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Virulence and Evolution of West Nile Virus, Australia, 1960-2012.
- Source :
-
Emerging infectious diseases [Emerg Infect Dis] 2016 Aug; Vol. 22 (8), pp. 1353-62. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Worldwide, West Nile virus (WNV) causes encephalitis in humans, horses, and birds. The Kunjin strain of WNV (WNVKUN) is endemic to northern Australia, but infections are usually asymptomatic. In 2011, an unprecedented outbreak of equine encephalitis occurred in southeastern Australia; most of the ≈900 reported cases were attributed to a newly emerged WNVKUN strain. To investigate the origins of this virus, we performed genetic analysis and in vitro and in vivo studies of 13 WNVKUN isolates collected from different regions of Australia during 1960-2012. Although no disease was recorded for 1984, 2000, or 2012, isolates collected during those years (from Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales, respectively) exhibited levels of virulence in mice similar to that of the 2011 outbreak strain. Thus, virulent strains of WNVKUN have circulated in Australia for >30 years, and the first extensive outbreak of equine disease in Australia probably resulted from a combination of specific ecologic and epidemiologic conditions.
- Subjects :
- Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antibody Specificity
Antigens, Viral genetics
Australia epidemiology
Cell Line
Evolution, Molecular
Genome, Viral
Humans
Mice
Virulence
West Nile Fever epidemiology
West Nile Fever virology
West Nile virus genetics
West Nile virus pathogenicity
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1080-6059
- Volume :
- 22
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27433830
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2208.151719