scholarly journals Comparative Pathology of West Nile Virus in Humans and Non-Human Animals

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex D. Byas ◽  
Gregory D. Ebel
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Virus Propagation ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Neurologic Sequelae ◽  
The Central Nervous System

West Nile virus (WNV) continues to be a major cause of human arboviral neuroinvasive disease. Susceptible non-human vertebrates are particularly diverse, ranging from commonly affected birds and horses to less commonly affected species such as alligators. This review summarizes the pathology caused by West Nile virus during natural infections of humans and non-human animals. While the most well-known findings in human infection involve the central nervous system, WNV can also cause significant lesions in the heart, kidneys and eyes. Time has also revealed chronic neurologic sequelae related to prior human WNV infection. Similarly, neurologic disease is a prominent manifestation of WNV infection in most non-human non-host animals. However, in some avian species, which serve as the vertebrate host for WNV maintenance in nature, severe systemic disease can occur, with neurologic, cardiac, intestinal and renal injury leading to death. The pathology seen in experimental animal models of West Nile virus infection and knowledge gains on viral pathogenesis derived from these animal models are also briefly discussed. A gap in the current literature exists regarding the relationship between the neurotropic nature of WNV in vertebrates, virus propagation and transmission in nature. This and other knowledge gaps, and future directions for research into WNV pathology, are addressed.

scholarly journals West Nile Virus Infection in the Central Nervous System

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evandro R. Winkelmann ◽  
Huanle Luo ◽  
Tian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
The United States ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Neurological Sequelae ◽  
The Central Nervous System

West Nile virus (WNV), a neurotropic single-stranded flavivirus has been the leading cause of arboviral encephalitis worldwide.  Up to 50% of WNV convalescent patients in the United States were reported to have long-term neurological sequelae.  Neither antiviral drugs nor vaccines are available for humans.  Animal models have been used to investigate WNV pathogenesis and host immune response in humans.  In this review, we will discuss recent findings from studies in animal models of WNV infection, and provide new insights on WNV pathogenesis and WNV-induced host immunity in the central nervous system.

Cochlear-Vestibular Impairment due to West Nile Virus Infection

2019 ◽  
Vol 128 (12) ◽  
pp. 1198-1202
Author(s):  
Daniela Parrino ◽  
Giuseppe Brescia ◽  
Maria Vittoria Trimarchi ◽  
Giulia Tealdo ◽  
Lolita Sasset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
First Time

Objectives: West Nile virus (WNV) has been spreading over the last 20 years. Human infection is asymptomatic in most cases. When the disease becomes clinically manifest, it may involve a range of issues, from a mild infection with flu-like symptoms to a neuroinvasive disease. Albeit rarely, WNV-associated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has also been reported. Here we describe two new cases of SNHL and balance impairment caused by WNV infection. Methods: The patients were investigated with repeated audiometric tests and, for the first time, videonystagmography was also used. Results: Unlike findings in the few other published cases, an improvement in audiometric thresholds and vestibular function was documented in both of our patients. Conclusions: In the light of our findings, a prospective study would be warranted on a large series of patients with WNV infection in order: (i) to better define the epidemiology of the related cochlear-vestibular involvement; and (ii) to elucidate the virus-related changes to peripheral and central auditory and vestibular functions.

Immunopathogenesis of West Nile Virus infection

Curare ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayra Diosa-Toro ◽  
Juan Carlos Hernández-López
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Neurological Disease ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Pathological Response ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
The World ◽  
The Central Nervous System

<p>The reappearance of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in last years has highlighted that arthropod-borne diseases are not circumscribed to tropical regions of the world. WNV is maintained in enzootic cycles involving, <em>Culex spp</em>. mosquitoes and avian hosts, with epizootic spread to mammals, including humans. Human infection results in mild symptomatic illness in 25% of cases or neurological disease in less than 1% of infected persons. Additional understandings on how WNV interacts with its hosts is recently growing; the virus exploits immune system, both at the peripheral tissues and the central nervous system, which could explain the differences in virulence, progression and severity of WNV infection. The continuing spread of WNV, combined with the lack of specific therapeutics or vaccines to combat or prevent infection, imparts a pressing need to identify the viral and host processes that control the outcome and immunity to WNV infection. Here, we provide an overview of a subset of information regarding the immune-pathological response generated during WNV infection.</p>

scholarly journals Human cases of West Nile Virus Infection in north-eastern Italy, 15 June to 15 November 2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (33) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Barzon ◽  
M Pacenti ◽  
R Cusinato ◽  
M Cattai ◽  
E Franchin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
West Nile Fever ◽  
Antibody Prevalence ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
West Nile ◽  
The Third ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Northern Areas ◽  
North Eastern

In 2010, for the third consecutive year, human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection, including three confirmed cases of neuroinvasive disease and three confirmed cases of West Nile fever, were identified in north-eastern Italy. While in 2008 and 2009 all human cases of WNV disease were recorded in the south of the Veneto region, cases of WNV disease in 2010 additionally occurred in two relatively small northern areas of Veneto, located outside those with WNV circulation in the previous years. WNV IgG antibody prevalence in blood donors resident in Veneto was estimated as ranging from 3.2 per 1,000 in areas not affected by cases of WNV disease to 33.3 per 1,000 in a highly affected area of the Rovigo province. No further autochthonous human cases of WNV disease were notified in Italy in 2010. The recurrence of human cases of WNV infection for the third consecutive year strongly suggests WNV has become endemic in north-eastern Italy.

