Transmission dynamics and changing epidemiology of West Nile virus.
Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus that is maintained in a bird-mosquito transmission cycle. Humans, horses and other non-avian vertebrates are usually incidental hosts, but evidence is accumulating that this might not always be the case. Historically, WNV has been associated with asymptomatic infections and sporadic disease outbreaks in humans and horses in Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. However, since 1994, the virus has caused frequent outbreaks of severe neuroinvasive disease in humans and horses in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. In 1999, WNV underwent a dramatic expansion of its geographic range, and was reported for the first time in the Western Hemisphere during an outbreak of human and equine encephalitis in New York City. The outbreak was accompanied by extensive and unprecedented avian mortality. Since then, WNV has dispersed across the Western Hemisphere and is now found throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, and parts of Central and South America. WNV has been responsible for >27,000 human cases, >25,000 equine cases and hundreds of thousands of avian deaths in the USA but, surprisingly, there have been only sparse reports of WNV disease in vertebrates in the Caribbean and Latin America. This review summarizes our current understanding of WNV with particular emphasis on its transmission dynamics and changing epidemiology.
Publication Date: 2008-03-19 PubMed ID: 18348742DOI: 10.1017/S1466252307001430Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
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 discusses the shifting dynamics and epidemiology of the West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne virus primarily hosted by birds. Initial findings have historically classified humans and other non-avian creatures as incidental hosts, but new evidence raises questions about this assumption. Key changes to the virus’s outbreaks and geographic ranges observed since 1994, such as the severeness of neuroinvasive diseases in humans and horses and the virus’s expansion to new territories starting in 1999, are discussed. The article further reviews our current understanding of the WNV and its increasingly varying impacts and transmission dynamics.
Overview of West Nile Virus (WNV)
- The West Nile Virus belongs to the flavivirus category, which is predominately circulated in a transmission cycle involving birds and mosquitoes.
- Humans, horses, and non-avian vertebrates have generally been considered incidental hosts, but recent studies suggest this may not always hold true.
- Historically, WNV was associated with asymptomatic infections with occasional disease outbreaks in humans and horses across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Changes in Virus Transmission and Impact
- Since 1994, the patterns and impacts of WNV have undergone significant changes. The virus has begun causing regular, severe neuroinvasive disease outbursts, affecting both humans and horses primarily in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.
- In a surprising geographic expansion in 1999, WNV appeared within the Western Hemisphere during a human and equine encephalitis outbreak in New York City. This was accompanied by a notably high mortality rate among birds.
Geographic Spread and Impact of WNV
- From the initial outbreak in New York City, WNV gradually spread to cover the USA, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of Central and South America. Consequently, the geographic footprint of WNV has radically expanded relative to its original locations.
- The spread within the USA has been significant, resulting in over 27,000 human cases, more than 25,000 equine cases, and hundreds of thousands of bird deaths. However, reports in the Caribbean and Latin America remain surprisingly sparse.
Current Understanding of WNV
- The article concludes by collating our current understanding of WNV, with a focus on its changing epidemiology and transmission dynamics.
- This understanding is continually evolving as the virus exhibits new behaviors, expands to new regions, and affects new host populations.
Cite This Article
APA
Blitvich BJ.
(2008).
Transmission dynamics and changing epidemiology of West Nile virus.
Anim Health Res Rev, 9(1), 71-86.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1466252307001430 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. blitvich@iastate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Birds
- Culicidae / virology
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
- Disease Reservoirs / virology
- Horses
- Humans
- Insect Vectors / virology
- West Nile Fever / epidemiology
- West Nile Fever / transmission
- West Nile Fever / veterinary
- West Nile Fever / virology
- West Nile virus / growth & development
- West Nile virus / pathogenicity
Citations
This article has been cited 60 times.- Todoric D, Vrbova L, Mitri ME, Gasmi S, Stewart A, Connors S, Zheng H, Bourgeois AC, Drebot M, Paré J, Zimmer M, Buck P. An overview of the National West Nile Virus Surveillance System in Canada: A One Health approach.. Can Commun Dis Rep 2022 May 5;48(5):181-187.
