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West Nile virus in north-eastern Italy, 2011: entomological and equine IgM-based surveillance to detect active virus circulation.
Abstract: Since 2008, West Nile Virus (WNV) has expanded its range in several Italian regions, and its yearly recurrence suggests the virus may have become endemic in some areas. In 2011, a new plan based also on the detection of IgM antibodies was implemented in the north-eastern Italian regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, aiming to early detect WNV infections in areas where the virus had already circulated during the previous summers, and in adjacent zones. From July to November 2011, 1880 sera from 521 equine premises were screened by a commercial IgM capture ELISA. Mosquitoes were captured by CDC-CO2 traps at 61 locations in the two regions. Collected mosquitoes were identified, pooled by species/date/location and examined by real-time RT-PCR and sequencing. Passive surveillance was carried out on clinically affected horses and non-migratory wild birds found dead. IgM sero-positive equines were detected in 19 holdings, five in the area with WNV circulation (AWC) and 14 in the surveillance area (SA); 10 more horse premises tested positive to further serological controls within 4 km of the positive holdings. A total of 85,398 mosquitoes of 15 species were collected and 2732 pools examined. Five Culex pipiens pools tested positive for the presence of WNV. Passive surveillance on non-migratory wild birds allowed detection of the virus only in one found dead collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), of 82 birds sampled. The WNV belonged to the lineage 2, which had been isolated for the first time in Italy earlier in 2011. By the first week of October, nine human cases had been confirmed in the same area. The implementation of a protocol combining IgM screening of horses with surveillance on mosquito vectors proved to be valuable for early detecting WNV circulation.
© 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2012-09-13 PubMed ID: 22971022DOI: 10.1111/zph.12013Google 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
Summary
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The research focuses on detecting the circulation of the West Nile Virus (WNV) in northeastern regions of Italy using surveillance procedures that incorporate both the examination of horses for antibodies and the analysis of mosquito species.
Study Background
- The study was conducted due to the continual occurrence of the West Nile Virus (WNV) in several Italian regions since 2008, indicating a potential endemic situation in these areas.
- In response to this situation, a novel plan was executed in 2011 to detect the virus in areas of northeastern Italy – Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia – where the virus had previously made an appearance, as well as in areas within proximity.
The Methodology
- From July to November 2011, a total of 1880 blood samples from 521 horse establishments underwent screening via a commercial assay (IgM capture ELISA) meant for antibody detection and used as an indicator for recent infections.
- Mosquitoes were also trapped in 61 different areas in the two regions using CDC-CO2 traps, a method known for its effectiveness in capturing the insects.
- The mosquitoes were categorized, combined by date/location/species and tested with real-time RT-PCR and sequencing to identify the presence of the West Nile virus.
- Alongside these proactive methods, passive surveillance was conducted on horses showing clinical symptoms and on non-migratory birds found dead.
Study Findings
- 29 horse establishments (19 initial and 10 from closer inspection around the initial premises) showed the presence of IgM sero-positives, indicating an active WNV infection.
- A total of 85,398 mosquitoes across 15 species were collected and gathered into 2732 groups. Of these, five groups of Culex pipiens mosquitoes were found to carry the WNV.
- Among the 82 birds tested from passive surveillance, only one dead collared dove was found to be carrying the virus.
- The strain of the virus belonged to lineage 2, which was detected in Italy for the first time during 2011. This strain of the virus is accountable for severe neurological diseases in humans and horses.
- By October’s first week, nine human cases of WNV infection were also confirmed in the same area.
Conclusion
Applying a combined approach for early detection of WNV, such as IgM screening in horses and examination of mosquito vectors, proved to be effective. This strategy can assist in predicting potential outbreaks and implementing control measures in a timely manner.
Cite This Article
APA
Mulatti P, Bonfanti L, Capelli G, Capello K, Lorenzetto M, Terregino C, Monaco F, Ferri G, Marangon S.
(2012).
West Nile virus in north-eastern Italy, 2011: entomological and equine IgM-based surveillance to detect active virus circulation.
Zoonoses Public Health, 60(5), 375-382.
https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12013 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padova, Italy. pmulatti@izsvenezie.it
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Antibodies, Viral / isolation & purification
- Bird Diseases / blood
- Bird Diseases / virology
- Birds
- Culicidae / virology
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin M / blood
- Immunoglobulin M / isolation & purification
- Italy / epidemiology
- Population Surveillance
- West Nile virus / isolation & purification
- Zoonoses
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Wu Y, Wang J, Liu Q, Li T, Luo M, Gong Z. Practice of integrated vector surveillance of arthropod vectors, pathogens and reservoir hosts to monitor the occurrence of tropical vector-borne diseases in 2020 in Zhejiang Province, China. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1003550.
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- 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.
- Vascellari M, Ravagnan S, Carminato A, Cazzin S, Carli E, Da Rold G, Lucchese L, Natale A, Otranto D, Capelli G. Exposure to vector-borne pathogens in candidate blood donor and free-roaming dogs of northeast Italy. Parasit Vectors 2016 Jun 29;9(1):369.
- Simonato M, Martinez-Sañudo I, Cavaletto G, Santoiemma G, Saltarin A, Mazzon L. High genetic diversity in the Culex pipiens complex from a West Nile Virus epidemic area in Southern Europe. Parasit Vectors 2016 Mar 15;9:150.
- Wu Y, Ling F, Hou J, Guo S, Wang J, Gong Z. Will integrated surveillance systems for vectors and vector-borne diseases be the future of controlling vector-borne diseases? A practical example from China. Epidemiol Infect 2016 Jul;144(9):1895-903.
- 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.
- Ravagnan S, Montarsi F, Cazzin S, Porcellato E, Russo F, Palei M, Monne I, Savini G, Marangon S, Barzon L, Capelli G. First report outside Eastern Europe of West Nile virus lineage 2 related to the Volgograd 2007 strain, northeastern Italy, 2014. Parasit Vectors 2015 Aug 13;8:418.
- Rizzoli A, Bolzoni L, Chadwick EA, Capelli G, Montarsi F, Grisenti M, de la Puente JM, Muñoz J, Figuerola J, Soriguer R, Anfora G, Di Luca M, Rosà R. Understanding West Nile virus ecology in Europe: Culex pipiens host feeding preference in a hotspot of virus emergence. Parasit Vectors 2015 Apr 9;8:213.
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- Montarsi F, Martini S, Dal Pont M, Delai N, Ferro Milone N, Mazzucato M, Soppelsa F, Cazzola L, Cazzin S, Ravagnan S, Ciocchetta S, Russo F, Capelli G. Distribution and habitat characterization of the recently introduced invasive mosquito Aedes koreicus [Hulecoeteomyia koreica], a new potential vector and pest in north-eastern Italy. Parasit Vectors 2013 Oct 10;6:292.
- 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.
- Capelli G, Frangipane di Regalbono A, Simonato G, Cassini R, Cazzin S, Cancrini G, Otranto D, Pietrobelli M. Risk of canine and human exposure to Dirofilaria immitis infected mosquitoes in endemic areas of Italy. Parasit Vectors 2013 Mar 7;6:60.
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