West Nile virus in India: An update on its genetic lineages

J Vector Borne Dis. 2023 Jul-Sep;60(3):225-237. doi: 10.4103/0972-9062.374039.ABSTRACTWest Nile virus (WNV) is a rapidly spreading mosquito-transmitted zoonotic flavivirus. Mosquitoes belonging to the genus Culex are incriminated as the principal vectors of the virus, which causes West Nile fever (WNF) in humans. Manifestations of WNF include a mild, self-limiting, flu-like illness, which in severe cases (rare) may progress to encephalitis, resulting in life-threatening consequences. WNV is geographically distributed worldwide, covering Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia (except Antarctica). The virus exists in a bird-mosquito transmission cycle in nature, with humans and horses as incidental/accidental hosts. The virus can infect a large variety of hosts worldwide, i.e., about 300 birds and around 70 different mosquito species belonging to several genera. For a long time, it was believed that WNV was not highly virulent and caused only mild infection globally. However, the recent frequent and increasing incidence of clinically severe WNV infections, such as encephalitis in humans and horses with significant mortality, has been reported in the Americas, Europe, and several East Asian countries. The emergence of lineage 2 strains endemic to Africa, with epidemic potential in humans and horses in Europe, is considered a serious global health concern. Although WNV is known to circulate in India since 1952, its re-emergence with severe neuro-invasive pathogenic potential in h...
Source: Journal of Vector Borne Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Source Type: research