- Gdoura M, Fares W, Bougatef S, Inoubli A, Touzi H, Hogga N, Ben Dhifallah I, Hannachi N, Argoubi A, Kacem S, Karray H, Ben Alaya N, Triki H. The value of West Nile virus RNA detection by real-time RT-PCR in urine samples from patients with neuroinvasive forms.. Arch Microbiol 2022 Apr 3;204(5):238.
- Chowdhury P, Khan SA. Global emergence of West Nile virus: Threat & preparedness in special perspective to India.. Indian J Med Res 2021 Jul;154(1):36-50.
- Yıldırım Y, Yılmaz V, Yazıcı K, Öziç C, Ozkul A, Çağırgan AA. Phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus: first report of lineage 1 in donkey in Turkey.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021 Sep 18;53(5):453.
- Zhang Y, Lei W, Wang Y, Sui H, Liu B, Li F, He Y, Li Z, Fu S, Wang L, Xu L, Mahe M, Gao Z, Mamutijiang T, Lv Z, Xiang N, Zhou L, Ni D, Liang G, Li Q, Wang H, Feng Z. Surveillance of West Nile virus infection in Kashgar Region, Xinjiang, China, 2013-2016.. Sci Rep 2021 Jul 7;11(1):14010.
- Ong OTW, Skinner EB, Johnson BJ, Old JM. Mosquito-Borne Viruses and Non-Human Vertebrates in Australia: A Review.. Viruses 2021 Feb 9;13(2).
- Fiacre L, Pagès N, Albina E, Richardson J, Lecollinet S, Gonzalez G. Molecular Determinants of West Nile Virus Virulence and Pathogenesis in Vertebrate and Invertebrate Hosts.. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Nov 30;21(23).
- Palermo PM, Orbegozo J, Morrill JC, Watts DM. Serological Evidence of West Nile Virus Infection in White-Tailed Deer in Central Texas.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 Nov;20(11):850-854.
- Martin MF, Nisole S. West Nile Virus Restriction in Mosquito and Human Cells: A Virus under Confinement.. Vaccines (Basel) 2020 May 29;8(2).
- Pereira TN, Carvalho FD, De Mendonça SF, Rocha MN, Moreira LA. Vector competence of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes for Mayaro virus.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 Apr;14(4):e0007518.
- Percivalle E, Cassaniti I, Sarasini A, Rovida F, Adzasehoun KMG, Colombini I, Isernia P, Cuppari I, Baldanti F. West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors.. Viruses 2020 Jan 29;12(2).
- Mihailović DT, Petrić D, Petrović T, Hrnjaković-Cvjetković I, Djurdjevic V, Nikolić-Đorić E, Arsenić I, Petrić M, Mimić G, Ignjatović-Ćupina A. Assessment of climate change impact on the malaria vector Anopheles hyrcanus, West Nile disease, and incidence of melanoma in the Vojvodina Province (Serbia) using data from a regional climate model.. PLoS One 2020;15(1):e0227679.
- Natekar JP, Rothan HA, Arora K, Strate PG, Kumar M. Cellular microRNA-155 Regulates Virus-Induced Inflammatory Response and Protects against Lethal West Nile Virus Infection.. Viruses 2019 Dec 19;12(1).
- Kumar K, Arshad SS, Toung OP, Abba Y, Selvarajah GT, Abu J, A R Y, Ong BL, Bande F. The distribution of important sero-complexes of flaviviruses in Malaysia.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2019 Mar;51(3):495-506.
- Sukhralia S, Verma M, Gopirajan S, Dhanaraj PS, Lal R, Mehla N, Kant CR. From dengue to Zika: the wide spread of mosquito-borne arboviruses.. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2019 Jan;38(1):3-14.
- Laredo-Tiscareño SV, Garza-Hernandez JA, Salazar MI, De Luna-Santillana EJ, Tangudu CS, Cetina-Trejo RC, Doria-Cobos GL, Carmona-Aguirre SD, Garcia-Rejon JE, Machain-Williams C, Blitvich BJ, Pérez MAR. Surveillance for Flaviviruses Near the Mexico-U.S. Border: Co-circulation of Dengue Virus Serotypes 1, 2, and 3 and West Nile Virus in Tamaulipas, Northern Mexico, 2014-2016.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018 Nov;99(5):1308-1317.
