T157A in the prM and E structural proteins, respectively. The screening of mosquitoes provides useful information for virus circulation in a region with a potential for early warning, while the availability of whole-genome sequences is essential for further studies, including virus evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Tsioka
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Styliani Pappa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Konstantina Stoikou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Anna Papa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Arboviruses, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Holcomb KM, Mathis S, Staples JE, Fischer M, Barker CM, Beard CB, Nett RJ, Keyel AC, Marcantonio M, Childs ML, Gorris ME, Rochlin I, Hamins-Puértolas M, Ray EL, Uelmen JA, DeFelice N, Freedman AS, Hollingsworth BD, Das P, Osthus D, Humphreys JM, Nova N, Mordecai EA, Cohnstaedt LW, Kirk D, Kramer LD, Harris MJ, Kain MP, Reed EMX, Johansson MA. Evaluation of an open forecasting challenge to assess skill of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease prediction. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:11. [PMID: 36635782 PMCID: PMC9834680 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05630-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental USA. WNV occurrence has high spatiotemporal variation, and current approaches to targeted control of the virus are limited, making forecasting a public health priority. However, little research has been done to compare strengths and weaknesses of WNV disease forecasting approaches on the national scale. We used forecasts submitted to the 2020 WNV Forecasting Challenge, an open challenge organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to assess the status of WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND) prediction and identify avenues for improvement. METHODS We performed a multi-model comparative assessment of probabilistic forecasts submitted by 15 teams for annual WNND cases in US counties for 2020 and assessed forecast accuracy, calibration, and discriminatory power. In the evaluation, we included forecasts produced by comparison models of varying complexity as benchmarks of forecast performance. We also used regression analysis to identify modeling approaches and contextual factors that were associated with forecast skill. RESULTS Simple models based on historical WNND cases generally scored better than more complex models and combined higher discriminatory power with better calibration of uncertainty. Forecast skill improved across updated forecast submissions submitted during the 2020 season. Among models using additional data, inclusion of climate or human demographic data was associated with higher skill, while inclusion of mosquito or land use data was associated with lower skill. We also identified population size, extreme minimum winter temperature, and interannual variation in WNND cases as county-level characteristics associated with variation in forecast skill. CONCLUSIONS Historical WNND cases were strong predictors of future cases with minimal increase in skill achieved by models that included other factors. Although opportunities might exist to specifically improve predictions for areas with large populations and low or high winter temperatures, areas with high case-count variability are intrinsically more difficult to predict. Also, the prediction of outbreaks, which are outliers relative to typical case numbers, remains difficult. Further improvements to prediction could be obtained with improved calibration of forecast uncertainty and access to real-time data streams (e.g. current weather and preliminary human cases).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M. Holcomb
- Global Systems Laboratory, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, Boulder, CO USA
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Sarabeth Mathis
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - J. Erin Staples
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Marc Fischer
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Christopher M. Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Charles B. Beard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Randall J. Nett
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Alexander C. Keyel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY USA
- Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY USA
| | - Matteo Marcantonio
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics Group, Earth & Life Institute-UCLouvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Marissa L. Childs
- Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Morgan E. Gorris
- Information Systems and Modeling, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM USA
| | - Ilia Rochlin
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | | | - Evan L. Ray
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA USA
| | - Johnny A. Uelmen
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA
| | - Nicholas DeFelice
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
- Department of Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Andrew S. Freedman
- Biomathematics Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | | | - Praachi Das
- Biomathematics Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Dave Osthus
- Statistical Sciences Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM USA
| | - John M. Humphreys
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Sidney, MT USA
| | - Nicole Nova
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | | | - Lee W. Cohnstaedt
- National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS USA
| | - Devin Kirk
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Laura D. Kramer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY USA
| | | | - Morgan P. Kain
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Emily M. X. Reed
- Invasive Species Working Group, Global Change Center, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, NC USA
| | - Michael A. Johansson
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, PR USA
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Pu L, Lin Z, Lou Y. A West Nile virus nonlocal model with free boundaries and seasonal succession. J Math Biol 2023; 86:25. [PMID: 36625946 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-022-01860-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The paper deals with a West Nile virus (WNv) model, in which the nonlocal diffusion characterizes the long-range movement of birds and mosquitoes, the free boundaries describe their spreading fronts, and the seasonal succession accounts for the effect of the warm and cold seasons. The well-posedness of the mathematical model is established, and its long-term dynamical behaviours, which depend upon the generalized eigenvalues of the corresponding linearized differential operator, are investigated. For both spatially independent and nonlocal WNv models with seasonal successions, the generalized eigenvalues are studied and applied to determine whether the spreading or vanishing occurs. Our results extend those for the case with nonlocal diffusion but no free boundary and those for the case with free boundary but local diffusion, respectively. The generalized eigenvalues reveal that there exists positive correlation between the duration of the warm season and the risk of infection. Moreover, the initial infection length, the initial infection scale and the spreading ability to new areas all play important roles for the long time behaviors of the time dependent solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiong Pu
- School of Mathematics and Informational Science, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Zhigui Lin
- School of Mathematical Science, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225002, China.
| | - Yuan Lou
- School of Mathematical Sciences, CMA-Shanghai and MOE-LSC, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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