FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Euro Surveill / West Nile virus circulation in Emilia-Romagna, Italy: the in...
Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin2010; 15(16); 19547;

West Nile virus circulation in Emilia-Romagna, Italy: the integrated surveillance system 2009.

Abstract: Following a large West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic in northeastern Italy in 2008, human and animal surveillance activities were implemented in Emilia Romagna. Human surveillance was performed by serology or genome detection on blood and cerebrospinal fluid for all suspected cases suffering from acute meningoencephalitis in the regional territory. Animal surveillance consisted of passive and active surveillance of horses and active surveillance of wild birds and mosquitoes. Between 15 June and 31 October 2009, nine of 78 possible cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease were confirmed (three fatal). From May to October, 26 cases of neurological West Nile disease were confirmed among 46 horses. The overall incidence of seroconversion among horses in 2009 was 13%. In 2009, 44 of 1,218 wild birds yielded positive PCR results for WNV infection. The planned veterinary and entomological surveillance actions detected WNV activity from the end of July 2009, about 2-3 weeks before the onset of the first human neurological case. Passive surveillance of horses seems to be an early and suitable tool for the detection of WNV activity, but it will be less sensitive in the future, because an intensive programme of horse vaccination started in June 2009.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-04-22 PubMed ID: 20430000
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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 paper discusses a surveillance system launched in Emilia Romagna, Italy, after a significant West Nile virus outbreak in 2008. This system monitored both humans and animals for signs of the virus, revealing new insights about its progression and how best to detect the disease early.

Human Surveillance

  • The research team conducted human surveillance by either carrying out serology (study of serum) or detecting the genome on blood and cerebrospinal fluid.
  • They enacted this surveillance on the entire regional population that exhibited symptoms of acute meningoencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membranes commonly associated with the West Nile virus.
  • Of the suspected 78 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease within a period from June 15 to October 31, 2009, nine were confirmed as real cases, three of which were fatal.

Animal Surveillance

  • Animal surveillance was also conducted both passively and actively among horses, with active surveillance extended to wild birds and mosquitoes.
  • Throughout May to October, 46 horses were monitored, 26 of which were confirmed to have the neurological West Nile disease.
  • The incidence of seroconversion (a sign of infection) among these horses was logged at 13% for 2009.
  • Of the 1,218 observed wild birds, 44 yielded positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results for West Nile virus infection, indicating the virus’ genetic material in their bodies.
  • The early detection of the virus was made possible by monitoring the animals’ health starting from late July 2009 — about 2-3 weeks before the first human neurological case emerged.

Conclusion

  • The results suggest that passive surveillance in horses can be instrumental in early detection of West Nile virus activity.
  • However, the research notes that this method might lose sensitivity in the future due to an intensive horse vaccination programme that began in June 2009.
  • This prediction implies that as more horses are immunized, there will be fewer West Nile virus cases in this population, reducing the effectiveness of using horse surveillance as a gauge for early virus detection.

Cite This Article

APA
Angelini P, Tamba M, Finarelli AC, Bellini R, Albieri A, Bonilauri P, Cavrini F, Dottori M, Gaibani P, Martini E, Mattivi A, Pierro AM, Rugna G, Sambri V, Squintani G, Macini P. (2010). West Nile virus circulation in Emilia-Romagna, Italy: the integrated surveillance system 2009. Euro Surveill, 15(16), 19547.

Publication

Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin
ISSN: 1560-7917
NlmUniqueID: 100887452
Country: Sweden
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 16
PII: 19547

Researcher Affiliations

Angelini, P
  • Public Health Service, Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy. pangelini@regione.emilia-romagna.it
Tamba, M
    Finarelli, A C
      Bellini, R
        Albieri, A
          Bonilauri, P
            Cavrini, F
              Dottori, M
                Gaibani, P
                  Martini, E
                    Mattivi, A
                      Pierro, A M
                        Rugna, G
                          Sambri, V
                            Squintani, G
                              Macini, P

                                MeSH Terms

                                • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
                                • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data
                                • Humans
                                • Incidence
                                • Italy / epidemiology
                                • Population Surveillance / methods
                                • Risk Assessment / methods
                                • Risk Factors
                                • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
                                • West Nile Fever / prevention & control
                                • West Nile virus / isolation & purification