- Monastiri A, Mechri B, Vázquez-González A, Ar Gouilh M, Chakroun M, Loussaief C, Mastouri M, Dimassi N, Boughzala L, Aouni M, Serra-Cobo J. A four-year survey (2011-2014) of West Nile virus infection in humans, mosquitoes and birds, including the 2012 meningoencephalitis outbreak in Tunisia.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018 Mar 14;7(1):28.
- Al-Jabi SW. Global research trends in West Nile virus from 1943 to 2016: a bibliometric analysis.. Global Health 2017 Aug 3;13(1):55.
- Lund M, Shearn-Bochsler V, Dusek RJ, Shivers J, Hofmeister E. Potential for Waterborne and Invertebrate Transmission of West Nile Virus in the Great Salt Lake, Utah.. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017 Jul 15;83(14).
- Dietrich EA, Langevin SA, Huang CY, Maharaj PD, Delorey MJ, Bowen RA, Kinney RM, Brault AC. West Nile Virus Temperature Sensitivity and Avian Virulence Are Modulated by NS1-2B Polymorphisms.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016 Aug;10(8):e0004938.
- Pisani G, Cristiano K, Pupella S, Liumbruno GM. West Nile Virus in Europe and Safety of Blood Transfusion.. Transfus Med Hemother 2016 May;43(3):158-67.
- Kulkarni MA, Berrang-Ford L, Buck PA, Drebot MA, Lindsay LR, Ogden NH. Major emerging vector-borne zoonotic diseases of public health importance in Canada.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2015 Jun 10;4(6):e33.
- Caraballo EV, Hunsperger E, Martínez I. Characterization of Puerto Rican West Nile Virus isolates in mice.. Virol J 2015 Sep 11;12:137.
- Lohitharajah J, Malavige GN, Chua AJ, Ng ML, Arambepola C, Chang T. Emergence of human West Nile Virus infection in Sri Lanka.. BMC Infect Dis 2015 Jul 31;15:305.
- Gaudreault NN, Indran SV, Bryant PK, Richt JA, Wilson WC. Comparison of Rift Valley fever virus replication in North American livestock and wildlife cell lines.. Front Microbiol 2015;6:664.
- Huang YJ, Higgs S, Horne KM, Vanlandingham DL. Flavivirus-mosquito interactions.. Viruses 2014 Nov 24;6(11):4703-30.
- Maharaj PD, Bolling BG, Anishchenko M, Reisen WK, Brault AC. Genetic determinants of differential oral infection phenotypes of West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses in Culex spp. mosquitoes.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014 Nov;91(5):1066-72.
- Quaglia AI, Diaz LA, Argibay H, Contigiani MS, Saggese MD. West Nile and st. Louis encephalitis viruses antibodies surveillance in captive and free-ranging birds of prey from Argentina.. Ecohealth 2014 Dec;11(4):603-9.
- Egizi AM, Farajollahi A, Fonseca DM. Diverse host feeding on nesting birds may limit early-season West Nile virus amplification.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014 Jun;14(6):447-53.
- Del Amo J, Llorente F, Figuerola J, Soriguer RC, Moreno AM, Cordioli P, Weissenböck H, Jiménez-Clavero MA. Experimental infection of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) with West Nile virus isolates of Euro-Mediterranean and North American origins.. Vet Res 2014 Mar 19;45(1):33.
- Mulatti P, Ferguson HM, Bonfanti L, Montarsi F, Capelli G, Marangon S. Determinants of the population growth of the West Nile virus mosquito vector Culex pipiens in a repeatedly affected area in Italy.. Parasit Vectors 2014 Jan 15;7:26.
- Go YY, Balasuriya UB, Lee CK. Zoonotic encephalitides caused by arboviruses: transmission and epidemiology of alphaviruses and flaviviruses.. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2014 Jan;3(1):58-77.
