Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus contributing yearly, to birds, horses and human morbidity and mortality throughout the world. WNV is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes, predominantly by Culex species, to avian hosts and other vertebrates. Since the mid-1990s, WNV outbreaks and severe human cases (i.e., West Nile neuroinvasive disease) have increased throughout the North hemisphere. The absence of human vaccine and effective therapy needs to understand the pathogenesis of WN severe disease as well as factors participating in WNV transmission and mosquito exposure. The exploration of the host/vector interaction at the individual level using host antibody response against mosquito salivary proteins has open news research opportunities aiming to increase the impact of surveillance and WNV vector control strategies. This review describes Culex saliva specific biomarkers as a helpful tool to estimate exposure to vector bites and risk for WNV infection, summarizes recent advances regarding WNV vector control strategies and highlights potential specific biomarkers of WN disease severity.
Highlights
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family, which is transmitted by mosquitoes mainly from the Culex genus [1]
Studies have monitored insecticide resistance in Culex pipiens complex populations to ensure the sustainability of vector control programs from Lebanon, France and USA [59]-[61] or more to identify salivary proteins altered in insecticide-resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus strain [62]
West Nile Virus disease is an importance for public health, and in the absence of treatment and available human vaccine, the current best way to fight this disease is to prevent vector bites, and use of vector surveillance program
Summary
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family (genus Flavivirus), which is transmitted by mosquitoes mainly from the Culex genus [1]. Recently a protective role of mosquito salivary gland extract against WNV infection was demonstrated in mice [23]. This result suggests that development of a mosquito salivary protein vaccine might be a strategy to WNV control. The identification of early WNV infection biomarkers and therapeutic targets become urgency in order to diagnose and to distinguish WNF from WNND clinical evolution and to develop novel and specific therapeutic strategies to prevent brain disorders, sequel or death. This review highlights the current advances in the use of mosquito saliva specific biomarkers as a helpful tool to estimate exposure to vector bites and risk for WNV infection. We present and summarize recent advances related to WNV vector control strategies as well as potential specific biomarkers of WN disease severity
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