West Nile virus lineage 2 in Sardinian wild birds in 2012: a further threat to public health

Savini, Giovanni; Puggioni, Giantonella; Gennaro, Annapia Di; G, Di Francesco; Rocchigiani, Angela Maria; Polci, Andrea; Marini, Valéria; Pinoni, C.; Rolesu, Sandro; Marruchella, Giuseppe; Lorusso, Alessio; Monaco, Federica

doi:10.1017/s0950268812003147

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In these regions, veterinary and entomological surveillance documented the circulation of WNV, with evidence of the widespread presence of WNV lineage 2 in Sardinia island [45,47]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large Human Outbreak of West Nile Virus Infection in North-Eastern Italy in 2012

Barzon

Pacenti

Franchin

et al. 2013

Viruses

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Human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease have been reported in Italy since 2008. So far, most cases have been identified in north-eastern Italy, where, in 2012, the largest outbreak of WNV infection ever recorded in Italy occurred. Most cases of the 2012 outbreak were identified in the Veneto region, where a special surveillance plan for West Nile fever was in place. In this outbreak, 25 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease and 17 cases of fever were confirmed. In addition, 14 WNV RNA-positive blood donors were identified by screening of blood and organ donations and two cases of asymptomatic infection were diagnosed by active surveillance of subjects at risk of WNV exposure. Two cases of death due to WNND were reported. Molecular testing demonstrated the presence of WNV lineage 1 in all WNV RNA-positive patients and, in 15 cases, infection by the novel Livenza strain was ascertained. Surveillance in other Italian regions notified one case of neuroinvasive disease in the south of Italy and two cases in Sardinia. Integrated surveillance for WNV infection remains a public health priority in Italy and vector control activities have been strengthened in areas of WNV circulation.

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“…In these regions, veterinary and entomological surveillance documented the circulation of WNV, with evidence of the widespread presence of WNV lineage 2 in Sardinia island [45,47]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large Human Outbreak of West Nile Virus Infection in North-Eastern Italy in 2012

Barzon

Pacenti

Franchin

et al. 2013

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, this substitution appears not to have the same effect for some other North American bird species and an experimental study has shown that this substitution alone in European WNV strains does not necessarily lead to an increased virulence for susceptible European birds [84]. Papa et al [23] related the H 249 P NS3 substitution to the increased virulence of the lineage 2 WNV strain that caused the outbreak in humans in Greece in 2010 [106], but the role of this substitution in the virulence for birds is not clear, as lineage 2 strains that have caused mortalities in birds do not show this change [18,23,30]. Therefore, the presence of other genetic markers of virulence could be implicated [22,107].…”

Section: Pathogenesis In Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathology and tissue tropism of natural West Nile virus infection in birds: a review

Gamino

Höfle

2013

Vet Res

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West Nile virus (WNV) is a globally distributed arthropod-borne flavivirus capable of infecting a wide variety of vertebrates, with birds as its natural reservoir. Although it had been considered a pathogen of little importance for birds, from the 1990’s, and especially after its introduction in the North American continent in 1999, thousands of birds have succumbed to West Nile infection. This review summarizes the pathogenesis and pathology of WNV infection in birds highlighting differences in lesion and antigen distribution and severity among bird orders and families. Despite significant species differences in susceptibility to infection, WNV associated lesions and viral antigen are present in the majority of organs of infected birds. The non-progressive, acute or more prolonged course of the disease accounts for part of the differences in lesion and viral antigen distribution and lesion severity. Most likely a combination of host variables and environmental factors in addition to the intrinsic virulence and pathogenicity of the infecting WNV strain influence the pathogenesis of the infection.

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“…Greek/Hungarian cluster was detected by entomological and veterinary surveillance in the island of Sardinia as well as in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions in north-eastern Italy in areas where WNV lin1 was also circulating [20][21][22].…”

Section: Epidemiological Situation Of West Nile Virus Infection In Eumentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 1 and lineage 2 from human cases of infection, Italy, August 2013

et al. 2013

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A human outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infection caused by WNV lineage 2 is ongoing in northern Italy. Analysis of six WNV genome sequences obtained from clinical specimens demonstrated similarities with strains circulating in central Europe and Greece and the presence of unique amino acid changes that identify a new viral strain. In addition, WNV lineage 1 Livenza, responsible for a large outbreak in northeastern Italy in 2012, was fully sequenced from a blood donor during this 2013 outbreak. A human outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infection is ongoing in northern Italy. We report here the clinical presentation, laboratory test results, and WNV full genome sequences from human cases of WNV infection which were diagnosed in August 2013 in the Veneto region. This region is one of the most affected by the outbreak. WNV genome sequences obtained from clinical specimens of infected individuals were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, in order to gain information on the origin and evolutionary history of the responsible viral strains. Cases of West Nile virus infection from the Veneto region Cases included five patients with laboratory-confirmed West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) and four with West Nile fever (WNF), aged 51 to 88 years-old, who were resident in Rovigo, Padova, and Verona provinces (Figure 1). In addition, three WNV RNA-positive blood and organ donors were identified by screening in Padova, Verona, and Venice provinces and, besides the 12 confirmed cases, further possible cases are currently under investigation. Confirmed human cases of WNND have also been notified in regions neighbouring Veneto, namely Emilia Romagna and Lombardy [1].

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West Nile virus lineage 2 in Sardinian wild birds in 2012: a further threat to public health

Cited by 21 publications

References 14 publications

Large Human Outbreak of West Nile Virus Infection in North-Eastern Italy in 2012

Large Human Outbreak of West Nile Virus Infection in North-Eastern Italy in 2012

Pathology and tissue tropism of natural West Nile virus infection in birds: a review

Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 1 and lineage 2 from human cases of infection, Italy, August 2013

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