Abstract
During the last three years Greece is experiencing the emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) epidemics. Within this framework, an integrated surveillance and control programme (MALWEST project) with thirteen associate partners was launched aiming to investigate the disease and suggest appropriate interventions. One out of seven work packages of the project is dedicated to the State of the Art report for WNV. Three expert working groups on humans, animals and mosquitoes were established. Medical databases (PubMed, Scopus) were searched together with websites: e.g., WHO, CDC, ECDC. In total, 1,092 relevant articles were initially identified and 258 of them were finally included as references regarding the current knowledge about WNV, along with 36 additional sources (conference papers, reports, book chapters). The review is divided in three sections according to the fields of interest: (1) WNV in humans (epidemiology, molecular characteristics, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, surveillance); (2) WNV in animals (epidemiological and transmission characteristics concerning birds, horses, reptiles and other animal species) and (3) WNV in mosquitoes (control, surveillance). Finally, some examples of integrated surveillance programmes are presented. The introduction and establishment of the disease in Greece and other European countries further emphasizes the need for thorough research and broadening of our knowledge on this viral pathogen.
Highlights
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus causing to humans a variety of symptoms: from an asymptomatic infection to severe and even fatal encephalitis [1]
In October 2011, the Hellenic Ministry of Health approved the two-year funding of the “Integrated surveillance and control programme for West Nile virus and malaria in Greece” (MALWEST) through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development” of National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007–2013
Data collection regarding (1) population age structure of the target species, (2) droplet size and flow rate of Ultra Low Volume (ULV) application equipment, and (3) Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring of the spray track may greatly improve the evaluation of adult mosquito control efforts [154]
Summary
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus causing to humans a variety of symptoms: from an asymptomatic infection to severe and even fatal encephalitis [1]. Mosquito species with mixed feeding habits that carry the virus from the amplification cycle to secondary hosts, such as human, horses and other non-avian vertebrates after feeding on infected birds, are characterized as bridging vectors [69]. These secondary hosts are incidental and usually serve as dead-end hosts, since the concentration of the virus in their blood (viremia) is not sufficient enough to infect biting mosquitoes. The virus activity enhanced in the following year with the reporting of 778 human cases and 28 deaths [64]
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