                                Citations

                                This article has been cited 36 times.
                                1. Gothe LMR, Ganzenberg S, Ziegler U, Obiegala A, Lohmann KL, Sieg M, Vahlenkamp TW, Groschup MH, Hörügel U, Pfeffer M. Horses as Sentinels for the Circulation of Flaviviruses in Eastern-Central Germany. Viruses 2023 Apr 30;15(5).
                                  doi: 10.3390/v15051108pubmed: 37243194google scholar: lookup
                                2. Constant O, Gil P, Barthelemy J, Bolloré K, Foulongne V, Desmetz C, Leblond A, Desjardins I, Pradier S, Joulié A, Sandoz A, Amaral R, Boisseau M, Rakotoarivony I, Baldet T, Marie A, Frances B, Reboul Salze F, Tinto B, Van de Perre P, Salinas S, Beck C, Lecollinet S, Gutierrez S, Simonin Y. One Health surveillance of West Nile and Usutu viruses: a repeated cross-sectional study exploring seroprevalence and endemicity in Southern France, 2016 to 2020. Euro Surveill 2022 Jun;27(25).
                                  doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.25.2200068pubmed: 35748300google scholar: lookup
                                3. Petrović T, Šekler M, Petrić D, Vidanović D, Debeljak Z, Lazić G, Lupulović D, Kavran M, Samojlović M, Ignjatović Ćupina A, Tešović B, Lazić S, Kolarević M, Labus T, Djurić B. Intensive West Nile Virus Circulation in Serbia in 2018-Results of Integrated Surveillance Program. Pathogens 2021 Oct 8;10(10).
                                  doi: 10.3390/pathogens10101294pubmed: 34684243google scholar: lookup
                                4. Lauriano A, Rossi A, Galletti G, Casadei G, Santi A, Rubini S, Carra E, Lelli D, Calzolari M, Tamba M. West Nile and Usutu Viruses' Surveillance in Birds of the Province of Ferrara, Italy, from 2015 to 2019. Viruses 2021 Jul 14;13(7).
                                  doi: 10.3390/v13071367pubmed: 34372573google scholar: lookup
                                5. Machalaba C, Uhart M, Ryser-Degiorgis MP, Karesh WB. Gaps in health security related to wildlife and environment affecting pandemic prevention and preparedness, 2007-2020. Bull World Health Organ 2021 May 1;99(5):342-350B.
                                  doi: 10.2471/BLT.20.272690pubmed: 33958822google scholar: lookup
                                6. Calzolari M, Angelini P, Bolzoni L, Bonilauri P, Cagarelli R, Canziani S, Cereda D, Cerioli MP, Chiari M, Galletti G, Moirano G, Tamba M, Torri D, Trogu T, Albieri A, Bellini R, Lelli D. Enhanced West Nile Virus Circulation in the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy Regions (Northern Italy) in 2018 Detected by Entomological Surveillance. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:243.
                                  doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00243pubmed: 32432132google scholar: lookup
                                7. Petruccelli A, Zottola T, Ferrara G, Iovane V, Di Russo C, Pagnini U, Montagnaro S. West Nile Virus and Related Flavivirus in European Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Latium Region, Italy: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 16;10(3).
                                  doi: 10.3390/ani10030494pubmed: 32188017google scholar: lookup
                                8. Lustig Y, Sofer D, Bucris ED, Mendelson E. Surveillance and Diagnosis of West Nile Virus in the Face of Flavivirus Cross-Reactivity. Front Microbiol 2018;9:2421.
                                  doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02421pubmed: 30369916google scholar: lookup
                                9. Petrović T, Šekler M, Petrić D, Lazić S, Debeljak Z, Vidanović D, Ignjatović Ćupina A, Lazić G, Lupulović D, Kolarević M, Plavšić B. Methodology and results of integrated WNV surveillance programmes in Serbia. PLoS One 2018;13(4):e0195439.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195439pubmed: 29624622google scholar: lookup
                                10. Dente MG, Riccardo F, Nacca G, Ranghiasci A, Escadafal C, Gaayeb L, Jiménez-Clavero MA, Manuguerra JC, Picard M, Fernández-Pinero J, Pérez-Ramírez E, Robert V, Victoir K, Declich S. Strengthening Preparedness for Arbovirus Infections in Mediterranean and Black Sea Countries: A Conceptual Framework to Assess Integrated Surveillance in the Context of the One Health Strategy. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018 Mar 10;15(3).
                                  doi: 10.3390/ijerph15030489pubmed: 29534445google scholar: lookup
                                11. Paternoster G, Babo Martins S, Mattivi A, Cagarelli R, Angelini P, Bellini R, Santi A, Galletti G, Pupella S, Marano G, Copello F, Rushton J, Stärk KDC, Tamba M. Economics of One Health: Costs and benefits of integrated West Nile virus surveillance in Emilia-Romagna. PLoS One 2017;12(11):e0188156.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188156pubmed: 29176851google scholar: lookup
