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Home / Equine Research Bank / Viruses / Evidence of West Nile Virus Circulation in Lebanon.
Viruses2021; 13(6); 994; doi: 10.3390/v13060994

Evidence of West Nile Virus Circulation in Lebanon.

Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) has never been reported from Lebanon. Yet, this country is located on the flyway of migratory birds in the Middle East region. Serological screening was conducted to assess the potential circulation of this virus. Human, horse, and chicken sera were collected from the Bekaa and North districts. Specific IgG and IgY were first screened by ELISA. Then, positive samples were confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Besides this, adult mosquitoes were collected and tested for the presence of WNV RNA using conventional RT-PCR. Sera screening revealed a seroprevalence rate reaching 1.86% among humans and 2.47% among horses. Cross-reactions revealed by ELISA suggested the circulation of flaviviruses other than WNV. None of the tested mosquitoes was positive for WNV. The observed results constitute strong evidence of local exposure of the Lebanese population to this virus and the first report of equine WNV in Lebanon.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-26 PubMed ID: 34073485PubMed Central: PMC8227205DOI: 10.3390/v13060994Google 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 study reports on the first detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Lebanon and suggests potential viral circulation among local human, horse, and chicken populations, despite no detection in the tested mosquito population.

Research Background

  • The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne flavivirus that affects humans, birds, horses, and other mammals.
  • Despite Lebanon’s location on the migratory birds’ route in the Middle East, which could facilitate the viral spread, no previous reports have detected WNV in this country.

Research Methods

  • The researchers conducted a serological screening to assess the potential local circulation of WNV.
  • Samples of human, horse, and chicken sera were collected from two districts, Bekaa and North.
  • The samples were initially screened via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for specific antibodies against the virus (IgG in mammals and IgY in birds).
  • Positive samples from ELISA tests were then confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs), a highly specific method for detecting virus-neutralizing antibodies.
  • Furthermore, adult mosquitoes were collected and tested for the presence of WNV RNA using conventional Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).

Findings of the Research

  • The study found a seroprevalence rate of 1.86% among humans and 2.47% among horses, indicating exposure to WNV.
  • Cross-reactions revealed by ELISA tests suggested the presence of other flaviviruses in the region, highlighting the potential for viral misdiagnosis and co-infection.
  • Surprisingly, no mosquitoes tested positive for WNV RNA in the tested samples, despite known patterns of mosquito-borne WNV transmission.

Significance of the Research

  • This study provides strong evidence for the first local exposure of the Lebanese population to WNV and the first report of equine WNV in Lebanon.
  • These findings have important implications, offering a baseline understanding of WNV presence in the region and guiding future public health measures to prevent and control the spread of this disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Zakhia R, Dupuis AP, Khodr F, Fadel M, Kramer LD, Haddad N. (2021). Evidence of West Nile Virus Circulation in Lebanon. Viruses, 13(6), 994. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13060994

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
PII: 994

Researcher Affiliations

Zakhia, Renée
  • Laboratory of Immunology and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Fanar 6573/14, Lebanon.
Dupuis, Alan P
  • Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12159, USA.
Khodr, Fayçal
  • Laboratory of Immunology and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Fanar 6573/14, Lebanon.
Fadel, Mahdi
  • Laboratory of Immunology and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Fanar 6573/14, Lebanon.
Kramer, Laura D
  • Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12159, USA.
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA.
Haddad, Nabil
  • Laboratory of Immunology and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Fanar 6573/14, Lebanon.

MeSH Terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Geography, Medical
  • Humans
  • Lebanon / epidemiology
  • Mass Screening
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / virology
  • West Nile virus / classification
  • West Nile virus / immunology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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