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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.
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Publication Date: 2010-04-22 PubMed ID: 20430000
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  • 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

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