Monini Marina, Falcone Emiliana, Busani Luca, Romi Roberto, Ruggeri Franco Maria
Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Sicurezza Alimentare.
Open Virol J. 2010 Apr 22;4:42-51. doi: 10.2174/1874357901004020042.
The emergence and spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) from North through South America during the last decade, and the recent outbreaks of disease in both humans and horses in Europe suggest that the epidemiology of this infection is evolving. WNV is now considered among the emerging threats for both human and veterinary public health in areas like Europe where it was previously regarded to as an exotic agent. Further knowledge has built up from studies investigating the characteristics of the virus and its genome evolution capacity, the adaptation to new avian host species, the changes in vector competence and biology, and the host-pathogen interactions, including the immune response. Also, the new needs for preparedness to future major outbursts of disease have stimulated research on virus detection and characterization, filling the gaps in both specialized diagnostic technology and the need for field rapid assays. This review will present an overview of WNV virology, remarking the impact of virus diversity and evolution on theoretical and practical aspects involved in both risk definition, detection and control of infection.
过去十年间，西尼罗河病毒（WNV）在北美洲出现并向南美洲传播，近期欧洲也爆发了人类和马匹感染疫情，这表明该病毒的流行病学正在演变。在欧洲等地，WNV曾被视为外来病原体，如今却被认为是对人类和兽医公共卫生的新威胁之一。通过研究病毒特征及其基因组进化能力、对新鸟类宿主物种的适应性、媒介能力和生物学特性的变化以及宿主-病原体相互作用（包括免疫反应），人们积累了更多知识。此外，为应对未来可能出现的重大疫情，对病毒检测和特征分析的新需求推动了相关研究，填补了专业诊断技术和现场快速检测方法的空白。本综述将概述WNV病毒学，阐述病毒多样性和进化对感染风险定义、检测及控制等理论和实践方面的影响。
