Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 belonging to the Eastern European subclade, Greece

Papa, Anna; Papadopoulou, Elpida; Chatzixanthouliou, Charikleia; Glouftsios, Petros; Pappa, Styliani; Pervanidou, Danai; Georgiou, Loukas

doi:10.1007/s00705-019-04243-8

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…In all but one of the 15 sequenced samples, the sequences clustered into the Central European/Hungarian subclade of WNV lineage 2, similar to the strain of the 2010 outbreak (Nea-Santa-Greece-2010 strain). One sequence taken from a case in Thrace region (northern-eastern Greece) clustered within the Eastern European/Russian subclade of WNV lineage 2 ( Figure 4 ) [ 52 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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West Nile virus in humans, Greece, 2018: the largest seasonal number of cases, 9 years after its emergence in the country

et al. 2020

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Background: Human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection are recorded since 2010 in Greece, with seasonal outbreaks occurring almost annually. Enhanced surveillance has been implemented since 2010, to promptly characterise cases' temporal and geographical distribution and inform authorities for implementation of appropriate measures (mosquito control, health education, blood safety). Aim: We describe the epidemiology of WNV human infections in Greece focusing on the 2018 season. Methods: The National Public Health Organization advised physicians to test all suspect WNV infection cases and refer samples to reference laboratories. Laboratories notified diagnosed cases on a daily basis. Treating physicians, patients, and infected blood donors were interviewed within 48 hours after diagnosis and the probable infection location was identified. Hospitalised cases were followed up until discharge. Results: A total of 317 autochthonous WNV infection cases were diagnosed in 2018. Among them, 243 cases had neuroinvasive disease (WNND), representing a 23% increase of WNND cases compared with 2010, the previous most intense season. There were 51 deaths. Cases started occurring from week 22, earlier than usual. Both rural and urban areas were affected, with 86 (26% of the total) municipalities belonging to seven (54% of the total) regions recording cases. Two major epicentres were identified in Attica and Central Macedonia regions. Conclusions: The largest number of human cases of WNV infection ever recorded in Greece occurred in 2018, with a wide geographical distribution, suggesting intense virus circulation. Enhanced surveillance is vital for the early detection of human cases and the prompt implementation of response measures.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[52].In total, among the cases tested, 99.6% (275/276) had WNV-specific IgM antibodies in serum and 95% (124/131) had WNV-specific IgM antibody response in CSF. In 29 cases with positive IgM and IgG antibodies in serum, the diagnosis was confirmed by neutralisation.…”

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confidence: 91%

West Nile virus in humans, Greece, 2018: the largest seasonal number of cases, 9 years after its emergence in the country

et al. 2020

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“…The Greek WNV strains detected during 2010–2018 clustered within the Central/Southern European subclade of lineage 2 (55). In 2018, a novel genetic variant was detected that belonged to the Eastern European subclade of lineage 2 (56). A nationwide WNV seroprevalence study (2013) showed seropositivity of 1.5% in the Greek population (57), whilst WNV antibodies were detected in 4% of horse serum samples (2001–2008) (58).…”

Section: Greecementioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections in Southern Europe

et al. 2019

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The epidemiology of West Nile (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Since 1999, there have been regular reports of WNV outbreaks and the virus has expanded its area of circulation in many Southern European countries. After emerging in Italy in 1996, USUV has spread to other countries causing mortality in several bird species. In 2009, USUV seroconversion in horses was reported in Italy. Co-circulation of both viruses was detected in humans, horses and birds. The main vector of WNV and USUV in Europe is Culex pipiens, however, both viruses were found in native Culex mosquito species (Cx. modestus, Cx. perexiguus). Experimental competence to transmit the WNV was also proven for native and invasive mosquitoes of Aedes and Culex genera (Ae. albopictus, Ae. detritus, Cx. torrentium). Recently, Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus naturally-infected with USUV were reported. While neuroinvasive human WNV infections are well-documented, USUV infections are sporadically detected. However, there is increasing evidence of a role of USUV in human disease. Seroepidemiological studies showed that USUV circulation is more common than WNV in some endemic regions. Recent data showed that WNV strains detected in humans, horses, birds, and mosquitoes mainly belong to lineage 2. In addition to European USUV lineages, some reports indicate the presence of African USUV lineages as well. The trends in WNV/USUV range and vector expansion are likely to continue in future years. This mini-review provides an update on the epidemiology of WNV and USUV infections in Southern Europe within a multidisciplinary “One Health” context.

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“…A first WNV lineage 2 strain was initially detected in Hungary in 2004 [17] and subsequently spread to the eastern part of Austria in 2008 [15,18], to the Balkan peninsula, including Greece in 2010 [19], Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria in 2012 [20,21], further East to Italy in 2011 [22], and more recently it reached Spain in 2017 [23] and Germany in 2018 [24,25]. Another WNV lineage 2 strain, first detected in 2004 in Rostov Oblast in Southern Russia [26], has also been occasionally reported in Europe, in Romania [27] in 2010, in Italy in 2014 [28], and in Greece in 2018 [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasted Epidemiological Patterns of West Nile Virus Lineages 1 and 2 Infections in France from 2015 to 2019

et al. 2020

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Since 2015, annual West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks of varying intensities have been reported in France. Recent intensification of enzootic WNV circulation was observed in the South of France with most horse cases detected in 2015 (n = 49), 2018 (n = 13), and 2019 (n = 13). A WNV lineage 1 strain was isolated from a horse suffering from West Nile neuro-invasive disease (WNND) during the 2015 episode in the Camargue area. A breaking point in WNV epidemiology was achieved in 2018, when WNV lineage 2 emerged in Southeastern areas. This virus most probably originated from WNV spread from Northern Italy and caused WNND in humans and the death of diurnal raptors. WNV lineage 2 emergence was associated with the most important human WNV epidemics identified so far in France (n = 26, including seven WNND cases and two infections in blood and organ donors). Two other major findings were the detection of WNV in areas with no or limited history of WNV circulation (Alpes-Maritimes in 2018, Corsica in 2018–2019, and Var in 2019) and distinct spatial distribution of human and horse WNV cases. These new data reinforce the necessity to enhance French WNV surveillance to better anticipate future WNV epidemics and epizootics and to improve the safety of blood and organ donations.

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Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 belonging to the Eastern European subclade, Greece

Cited by 23 publications

References 11 publications

West Nile virus in humans, Greece, 2018: the largest seasonal number of cases, 9 years after its emergence in the country

West Nile virus in humans, Greece, 2018: the largest seasonal number of cases, 9 years after its emergence in the country

Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections in Southern Europe

Contrasted Epidemiological Patterns of West Nile Virus Lineages 1 and 2 Infections in France from 2015 to 2019

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