Estimated cumulative incidence of West Nile virus infection in US adults, 1999–2010

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. PETERSEN ◽  
P. J. CARSON ◽  
B. J. BIGGERSTAFF ◽  
B. CUSTER ◽  
S. M. BORCHARDT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
National Surveillance ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Central Plains ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Age And Sex

SUMMARYWest Nile virus (WNV) was first recognized in the USA in 1999. We estimated the cumulative incidence of WNV infection in the USA from 1999 to 2010 using recently derived age- and sex-stratified ratios of infections to WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND) and the number of WNND cases reported to national surveillance. We estimate that over 3 million persons have been infected with WNV in the USA, with the highest incidence rates in the central plains states. These 3 million infections would have resulted in about 780 000 illnesses. A substantial number of WNV infections and illnesses have occurred during the virus' first decade in the USA.

scholarly journals Proximity of Residence to Bodies of Water and Risk for West Nile Virus Infection: A Case-Control Study in Houston, Texas

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa S. Nolan ◽  
Ana Zangeneh ◽  
Salma A. Khuwaja ◽  
Diana Martinez ◽  
Susan N. Rossmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Slow Moving

West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne virus, has clinically affected hundreds of residents in the Houston metropolitan area since its introduction in 2002. This study aimed to determine if living within close proximity to a water source increases one’s odds of infection with WNV. We identified 356 eligible WNV-positive cases and 356 controls using a population proportionate to size model with US Census Bureau data. We found that living near slow moving water sources was statistically associated with increased odds for human infection, while living near moderate moving water systems was associated with decreased odds for human infection. Living near bayous lined with vegetation as opposed to concrete also showed increased risk of infection. The habitats of slow moving and vegetation lined water sources appear to favor the mosquito-human transmission cycle. These methods can be used by resource-limited health entities to identify high-risk areas for arboviral disease surveillance and efficient mosquito management initiatives.

scholarly journals A Critical Role for Induced IgM in the Protection against West Nile Virus Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 198 (12) ◽  
pp. 1853-1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Diamond ◽  
Elizabeth M. Sitati ◽  
Lindzy D. Friend ◽  
Stephen Higgs ◽  
Bimmi Shrestha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Lethal Infection ◽  
The Central Nervous System

In humans, the elderly and immunocompromised are at greatest risk for disseminated West Nile virus (WNV) infection, yet the immunologic basis for this remains unclear. We demonstrated previously that B cells and IgG contributed to the defense against disseminated WNV infection (Diamond, M.S., B. Shrestha, A. Marri, D. Mahan, and M. Engle. 2003. J. Virol. 77:2578–2586). In this paper, we addressed the function of IgM in controlling WNV infection. C57BL/6J mice (sIgM−/−) that were deficient in the production of secreted IgM but capable of expressing surface IgM and secreting other immunoglobulin isotypes were vulnerable to lethal infection, even after inoculation with low doses of WNV. Within 96 h, markedly higher levels of infectious virus were detected in the serum of sIgM−/− mice compared with wild-type mice. The enhanced viremia correlated with higher WNV burdens in the central nervous system, and was also associated with a blunted anti-WNV IgG response. Passive transfer of polyclonal anti-WNV IgM or IgG protected sIgM−/− mice against mortality, although administration of comparable amounts of a nonneutralizing monoclonal anti-WNV IgM provided no protection. In a prospective analysis, a low titer of anti-WNV IgM antibodies at day 4 uniformly predicted mortality in wild-type mice. Thus, the induction of a specific, neutralizing IgM response early in the course of WNV infection limits viremia and dissemination into the central nervous system, and protects against lethal infection.

West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease With Atypical CSF Findings: A Case Report

2021 ◽  
pp. 194187442199537
Author(s):  
Devin Simon
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Rare Complication ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Csf Analysis ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease

West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND) is a rare complication of West Nile Virus infection with the capability of mimicking other neurologic diseases. This infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting in the late summer months with altered mentation, fever, and focal neurologic deficits without an otherwise clear etiology. A 63-year-old male presented with acute onset fever, confusion, falls, ataxia, vertical nystagmus, and right leg weakness. Although magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cervical spine were unremarkable, the lumbar spine revealed enhancement of ventral nerve roots in the cauda equina. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was significant for elevated protein without pleocytosis, which was more suggestive of albuminocytologic dissociation. Both serum and CSF IgM labs testing for West Nile Virus were positive. Despite a 5 day course of immunoglobulin therapy, his symptoms did not significantly improve. He eventually was transferred to inpatient rehabilitation for several days prior to returning home. This case highlights the variable presentations of acute West Nile Virus infection in the rare setting of neuroinvasive disease, which can make diagnosis difficult. The CSF analysis may also not always show results consistent with an acute viral infection, which can make determining the underlying etiology more challenging.

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