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Evaluation of a West Nile virus surveillance and early warning system in Greece, based on domestic pigeons.
- Source :
-
Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases [Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis] 2014 Mar; Vol. 37 (2), pp. 131-41. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Jan 16. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- In the summer of 2010 an epidemic of West Nile virus (WNV) occurred in Central Macedonia, Greece, with 197 human neuroinvasive disease (WNND) cases. In the following years the virus spread to new areas, with a total of 76 WNND cases in 2011, and 109 WNND cases in 2012 (14 and 12 WNND cases, respectively, in Central Macedonia). We established a surveillance system based on serological testing of domestic pigeons, using cELISA confirmed by serum neutralization test. In Central Macedonia, pigeon seroprevalence was 54% (95% CI: 49-59%) and 31% (95% CI: 24-37%) at the end of the 2010 and 2011 epidemic seasons, respectively. One serum was positive for neutralizing antibodies directed against Usutu virus. Pigeon WNV seroprevalence and incidence rates of human WNND after the 2010 epidemic were positively correlated (ρ=0.94, at the regional unit level), while in 2011 the correlation (ρ=0.56) was not statistically significant, possibly due to small number of human WNND cases recorded. To evaluate the efficacy of the system at alerting upon WNV enzootic circulation before the onset of human cases, we tested 270 pigeons in 2011 and 240 pigeons in 2012. In Central Macedonia, the first seroconversions in pigeons were recorded 44 and 47 days, respectively, before the first human WNND cases. Pigeon surveillance was used successfully for identification of areas with WNV enzootic transmission and for early warning. Timely diffusion of information to health authorities facilitated the implementation of preparedness plans to protect public health.<br /> (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antibodies, Neutralizing blood
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Greece epidemiology
Humans
Incidence
Seroepidemiologic Studies
West Nile Fever epidemiology
West Nile Fever immunology
West Nile Fever virology
West Nile virus immunology
Antibodies, Viral blood
Bird Diseases
Columbidae virology
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemiological Monitoring veterinary
West Nile Fever veterinary
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1878-1667
- Volume :
- 37
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24503179
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2014.01.004