                                12. Guzzetta G, Montarsi F, Baldacchino FA, Metz M, Capelli G, Rizzoli A, Pugliese A, Rosà R, Poletti P, Merler S. Potential Risk of Dengue and Chikungunya Outbreaks in Northern Italy Based on a Population Model of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016 Jun;10(6):e0004762.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004762pubmed: 27304211google scholar: lookup
                                13. Patsoula E, Vakali A, Balatsos G, Pervanidou D, Beleri S, Tegos N, Baka A, Spanakos G, Georgakopoulou T, Tserkezou P, Van Bortel W, Zeller H, Menounos P, Kremastinou J, Hadjichristodoulou C. West Nile Virus Circulation in Mosquitoes in Greece (2010-2013). Biomed Res Int 2016;2016:2450682.
                                  doi: 10.1155/2016/2450682pubmed: 27294111google scholar: lookup
                                14. Calzolari M, Pautasso A, Montarsi F, Albieri A, Bellini R, Bonilauri P, Defilippo F, Lelli D, Moreno A, Chiari M, Tamba M, Zanoni M, Varisco G, Bertolini S, Modesto P, Radaelli MC, Iulini B, Prearo M, Ravagnan S, Cazzin S, Mulatti P, Monne I, Bonfanti L, Marangon S, Goffredo M, Savini G, Martini S, Mosca A, Farioli M, Gemma Brenzoni L, Palei M, Russo F, Natalini S, Angelini P, Casalone C, Dottori M, Capelli G. West Nile Virus Surveillance in 2013 via Mosquito Screening in Northern Italy and the Influence of Weather on Virus Circulation. PLoS One 2015;10(10):e0140915.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140915pubmed: 26488475google scholar: lookup
                                15. Guo S, Ling F, Hou J, Wang J, Fu G, Gong Z. Mosquito surveillance revealed lagged effects of mosquito abundance on mosquito-borne disease transmission: a retrospective study in Zhejiang, China. PLoS One 2014;9(11):e112975.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112975pubmed: 25393834google scholar: lookup
                                16. Roiz D, Ruiz S, Soriguer R, Figuerola J. Climatic effects on mosquito abundance in Mediterranean wetlands. Parasit Vectors 2014 Jul 16;7:333.
                                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-333pubmed: 25030527google scholar: lookup
                                17. 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.
                                  doi: 10.3390/ijerph10126534pubmed: 24317379google scholar: lookup
                                18. Barzon L, Pacenti M, Franchin E, Pagni S, Lavezzo E, Squarzon L, Martello T, Russo F, Nicoletti L, Rezza G, Castilletti C, Capobianchi MR, Salcuni P, Cattai M, Cusinato R, Palù G. Large human outbreak of West Nile virus infection in north-eastern Italy in 2012. Viruses 2013 Nov 22;5(11):2825-39.
                                  doi: 10.3390/v5112825pubmed: 24284876google scholar: lookup
                                19. 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.
                                  doi: 10.3390/ijerph10116049pubmed: 24225644google scholar: lookup
                                20. 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.
                                  doi: 10.2450/2013.0077-13pubmed: 24120610google scholar: lookup
                                21. Barzon L, Pacenti M, Franchin E, Squarzon L, Lavezzo E, Cattai M, Cusinato R, Palù G. The complex epidemiological scenario of West Nile virus in Italy. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Sep 30;10(10):4669-89.
                                  doi: 10.3390/ijerph10104669pubmed: 24084676google scholar: lookup
                                22. Hubálek Z, Ludvíková E, Jahn P, Treml F, Rudolf I, Svobodová P, Šikutová S, Betášová L, Bíreš J, Mojžíš M, Tinák M, Boldižár M, Citsoňová G, Staššíková Z. West Nile Virus equine serosurvey in the Czech and Slovak republics. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013 Oct;13(10):733-8.
                                  doi: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1159pubmed: 23919605google scholar: lookup
                                23. Calzolari M, Bonilauri P, Bellini R, Albieri A, Defilippo F, Tamba M, Tassinari M, Gelati A, Cordioli P, Angelini P, Dottori M. Usutu virus persistence and West Nile virus inactivity in the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) in 2011. PLoS One 2013;8(5):e63978.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063978pubmed: 23667694google scholar: lookup
                                24. Faggioni G, Pomponi A, De Santis R, Masuelli L, Ciammaruconi A, Monaco F, Di Gennaro A, Marzocchella L, Sambri V, Lelli R, Rezza G, Bei R, Lista F. West Nile alternative open reading frame (N-NS4B/WARF4) is produced in infected West Nile Virus (WNV) cells and induces humoral response in WNV infected individuals. Virol J 2012 Nov 22;9:283.
                                  doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-9-283pubmed: 23173701google scholar: lookup
                                25. Roiz D, Vázquez A, Rosso F, Arnoldi D, Girardi M, Cuevas L, Perez-Pastrana E, Sánchez-Seco MP, Tenorio A, Rizzoli A. Detection of a new insect flavivirus and isolation of Aedes flavivirus in Northern Italy. Parasit Vectors 2012 Oct 8;5:223.
