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Veterinary microbiology2011; 152(3-4); 407-410; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.05.013

Serological evidence of West Nile virus circulation in Portugal.

Abstract: The circulation of West Nile virus in Portugal was assessed by serological surveys conducted during 2004-2010 in horses and birds. The detection of WNV antibodies in both species in all the years covered by the study as well as the presence of anti-WNV IgM in symptomatic horses that had not traveled outside the country, support the notion that WNV circulates in Portugal.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2011-05-13 PubMed ID: 21680115DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.05.013Google 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.

This research article investigates the presence and circulation of West Nyle virus (WNV) in Portugal, by conducting serological surveys on horses and birds from 2004 to 2010. The findings suggest that the virus is present and circulating within Portugal, as seen through the consistent presence of WNV antibodies in tested subjects throughout the study period.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • The main aim of the research was to determine whether West Nile virus is present and circulating in Portugal. The researchers focused their study on horses and birds, as these species are known to harbor and transmit the virus.
  • To achieve this, the research team conducted serological surveys between 2004 and 2010. A serological survey is a type of medical test used to identify and measure the presence of antibodies in a patient’s blood serum. These antibodies suggest past or current infection by a particular pathogen – in this case, the WNV.

Research Findings

  • The research found evidence of WNV circulation in Portugal, as the surveys detected the presence of WNV antibodies in both horses and birds. This was consistently observed for all years covered by the study.
  • Further supporting the findings, the team also found the presence of anti-WNV Immunoglobulin M (IgM) in horses which had presented symptomatic signs of the virus, but had not travelled outside Portugal. This suggested that these horses contracted the virus locally.

Implication of the Findings

  • The results of this study confirm that West Nile virus is present and circulating within Portugal. This has significant implications for public health, as WNV can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
  • The findings also lend support to the importance of maintaining and enhancing surveillance and control measures for WNV, to minimize the risk of WNV spread and its potential impact on public health.

Cite This Article

APA
Barros SC, Ramos F, Fagulha T, Duarte M, Henriques M, Luís T, Fevereiro M. (2011). Serological evidence of West Nile virus circulation in Portugal. Vet Microbiol, 152(3-4), 407-410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.05.013

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 152
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 407-410

Researcher Affiliations

Barros, Sílvia C
  • Laboratório Nacional de Investigação Veterinária, Virologia, Estrada de Benfica 701, 1500-011 Lisboa, Portugal.
Ramos, Fernanda
    Fagulha, Teresa
      Duarte, Margarida
        Henriques, Margarida
          Luís, Tiago
            Fevereiro, Miguel

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Birds
              • Horse Diseases / virology
              • Horses
              • Humans
              • Portugal
              • Sentinel Surveillance
              • West Nile Fever / veterinary
              • West Nile Fever / virology
              • West Nile virus / isolation & purification

              Citations

              This article has been cited 11 times.
              1. Lourenço J, Barros SC, Zé-Zé L, Damineli DSC, Giovanetti M, Osório HC, Amaro F, Henriques AM, Ramos F, Luís T, Duarte MD, Fagulha T, Alves MJ, Obolski U. West Nile virus transmission potential in Portugal. Commun Biol 2022 Jan 10;5(1):6.
                doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02969-3pubmed: 35013546google scholar: lookup
              2. Islam A, Islam S, Hossain ME, Ferdous J, Abedin J, Ziaur Rahman M, Rahman MK, Hoque MA, Hassan MM. Serological Evidence of West Nile Virus in Wild Birds in Bangladesh. Vet Sci 2020 Oct 28;7(4).
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              3. Vilibic-Cavlek T, Savic V, Petrovic T, Toplak I, Barbic L, Petric D, Tabain I, Hrnjakovic-Cvjetkovic I, Bogdanic M, Klobucar A, Mrzljak A, Stevanovic V, Dinjar-Kujundzic P, Radmanic L, Monaco F, Listes E, Savini G. Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections in Southern Europe. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:437.
                doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00437pubmed: 31867347google scholar: lookup
              4. Fortuna C, Remoli ME, Di Luca M, Severini F, Toma L, Benedetti E, Bucci P, Montarsi F, Minelli G, Boccolini D, Romi R, Ciufolini MG. Experimental studies on comparison of the vector competence of four Italian Culex pipiens populations for West Nile virus. Parasit Vectors 2015 Sep 17;8:463.
                doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-1067-zpubmed: 26383834google scholar: lookup
              5. Osório HC, Zé-Zé L, Amaro F, Alves MJ. Mosquito surveillance for prevention and control of emerging mosquito-borne diseases in Portugal - 2008-2014. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2014 Nov 12;11(11):11583-96.
                doi: 10.3390/ijerph111111583pubmed: 25396768google scholar: lookup
              6. Angenvoort J, Brault AC, Bowen RA, Groschup MH. West Nile viral infection of equids. Vet Microbiol 2013 Nov 29;167(1-2):168-80.
                doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.08.013pubmed: 24035480google scholar: lookup
              7. Lan DL, Wang CS, Deng B, Zhou JP, Cui L, Tang C, Yue H, Hua XG. Serological investigations on West Nile virus in birds and horses in Shanghai, China. Epidemiol Infect 2013 Mar;141(3):596-600.
                doi: 10.1017/S0950268812001094pubmed: 22651924google scholar: lookup
              8. Maroco D, Parreira R, Dos Santos FA, Lopes Â, Simões F, Orge L, Seabra SG, Fagulha T, Brazio E, Henriques AM, Duarte A, Duarte MD, Barros SC. Tracking the Pathways of West Nile Virus: Phylogenetic and Phylogeographic Analysis of a 2024 Isolate from Portugal. Microorganisms 2025 Mar 4;13(3).
                doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13030585pubmed: 40142478google scholar: lookup
              9. Fontoura-Gonçalves C, Llorente F, Pérez-Ramírez E, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Costa JB, de Mello G, Gonçalves D, Alves PC, Höfle U, Queirós J. Dynamics of Bagaza, West Nile, and Usutu Viruses in Red-Legged Partridges, Portugal, 2018-2022. Emerg Infect Dis 2025 Apr;31(4):824-828.
                doi: 10.3201/eid3104.241293pubmed: 40133082google scholar: lookup
              10. Canhão-Dias M, Pires TM, Henriques R, Lopes DG, Madeira de Carvalho LM. Zoonoses as Important Causes of Hospital Admissions: A 15-Year Study in Portugal. Port J Public Health 2022 Sep;40(2):101-111.
                doi: 10.1159/000525301pubmed: 39469082google scholar: lookup
              11. Naveed A, Eertink LG, Wang D, Li F. Lessons Learned from West Nile Virus Infection:Vaccinations in Equines and Their Implications for One Health Approaches. Viruses 2024 May 14;16(5).
                doi: 10.3390/v16050781pubmed: 38793662google scholar: lookup
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