Abstract
In 2018, West Nile virus (WNV) broke out for the first time in Germany, with continuation of the epidemic in 2019, involving birds, horses and humans. To identify vectors and characterize the virus, mosquitoes were collected in both years in zoological gardens and on a horse meadow immediately following the diagnosis of disease cases in birds and horses. Mosquitoes were identified and screened for WNV by qRT-PCR, with virus-positive samples being sequenced for the viral envelope protein gene. While no positive mosquitoes were found in 2018, seven mosquito pools tested positive for WNV in 2019 in the Tierpark (Wildlife Park) Berlin. The pools consisted of Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens (n = 5), and a mixture of Cx. p. biotype pipiens and Cx. p. biotype molestus (n = 2), or hybrids of these, and were collected between 13 August and 24 September 2019. The virus strain turned out to be nearly identical to two WNV strains isolated from birds diseased in 2018 in eastern Germany. The findings represent the first demonstration of WNV in mosquitoes in Germany and include the possibility of local overwintering of the virus.
Highlights
West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus of the family Flaviviridae which naturally circulates between birds and mosquitoes
Monitoring linked to West Nile fever (WNF) cases: After WNV infection had been diagnosed in zoo birds and a horse, EVS traps (BioQuip, Products, Rancho Dominguez, CA, USA), equipped with dry ice as a CO2 attractant, were operated continuously in Halle, federal state of Saxony-Anhalt
In summers 2016 and 2017, more than 3,800 mosquitoes collected in the Tierpark Berlin in the framework of another study and using different collection approaches tested negative for flaviviruses [55]
Summary
West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus of the family Flaviviridae which naturally circulates between birds and mosquitoes. Birds show very different mortality rates depending on species [1]. The virus can be transmitted to humans and horses, but these are considered dead end hosts. West Nile fever (WNF) or West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND). Most infections in humans remain asymptomatic, but 20% develop mild flu-like symptoms, occasionally accompanied by fever. In 1% of the cases, predominantly elderly people, a neuroinvasive disease such as meningoencephalitis may develop, sometimes leading to the death of the patient [2]. Horses may show neurological disorders with considerable mortality rates [3]
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