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Emerging infectious diseases2012; 18(5); 792-800; doi: 10.3201/eid1805.111720

Characterization of virulent West Nile virus Kunjin strain, Australia, 2011.

Abstract: To determine the cause of an unprecedented outbreak of encephalitis among horses in New South Wales, Australia, in 2011, we performed genomic sequencing of viruses isolated from affected horses and mosquitoes. Results showed that most of the cases were caused by a variant West Nile virus (WNV) strain, WNV(NSW2011), that is most closely related to WNV Kunjin (WNV(KUN)), the indigenous WNV strain in Australia. Studies in mouse models for WNV pathogenesis showed that WNV(NSW2011) is substantially more neuroinvasive than the prototype WNV(KUN) strain. In WNV(NSW2011), this apparent increase in virulence over that of the prototype strain correlated with at least 2 known markers of WNV virulence that are not found in WNV(KUN). Additional studies are needed to determine the relationship of the WNV(NSW2011) strain to currently and previously circulating WNV(KUN) strains and to confirm the cause of the increased virulence of this emerging WNV strain.
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Publication Date: 2012-04-21 PubMed ID: 22516173PubMed Central: PMC3358055DOI: 10.3201/eid1805.111720Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research is about a 2011 outbreak of encephalitis in horses in New South Wales, Australia. The authors found that the cause was a variant of the West Nile Virus (WNV), which is more virulent and neuroinvasive than the typical strain in Australia.

Background and Purpose of the Research

  • The aim of the study was to identify the cause of an unusual outbreak of encephalitis in horses in New South Wales, Australia, in 2011.
  • To unravel the causative agent, the researchers undertook genomic sequencing of viruses isolated from the affected horses and mosquitoes.
  • The outbreak was suspected to be due to a variation of West Nile virus (WNV).

Findings and Results from the Study

  • Most of the cases in the outbreak were found to be caused by a variant West Nile Virus strain, termed as WNV(NSW2011).
  • Genomic sequencing and analysis revealed that WNV(NSW2011) is most closely connected to WNV Kunjin (WNV(KUN)), the indigenous WNV strain in Australia.
  • In experimental studies using mouse models, it was discovered that WNV(NSW2011) is significantly more neuroinvasive – i.e., it has a higher capacity to infiltrate the central nervous system and cause disease – than the original WNV(KUN) strain.
  • These differences in virulence and neuroinvasiveness were correlated with at least two known markers of WNV virulence that are not found in the WNV(KUN) strain.

Significance and Future Research

  • The research shed light on the presence of a virulent, neuroinvasive strain of WNV in Australia, which caused an outbreak of encephalitis among horses.
  • However, the relationship of the new WNV(NSW2011) strain to current and previously circulating WNV(KUN) strains still needs to be investigated in future studies.
  • Additionally, more research is needed to confirm the reason for the increased virulence of this new strain.

Cite This Article

APA
Frost MJ, Zhang J, Edmonds JH, Prow NA, Gu X, Davis R, Hornitzky C, Arzey KE, Finlaison D, Hick P, Read A, Hobson-Peters J, May FJ, Doggett SL, Haniotis J, Russell RC, Hall RA, Khromykh AA, Kirkland PD. (2012). Characterization of virulent West Nile virus Kunjin strain, Australia, 2011. Emerg Infect Dis, 18(5), 792-800. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1805.111720

Publication

Emerging infectious diseases
ISSN: 1080-6059
NlmUniqueID: 9508155
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 5
Pages: 792-800

Researcher Affiliations

Frost, Melinda J
  • Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute, Menangle, New South Wales, Australia.
Zhang, Jing
    Edmonds, Judith H
      Prow, Natalie A
        Gu, Xingnian
          Davis, Rodney
            Hornitzky, Christine
              Arzey, Kathleen E
                Finlaison, Deborah
                  Hick, Paul
                    Read, Andrew
                      Hobson-Peters, Jody
                        May, Fiona J
                          Doggett, Stephen L
                            Haniotis, John
                              Russell, Richard C
                                Hall, Roy A
                                  Khromykh, Alexander A
                                    Kirkland, Peter D

                                      MeSH Terms

                                      • Animals
                                      • Cell Line
                                      • Cricetinae
                                      • Disease Outbreaks
                                      • Genes, Viral
                                      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                                      • Horse Diseases / virology
                                      • Horses
                                      • Mice
                                      • New South Wales / epidemiology
                                      • Open Reading Frames
                                      • Phylogeny
                                      • Virulence
                                      • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
                                      • West Nile Fever / veterinary
                                      • West Nile Fever / virology
                                      • West Nile virus / genetics
                                      • West Nile virus / immunology
                                      • West Nile virus / pathogenicity

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                                      Citations

                                      This article has been cited 79 times.
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