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Zoonoses and public health2013; 61(3); 181-191; doi: 10.1111/zph.12048

Ecological surveillance for West Nile in Catalonia (Spain), learning from a five-year period of follow-up.

Abstract: To enhance early detection of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission, an integrated ecological surveillance system was implemented in Catalonia (north-eastern Spain) from 2007 to 2011. This system incorporated passive and active equine surveillance, periodical testing of chicken sentinels in wetland areas, serosurveillance wild birds and testing of adult mosquitoes. Samples from 298 equines, 100 sentinel chickens, 1086 wild birds and 39 599 mosquitoes were analysed. During these 5 years, no acute WNV infection was detected in humans or domestic animal populations in Catalonia. WNV was not detected in mosquitoes either. Nevertheless, several seroconversions in resident and migrant wild birds indicate that local WNV or other closely related flaviviruses transmission was occurring among bird populations. These data indicate that bird and mosquito surveillance can detect otherwise silent transmission of flaviviruses and give some insights regarding possible avian hosts and vectors in a European setting.
© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2013-04-17 PubMed ID: 23590452DOI: 10.1111/zph.12048Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article investigates the implementation of an ecological surveillance system for the detection of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission in Catalonia, Spain, over a five-year span. However, the results did not find any prevalent WNV infections among humans, domestic animals, or mosquitoes, but did find signs of WNV transmission among wild birds.

Overview of the Ecological Surveillance System

  • The ecological surveillance system described in the study was established with the aim of enhancing early detection of WNV transmission.
  • The system was implemented in the region of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain and it ran continuously from the years 2007 to 2011.
  • The surveillance system included both passive and active equine surveillance, regular testing of chicken sentinels or indicators in wetland areas, serological surveillance of wild birds (testing for the presence of specific antibodies in their blood), and testing of adult mosquitoes.

Analysed Samples

  • The researchers analysed various sample clusters during the five years to check for the presence of WNV.
  • A total of 298 equines, 100 sentinel chickens, 1086 wild birds, and 39,599 mosquitoes were examined in the study.

Findings of the Study

  • Despite extensive testing, the study revealed no acute or active WNV infection in humans or domestic animal populations in Catalonia during the five-year period.
  • The same applied to mosquitoes, as WNV was not found in any of the tested mosquito specimens.
  • However, numerous cases of seroconversion or the presence of specific antibodies in the blood to WNV or other closely related flaviviruses were observed in resident and migrant wild birds. This indicated an ongoing transmission of WNV or closely related flaviviruses among bird populations.
  • This result suggests that silent transmission of flaviviruses was taking place among the bird populations, which might otherwise have gone unnoticed without this dedicated streaming of bird and mosquito surveillance.

Significance of the Findings

  • The study’s findings demonstrate that despite the absence of active WNV infections in the tested populations, there is a potential for virus transmission among wild birds. This situation necessitates the need for ongoing surveillance efforts.
  • The research also provides insights into potential avian hosts and vectors for the transmission of WNV or other similar flaviviruses in a European setting.

Cite This Article

APA
Alba A, Allepuz A, Napp S, Soler M, Selga I, Aranda C, Casal J, Pages N, Hayes EB, Busquets N. (2013). Ecological surveillance for West Nile in Catalonia (Spain), learning from a five-year period of follow-up. Zoonoses Public Health, 61(3), 181-191. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12048

Publication

Zoonoses and public health
ISSN: 1863-2378
NlmUniqueID: 101300786
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 3
Pages: 181-191

Researcher Affiliations

Alba, A
  • Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Bellaterra, Spain.
Allepuz, A
    Napp, S
      Soler, M
        Selga, I
          Aranda, C
            Casal, J
              Pages, N
                Hayes, E B
                  Busquets, N

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Animals
                    • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
                    • Bird Diseases / virology
                    • Birds
                    • Chickens / virology
                    • Culicidae / virology
                    • Environmental Monitoring
                    • Flavivirus / immunology
                    • Flavivirus / physiology
                    • Flavivirus Infections / epidemiology
                    • Flavivirus Infections / veterinary
                    • Flavivirus Infections / virology
                    • Follow-Up Studies
                    • Geography
                    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                    • Horse Diseases / virology
                    • Horses
                    • Insect Vectors / virology
                    • Poultry Diseases / epidemiology
                    • Poultry Diseases / virology
                    • Sentinel Surveillance
                    • Seroepidemiologic Studies
                    • Spain / epidemiology
                    • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
                    • West Nile Fever / veterinary
                    • West Nile Fever / virology
                    • West Nile virus / immunology
                    • West Nile virus / physiology

                    Citations

                    This article has been cited 22 times.
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