Evolutionary relationships of West Nile virus detected in mosquitoes from a migratory bird zone of Colombian Caribbean.
Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a member of the genus Flavivirus, and it is transmitted between Culex sp. mosquitoes and avian hosts. Equids and humans are commonly infected with WNV as dead-end hosts, and the signs and symptoms of infection range from mild illness to neurologic symptoms as encephalitis, meningitis and sometimes death. Previous phylogenetic studies have classified WNV into six genetically distinct lineages and provided valuable insight on WNV dispersal patterns within the Americas and its emergence in different geographic areas. In this study, we isolated, sequenced and genetically characterized the NS5 and envelope genes for two WNV strains detected from Northern of Colombia. Herein we describe the evolutionary relationships with representative WNV-strains isolated in a variety of epidemic outbreaks and countries, to define the phylogeographic origin and possible implications in the epidemiology of this emergent virus in Colombia. Results: Fragments of the NS5 and Envelope genes were amplified with RT-PCR and sequenced to obtain 1186-nt and 1504-nt portions, respectively. Our sequences were aligned with 46 sequences from WNV-strains collected in the U.S., Mexico and Argentina for phylogenetic reconstruction using Bayesian methods. Sequence analyses identified unique non-synonymous substitutions in the envelope gene of the WNV strains we detected, and our sequences clustered together with those from the attenuated Texas - 2002 genotype. Conclusions: A new strain closely related to attenuated strains collected in Texas during 2002 was identified from Colombia by phylogenetic analysis. This finding may explain the absence of human/equine cases of WNV-encephalitis or severe disease in Colombia and possibly other regions of South America. Follow-up studies are needed in ecosystems used by migratory birds areas and virological/entomological surveillance.
Publication Date: 2015-05-20 PubMed ID: 25989901PubMed Central: PMC4445300DOI: 10.1186/s12985-015-0310-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper discusses the study of two West Nile virus (WNV) strains found in Northern Colombia. It aims to determine the evolutionary relationships with other WNV strains from different outbreaks and geographic areas. The observations from this study might explain why cases of severe WNV disease are absent in Colombia and other parts of South America.
Background
- The West Nile virus is a Flavivirus transmitted primarily between Culex sp. mosquitoes and avian hosts.
- Humans and equids are often infected as dead-end hosts, and the symptoms can range from mild illness to severe neurological conditions like encephalitis and meningitis, and occasionally result in death.
- Previous studies have classified the WNV into six distinct lineages, helping understand its dispersal patterns within America and its emergence in various geographic areas.
Research Methodology
- The researchers isolated, sequenced, and genetically analyzed the NS5 and envelope genes of two WNV strains found in Northern Colombia.
- Fragments of the NS5 and envelope genes were amplified with RT-PCR and sequenced, providing 1186-nt and 1504-nt portions, respectively.
- The sequences were then compared with 46 sequences from WNV strains collected in the U.S., Mexico, and Argentina using Bayesian methods for reconstruction.
Results
- Unique non-synonymous substitutions were identified in the envelope gene of the WNV strains found in Colombia.
- Sequences from Colombia were closely related to the attenuated strains from Texas in 2002.
Conclusions
- The study identified a new WNV strain in Colombia closely related to the attenuated strains detected in Texas in 2002 by using phylogenetic analysis.
- This discovery could potentially explain why there have been no reported human/equine cases of severe WNV-encephalitis or disease in Colombia and potentially other regions of South America.
- Further studies are needed to monitor ecosystems utilized by migratory birds, coupled with virological and entomological surveillance.
Cite This Article
APA
López RH, Soto SU, Gallego-Gómez JC.
(2015).
Evolutionary relationships of West Nile virus detected in mosquitoes from a migratory bird zone of Colombian Caribbean.
Virol J, 12, 80.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-015-0310-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Molecular and Translational Medicine Group, Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. rhoyoslopez@gmail.com.
- Molecular Systematics Research Group, Biosciences School - Sciences Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia. rhoyoslopez@gmail.com.
- Molecular Systematics Research Group, Biosciences School - Sciences Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia. suribesoto@gmail.com.
- Molecular and Translational Medicine Group, Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. juanc.gallegogomez@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Birds
- Caribbean Region
- Cluster Analysis
- Colombia
- Culex / virology
- Genetic Variation
- Humans
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeography
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology
- Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
- Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
- West Nile virus / classification
- West Nile virus / genetics
- West Nile virus / isolation & purification
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