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. 2010 Apr 22:4:29-37.
doi: 10.2174/1874357901004020029.

Epidemiology of west nile in europe and in the mediterranean basin

Paolo Calistri  1 , Armando Giovannini, Zdenek Hubalek, Aurelia Ionescu, Federica Monaco, Giovanni Savini, Rossella Lelli
Affiliations

Epidemiology of west nile in europe and in the mediterranean basin

Paolo Calistri et al. Open Virol J. .

Abstract

In the last 30 years several cases of West Nile (WN) virus infection were reported in horses and humans in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin. Most of them were determined by strains of the Lineage 1 included in the European Mediterranean/Kenyan cluster. Strains of this cluster are characterised by a moderate pathogenicity for horses and humans and limited or no pathogenicity for birds. In recent years, however, WN cases determined by strains grouped in the Israeli/American cluster of Lineage 1 or in the lineage 2 have been reported in Hungary and Austria. The role of migrating birds in introducing new viruses to Europe has been often demonstrated. The migratory birds, which may be infected in their African wintering places, carry the virus northward to European sites during spring migrations. In the past, the virus introduction determined occasional cases of WN. In the recent years, new epidemiological scenarios are developing. In few occasions it has been evidenced the capability of WNV strains of overwintering by using local birds and mosquitoes. Species of Culex amongst mosquitoes and magpies (Pica pica), carrion crows (Corvus corone) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) amongst resident birds are the most probable species involved in this hypothetical WND endemic cycle.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Europe; Mediterranean Basin; West Nile..

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Phylogenetic tree based on complete genomes of West Nile virus belonging to lineage 1. Adapted from Sotelo et al., 2009.
Fig. (2)
Fig. (2)
Areas in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin involved by West Nile virus transmission.
Fig. (3)
Fig. (3)
Geographical distribution of the 15 Italian wetlands under surveillance for WNV circulation from 2001 to 2007. Years indicate places and time of ELISA IgG positive sentinel chickens.
Fig. (4)
Fig. (4)
Geographical distribution of the 15 Italian wetlands under surveillance for WNV circulation from 2001 to 2007. Years indicate places and time of virus neutralisation positive sentinel horses.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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