                                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-223pubmed: 23043958google scholar: lookup
                                26. Calzolari M, Gaibani P, Bellini R, Defilippo F, Pierro A, Albieri A, Maioli G, Luppi A, Rossini G, Balzani A, Tamba M, Galletti G, Gelati A, Carrieri M, Poglayen G, Cavrini F, Natalini S, Dottori M, Sambri V, Angelini P, Bonilauri P. Mosquito, bird and human surveillance of West Nile and Usutu viruses in Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) in 2010. PLoS One 2012;7(5):e38058.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038058pubmed: 22666446google scholar: lookup
                                27. Roiz D, Roussel M, Muñoz J, Ruiz S, Soriguer R, Figuerola J. Efficacy of mosquito traps for collecting potential West Nile mosquito vectors in a natural Mediterranean wetland. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012 Apr;86(4):642-8.
                                  doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0326pubmed: 22492149google scholar: lookup
                                28. Casetta I, Ciorba A, Cesnik E, Trevisi P, Tugnoli V, Bovo R. West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease presenting with acute flaccid paralysis and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. J Neurol 2011 Oct;258(10):1880-1.
                                  doi: 10.1007/s00415-011-6011-3pubmed: 21442461google scholar: lookup
                                29. Calzolari M, Bonilauri P, Bellini R, Albieri A, Defilippo F, Maioli G, Galletti G, Gelati A, Barbieri I, Tamba M, Lelli D, Carra E, Cordioli P, Angelini P, Dottori M. Evidence of simultaneous circulation of West Nile and Usutu viruses in mosquitoes sampled in Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) in 2009. PLoS One 2010 Dec 15;5(12):e14324.
                                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014324pubmed: 21179462google scholar: lookup
                                30. Najafi S, Jojani M, Najafi K, Costanzo V, Vicidomini C, Roviello GN. West Nile Virus: Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Prophylaxis with a Comparative Insight from Italy and Iran. Vaccines (Basel) 2026 Jan 3;14(1).
                                  doi: 10.3390/vaccines14010057pubmed: 41600973google scholar: lookup
                                31. Lakatos I, Malik P, Bodó K, Szőke Z, Sükösd F, Lanszki Z, Szemethy L, Kurucz K, Bányai K, Kemenesi G, Zana B. Cervids as a Promising Pillar of an Integrated Surveillance System for Emerging Infectious Diseases in Hungary: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 2;15(13).
                                  doi: 10.3390/ani15131948pubmed: 40646847google scholar: lookup
                                32. Gobbo F, Chiarello G, Sgubin S, Toniolo F, Gradoni F, Danca LI, Carlin S, Capello K, De Conti G, Bortolami A, Varotto M, Favero L, Brichese M, Russo F, Mutinelli F, Vogiatzis S, Pacenti M, Barzon L, Montarsi F. Integrated One Health Surveillance of West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus in the Veneto Region, Northeastern Italy, from 2022 to 2023. Pathogens 2025 Feb 25;14(3).
                                  doi: 10.3390/pathogens14030227pubmed: 40137712google scholar: lookup
                                33. Brandolini M, De Pascali AM, Zaghi I, Dirani G, Zannoli S, Ingletto L, Lavazza A, Lelli D, Dottori M, Calzolari M, Guerra M, Biagetti C, Cristini F, Bassi P, Biguzzi R, Cricca M, Scagliarini A, Sambri V. Advancing West Nile virus monitoring through whole genome sequencing: Insights from a One Health genomic surveillance study in Romagna (Italy). One Health 2024 Dec;19:100937.
                                  doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100937pubmed: 39650147google scholar: lookup
                                34. Tamba M, Bonilauri P, Galletti G, Casadei G, Santi A, Rossi A, Calzolari M. West Nile virus surveillance using sentinel birds: results of eleven years of testing in corvids in a region of northern Italy. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1407271.
                                  doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1407271pubmed: 38818494google scholar: lookup
                                35. Cazzin S, Liechti N, Jandrasits D, Flacio E, Beuret C, Engler O, Guidi V. First Detection of West Nile Virus Lineage 2 in Mosquitoes in Switzerland, 2022. Pathogens 2023 Dec 7;12(12).
                                  doi: 10.3390/pathogens12121424pubmed: 38133307google scholar: lookup
                                36. Brugman VA, Horton DL, Phipps LP, Johnson N, Cook AJ, Fooks AR, Breed AC. Epidemiological perspectives on West Nile virus surveillance in wild birds in Great Britain. Epidemiol Infect 2013 Jun;141(6):1134-42.
                                  doi: 10.1017/S095026881200177Xpubmed: 22948134google scholar: lookup
                                Subscribe to our newsletter
                                Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.