- Marka A, Diamantidis A, Papa A, Valiakos G, Chaintoutis SC, Doukas D, Tserkezou P, Giannakopoulos A, Papaspyropoulos K, Patsoula E, Badieritakis E, Baka A, Tseroni M, Pervanidou D, Papadopoulos NT, Koliopoulos G, Tontis D, Dovas CI, Billinis C, Tsakris A, Kremastinou J, Hadjichristodoulou C, Vakalis N, Vassalou E, Zarzani S, Zounos A, Komata K, Balatsos G, Beleri S, Mpimpa A, Papavasilopoulos V, Rodis I, Spanakos G, Tegos N, Spyrou V, Dalabiras Z, Birtsas P, Athanasiou L, Papanastassopoulou M, Ioannou C, Athanasiou C, Gerofotis C, Papadopoulou E, Testa T, Tsakalidou O, Rachiotis G, Bitsolas N, Mamouris Z, Moutou K, Sarafidou T, Stamatis K, Sarri K, Tsiodras S, Georgakopoulou T, Detsis M, Mavrouli M, Stavropoulou A, Politi L, Mageira G, Christopoulou V, Diamantopoulou G, Spanakis N, Vrioni G, Piperaki ET, Mitsopoulou K, Kioulos I, Michaelakis A, Stathis I, Tselentis I, Psaroulaki A, Keramarou M, Chochlakis D, Photis Y, Konstantinou M, Manetos P, Tsobanoglou S, Mourelatos S, Antalis V, Pergantas P, Eleftheriou G. West Nile virus state of the art report of MALWEST Project.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Dec 2;10(12):6534-610.
- Donadieu E, Bahuon C, Lowenski S, Zientara S, Coulpier M, Lecollinet S. Differential virulence and pathogenesis of West Nile viruses.. Viruses 2013 Nov 22;5(11):2856-80.
- Ozdenerol E, Taff GN, Akkus C. Exploring the spatio-temporal dynamics of reservoir hosts, vectors, and human hosts of West Nile virus: a review of the recent literature.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Oct 25;10(11):5399-432.
- Beck C, Jimenez-Clavero MA, Leblond A, Durand B, Nowotny N, Leparc-Goffart I, Zientara S, Jourdain E, Lecollinet S. Flaviviruses in Europe: complex circulation patterns and their consequences for the diagnosis and control of West Nile disease.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Nov 12;10(11):6049-83.
- Greenberg JA, Lujan DA, DiMenna MA, Wearing HJ, Hofkin BV. Identification of blood meal sources in Aedes vexans and Culex quinquefasciatus in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.. J Insect Sci 2013;13:75.
- Martín-Acebes MA, Saiz JC. West Nile virus: A re-emerging pathogen revisited.. World J Virol 2012 Apr 12;1(2):51-70.
- Pupella S, Pisani G, Cristiano K, Catalano L, Grazzini G. West Nile virus in the transfusion setting with a special focus on Italian preventive measures adopted in 2008-2012 and their impact on blood safety.. Blood Transfus 2013 Oct;11(4):563-74.
- Mann BR, McMullen AR, Swetnam DM, Salvato V, Reyna M, Guzman H, Bueno R Jr, Dennett JA, Tesh RB, Barrett AD. Continued evolution of West Nile virus, Houston, Texas, USA, 2002-2012.. Emerg Infect Dis 2013;19(9):1418-27.
- Fraisier C, Camoin L, Lim SM, Bakli M, Belghazi M, Fourquet P, Granjeaud S, Osterhaus AD, Koraka P, Martina B, Almeras L. Altered protein networks and cellular pathways in severe west nile disease in mice.. PLoS One 2013;8(7):e68318.
- Machain-Williams C, Padilla-Paz SE, Weber M, Cetina-Trejo R, Juarez-Ordaz JA, Loroño-Pino MA, Ulloa A, Wang C, Garcia-Rejon J, Blitvich BJ. Antibodies to West Nile virus in wild and farmed crocodiles in southeastern Mexico.. J Wildl Dis 2013 Jul;49(3):690-3.
- Boseret G, Losson B, Mainil JG, Thiry E, Saegerman C. Zoonoses in pet birds: review and perspectives.. Vet Res 2013 May 20;44(1):36.
- Aziz AT, Dieng H, Ahmad AH, Mahyoub JA, Turkistani AM, Mesed H, Koshike S, Satho T, Salmah MC, Ahmad H, Zuharah WF, Ramli AS, Miake F. Household survey of container-breeding mosquitoes and climatic factors influencing the prevalence of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia.. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2012 Nov;2(11):849-57.
- Belinato TA, Martins AJ, Lima JB, Valle D. Effect of triflumuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, on Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus under laboratory conditions.. Parasit Vectors 2013 Apr 4;6:83.
