Pathogenicity and virulence of West Nile virus revisited eight decades after its first isolation

Saiz, Juan-Carlos; Martín-Acebes, Miguel A.; Blázquez, Ana B.; Escribano-Romero, Estela; Poderoso, Teresa; Oya, Nereida Jiménez de

doi:10.1080/21505594.2021.1908740

Cited by 23 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 295 publications

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“…The virulence of WNV depends on several factors related to the pathogen, hosts, and their interaction [89,90]. Concerning the pathogen, changes in the amino acid positions may significantly influence the WNV strain virulence [7].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus Lineage 1 in Italy: Newly Introduced or a Re-Occurrence of a Previously Circulating Strain?

Mencattelli

Iapaolo

Monaco

et al. 2021

Viruses

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In Italy, West Nile virus (WNV) appeared for the first time in the Tuscany region in 1998. After 10 years of absence, it re-appeared in the areas surrounding the Po River delta, affecting eight provinces in three regions. Thereafter, WNV epidemics caused by genetically divergent isolates have been documented every year in the country. Since 2018, only WNV Lineage 2 has been reported in the Italian territory. In October 2020, WNV Lineage 1 (WNV-L1) re-emerged in Italy, in the Campania region. This is the first occurrence of WNV-L1 detection in the Italian territory since 2017. WNV was detected in the internal organs of a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and a kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). The RNA extracted in the goshawk tissue samples was sequenced, and a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed by a maximum-likelihood tree. Genome analysis, conducted on the goshawk WNV complete genome sequence, indicates that the strain belongs to the WNV-L1 Western-Mediterranean (WMed) cluster. Moreover, a close phylogenetic similarity is observed between the goshawk strain, the 2008–2011 group of Italian sequences, and European strains belonging to the Wmed cluster. Our results evidence the possibility of both a new re-introduction or unnoticed silent circulation in Italy, and the strong importance of keeping the WNV surveillance system in the Italian territory active.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus Lineage 1 in Italy: Newly Introduced or a Re-Occurrence of a Previously Circulating Strain?

Mencattelli

Iapaolo

Monaco

et al. 2021

Viruses

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“…The varied climatic zones and bioregions of South America promote a unique endemic diversity of pathogens, vectors, and host species. Some vector-borne pathogens have a limited host range, as is the case of yellow fever virus which circulates exclusively among primates (Monath and Vasconcelos 2015 ), while others replicate in a large number of hosts such as West Nile Virus that infects over 400 documented species including humans, birds, horses, amphibians and reptiles (Root 2013 ; Saiz et al 2021 ). Mosquitoes that are able to switch hosts are known as bridge vectors, as they can transmit a given pathogen across taxa.…”

Section: State Of Art In South Americamentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood feeding habits of mosquitoes: hardly a bite in South America

2022

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Mosquito blood feeding plays a key role in epidemiology. Despite its importance and large number of studies worldwide, less attention has been paid in South America. We summarized some general concepts and methodological issues related to the study of mosquito blood feeding habits, and compiled and analyzed all published information regarding the subject in the continent until 2020. Available literature comprised 152 scientific studies, that pursued different approaches: human landing catches (102 studies), baited trap (19), and blood meal analyses of collected specimens (38). Among the latter, 23 used serological and 15 molecular techniques. Species most frequently studied were those incriminated in malaria transmission, whereas relevant vectors such as Aedes aegypti , Ae. albopictus , and Haemagogus janthinomys were surprisingly neglected. Brazil was the leading country both in number of works and species studied. For over 70% of the species and three out of 13 South American countries there is no single information on mosquito blood feeding habits. Data from baited traps included 143 mosquito species, 83.9% of which were attracted to humans, either exclusively (10.5%) or in combination with other vertebrates (73.4%). Host blood identification of field collected specimens provided data on 102 mosquito species, and 60.8% of these fed on humans (55.9% combined with other vertebrates). Only 17 of the 73 species assessed by both methods yielded similar feeding patterns. Finally, supplementary tables are provided in a comprehensive summary of all information available and information gaps are highlighted for future research in the continent. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00436-022-07537-0.

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“…At least two other mosquito borne-flaviviruses co-circulate with USUV in different regions of Europe. While the Bagaza virus (BAGV) has so far only affected birds [ 15 ], West Nile virus (WNV) is highly neurovirulent in humans [ 5 , 16 ]. During the last ten years, WNV outbreaks among birds and horses, and a worrying increase in human cases, with up to 2671 confirmed infections and 213 deaths, have been reported in the continent [ 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Previous Usutu Virus Exposure Partially Protects Magpies (Pica pica) against West Nile Virus Disease But Does Not Prevent Horizontal Transmission

Escribano-Romero

Oya

Camacho

et al. 2021

Viruses

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The mosquito-borne flaviviruses USUV and WNV are known to co-circulate in large parts of Europe. Both are a public health concern, and USUV has been the cause of epizootics in both wild and domestic birds, and neurological cases in humans in Europe. Here, we explore the susceptibility of magpies to experimental USUV infection, and how previous exposure to USUV would affect infection with WNV. None of the magpies exposed to USUV showed clinical signs, viremia, or detectable neutralizing antibodies. After challenge with a neurovirulent WNV strain, neither viremia, viral titer of WNV in vascular feathers, nor neutralizing antibody titers of previously USUV-exposed magpies differed significantly with respect to magpies that had not previously been exposed to USUV. However, 75% (6/8) of the USUV-exposed birds survived, while only 22.2% (2/9) of those not previously exposed to USUV survived. WNV antigen labeling by immunohistochemistry in tissues was less evident and more restricted in magpies exposed to USUV prior to challenge with WNV. Our data indicate that previous exposure to USUV partially protects magpies against a lethal challenge with WNV, while it does not prevent viremia and direct transmission, although the mechanism is unclear. These results are relevant for flavivirus ecology and contention.

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Pathogenicity and virulence of West Nile virus revisited eight decades after its first isolation

Cited by 23 publications

References 295 publications

West Nile Virus Lineage 1 in Italy: Newly Introduced or a Re-Occurrence of a Previously Circulating Strain?

West Nile Virus Lineage 1 in Italy: Newly Introduced or a Re-Occurrence of a Previously Circulating Strain?

Blood feeding habits of mosquitoes: hardly a bite in South America

Previous Usutu Virus Exposure Partially Protects Magpies (Pica pica) against West Nile Virus Disease But Does Not Prevent Horizontal Transmission

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