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Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Kosovo by serological testing of apparently healthy local horses and free-range chicken, and it attempted to detect viral nucleic acid in birds and mosquitoes. Between January 2018 and June 2019, 260 equine serum samples were collected, additionally 580 adult mosquitoes (53 pools) were grouped in for genera, including Culex spp. (226 individuals; 26 pools), Aedes spp. (136 individuals; 16 pools), Anopheles spp. (184 individuals; 7 pools), and Culiseta spp. (34 individuals; 4 pools). Fifty domestic birds and 51 wild birds were collected from different regions of Kosovo. Equine and domestic bird serum samples were tested by flavivirus IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while mosquitoes and bird viscera were tested for WNV RNA by RT-qPCR. All ELISA-positive results were confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) and eight by virus neutralization test. WNV antibodies were present in 27 out of 260 equine sera (10.38%) and one out of 50 samples in domestic birds by ELISA and PRNT. Eight of 27 positive equine serum samples with high titer neutralized WNV, but not Usutu virus. No WNV RNA was detected in birds or mosquitoes. The occurrence of WNV antibodies in local equines from all regions of Kosovo indicates that the virus is circulating within the country. Public health authorities should therefore plan a risk assessment and disease control program.
Highlights
This study was conducted to survey the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Kosovo by serological testing of apparently healthy local horses and attempts to detect viral nucleic acid in birds and mosquitoes
Samples testing positive from both the ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) were considered as positive for WNV-specific antibodies
The results revealed that WNV-seropositive horses are widespread in Kosovo
Summary
This study was conducted to survey the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Kosovo by serological testing of apparently healthy local horses and attempts to detect viral nucleic acid in birds and mosquitoes. Equine and domestic bird serum samples were tested by flavivirus IgG ELISA while mosquitoes and bird viscera were tested for WNV RNA by RT-qPCR. WNV antibodies were present in 27 out of 260 equine sera (10.38%) and one out of 50 samples in domestic birds by ELISA and PRNT. Birds are the natural reservoir of the virus, serving as amplifying hosts, while humans and horses are considered accidental or dead-end hosts [6].WNV infection is often asymptomatic in humans and equines, with approximately 20% of human cases showing febrile syndrome and neuroinvasive disease in less than 1% of patients [7]
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