Abstract
In 2009, six new human cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) were identified in Veneto region, following the six cases already reported in 2008. A human West Nile virus (WNV) isolate was obtained for the first time from an asymptomatic blood donor. Whole genome sequence of the human WNV isolate showed close phylogenetic relatedness to the Italy-1998-WNV strain and to other WNV strains recently isolated in Europe, with the new acquisition of the NS3-Thr249Pro mutation, a trait associated with avian virulence, increased virus transmission, and the occurrence of outbreaks in humans.
Highlights
In Italy, the first outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infection was reported in 1998 among horses residing in Tuscany region [1]
Genome sequence analysis of the first human West Nile virus isolate reported in Italy At the end of August 2009, a WNV strain was isolated in Vero E6 cells from a nucleic acid test (NAT)-positive blood donation of an asymptomatic individual resident in Rovigo province
Amplicons underwent bi-directional sequencing by using the BigDye® Terminator Sequencing Kit on Results Phylogenetic tree analysis of the complete genome sequence of 20 WNV strains shows that the human WNV strain isolated in Italy in 2009 belongs to lineage 1, clade 1a, and is closely related to the two WNV strains isolated from magpies in Italy in 2008 (Figure 2)
Summary
In 2009, six new human cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) were identified in Veneto region, following the six cases already reported in 2008. A human West Nile virus (WNV) isolate was obtained for the first time from an asymptomatic blood donor. Whole genome sequence of the human WNV isolate showed close phylogenetic relatedness to the Italy-1998-WNV strain and to other. WNV strains recently isolated in Europe, with the new acquisition of the NS3-Thr249Pro mutation, a trait associated with avian virulence, increased virus transmission, and the occurrence of outbreaks in humans
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