- Mann BR, McMullen AR, Guzman H, Tesh RB, Barrett AD. Dynamic transmission of West Nile virus across the United States-Mexican border.. Virology 2013 Feb 5;436(1):75-80.
- Thompson NN, Auguste AJ, Coombs D, Blitvich BJ, Carrington CV, da Rosa AP, Wang E, Chadee DD, Drebot MA, Tesh RB, Weaver SC, Adesiyun AA. Serological evidence of flaviviruses and alphaviruses in livestock and wildlife in Trinidad.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2012 Nov;12(11):969-78.
- Osorio JE, Ciuoderis KA, Lopera JG, Piedrahita LD, Murphy D, Levasseur J, Carrillo L, Ocampo MC, Hofmeister E. Characterization of West Nile viruses isolated from captive American Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus ruber) in Medellin, Colombia.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012 Sep;87(3):565-72.
- Jiménez-Clavero MÁ. Animal viral diseases and global change: bluetongue and West Nile fever as paradigms.. Front Genet 2012;3:105.
- Lelli D, Moreno A, Brocchi E, Sozzi E, Capucci L, Canelli E, Barbieri I, Zeller H, Cordioli P. West Nile virus: characterization and diagnostic applications of monoclonal antibodies.. Virol J 2012 Apr 13;9:81.
- Richards SL, Anderson SL, Lord CC, Smartt CT, Tabachnick WJ. Relationships between infection, dissemination, and transmission of West Nile virus RNA in Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).. J Med Entomol 2012 Jan;49(1):132-42.
- Martín-Acebes MA, Blázquez AB, Jiménez de Oya N, Escribano-Romero E, Saiz JC. West Nile virus replication requires fatty acid synthesis but is independent on phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate lipids.. PLoS One 2011;6(9):e24970.
- Rochlin I, Turbow D, Gomez F, Ninivaggi DV, Campbell SR. Predictive mapping of human risk for West Nile virus (WNV) based on environmental and socioeconomic factors.. PLoS One 2011;6(8):e23280.
- Diaz-Badillo A, Bolling BG, Perez-Ramirez G, Moore CG, Martinez-Munoz JP, Padilla-Viveros AA, Camacho-Nuez M, Diaz-Perez A, Beaty BJ, Munoz Mde L. The distribution of potential West Nile virus vectors, Culex pipiens pipiens and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae), in Mexico City.. Parasit Vectors 2011 May 9;4:70.
- Khan SA, Dutta P, Khan AM, Chowdhury P, Borah J, Doloi P, Mahanta J. West Nile virus infection, Assam, India.. Emerg Infect Dis 2011 May;17(5):947-8.
- Pourrut X, Nkoghé D, Paweska J, Leroy E. First serological evidence of West Nile virus in human rural populations of Gabon.. Virol J 2010 Jun 17;7:132.
- Koraka P, Martina BE, Osterhaus AD. Bioinformatics in new generation flavivirus vaccines.. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010;2010:864029.
- Loroño-Pino MA, Farfan-Ale JA, Garcia-Rejon JE, Lin M, Rosado-Paredes E, Puerto FI, Bates A, Root JJ, Franklin AB, Sullivan HJ, Blitvich BJ. Antibodies to influenza and West Nile viruses in horses in Mexico.. Vet Rec 2010 Jan 2;166(1):22-3.
- Rodríguez Mde L, Rodriguez DR, Blitvich BJ, López MA, Fernández-Salas I, Jimenez JR, Farfán-Ale JA, Tamez RC, Longoria CM, Aguilar MI, Rivas-Estilla AM. Serologic surveillance for West Nile virus and other flaviviruses in febrile patients, encephalitic patients, and asymptomatic blood donors in northern Mexico.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010 Mar;10(2):151-7.
- Farfan-Ale JA, Loroño-Pino MA, Garcia-Rejon JE, Hovav E, Powers AM, Lin M, Dorman KS, Platt KB, Bartholomay LC, Soto V, Beaty BJ, Lanciotti RS, Blitvich BJ. Detection of RNA from a novel West Nile-like virus and high prevalence of an insect-specific flavivirus in mosquitoes in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009 Jan;80(1):85-95.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists