Can Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Serum Predict Disease Severity in West Nile Virus Infection? A Pilot Study

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) can cause asymptomatic infection in humans, result in self-limiting febrile illness, or lead to severe West Nile Neuroinvasive disease (WNND). We conducted a pilot study to compare selected biomarkers of oxidative stress in sera of viremic West Nile virus patients and asymptomatic infected blood donors to investigate their potential as predictors of disease severity. We found that total oxidant status was elevated in WNND and in uncomplicated WNV infections (median 9.05 (IQR 8.37 to 9.74) and 7.14 (7.03 to 7.25) µmol H2O2 equiv./L, respectively) compared to asymptomatic infections (0.11 (0.07 to 0.19) µmol H2O2 equiv./L) (p = 0.048). MDA levels showed a similar trend to TOS, but differences were not significant at α = 0.05. Total antioxidant status did not differ significantly between different disease severity groups. Oxidative stress appears to be associated with more severe disease in WNV-infected patients. Our preliminary findings warrant prospective studies to investigate the correlation of oxidative stress with clinical outcomes and severity of WNV infection.

Epidemiological and Clinical/Bioevolutive Aspects on Viral Meningitis – the Possible Relevance of the Oxidative Stress Status ?

“…In contrast to asymptomatic, West Nile Fever and West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease appear to have a higher total oxidant status, an indicator that summarizes the overall oxidative capability in a sample. [17]…”

Emerging Diseases/Viruses Prevention, Control, Surveillance, and One Health

“…Regarding WNV, one article of this SI details the detection of WNV lineage 2 infection in birds from the Umbria region during the cold season; it confirms that the L2 strains of WNV that circulate in Italy are genetically stable and provides evidence of a continuous circulation of WNV in Italy throughout the year [ 5 ]. Another study foregrounds the correlation between oxidation and severe disease in WNV-infected patients [ 6 ]. Mhamadi et al illustrate the circulation of Rift Valley fever virus in northern Senegal through human and livestock surveillance [ 7 ], while Stevanovic et al demonstrate the rather high seroprevalence of Tahyna orthobunyavirus, a neglected mosquito-borne bunyavirus, in human and animal (horses and pets) serum in a One Health approach; this evidences the criticality of studying this neglected arbovirus [ 8 ].…”

Special Issue “Emerging Diseases/Viruses: Prevention, Control, Surveillance, and One Health”

“…In this Special Issue, we invite colleagues to submit original research articles and scientific reviews to assemble a collection of papers highlighting the progress in our understanding of all aspects related to surveillance and control of zoonotic diseases, including (1) the development of new diagnostic tools, (2) outbreak investigation and surveillance programs of emerging pathogens (including One Health approaches), and (3) understanding the mechanisms of pathogen emergence. The first 10 papers published in this Special Issue address topics related to viruses (SARS-CoV-2, influenza, DENV, WNV, ZIKV), bacteria ( Escherichia coli ), and parasites (Leishmania, Plasmodium) [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”