Fay Rachel L, Cruz-Loya Mauricio, Maffei Joseph G, Mordecai Erin A, Ciota Alexander T
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, USA.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 11;15(1):25016. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09284-5.
West Nile virus (WNV), the most common mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, is vectored by Culex spp. mosquitoes. Since its introduction to New York State (NYS) in 1999, WNV has become endemic. NYS temperatures have risen by 0.14 °C per decade since 1900, with larger increases linked to increased WNV transmission. In this study, we asked if increases in temperature in NYS influence virus diversification and adaptation, leading to shifts in thermal sensitivity. More specifically, do contemporary WNV strains have increased transmission potential at higher temperatures compared to historic strains? Using surveillance and sequencing data of WNV isolated from mosquitoes in NYS, we found a significant correlation between rising temperatures, increased WNV genetic diversity, and higher prevalence. We then analyzed genetically distinct WNV strains from mosquitoes collected during recent warm summers (2017 and 2018) and cooler historic summers (2003 and 2004). Assessing Culex pipiens dissemination efficiency and calculating the relative R₀ at 20 °C, 24 °C, and 28 °C, we found that contemporary strains exhibit higher transmission potential at increased temperatures. Our results show that contemporary WNV strains possess greater phenotypic and genotypic diversity, suggesting that climate warming in concert with viral adaptation may facilitate the emergence of strains with enhanced transmission potential.
西尼罗河病毒（WNV）是美国大陆最常见的蚊媒疾病，由库蚊属蚊子传播。自1999年引入纽约州（NYS）以来，WNV已成为地方病。自1900年以来，纽约州的气温每十年上升0.14摄氏度，气温的更大幅度上升与WNV传播增加有关。在本研究中，我们探讨了纽约州气温升高是否会影响病毒的多样化和适应性，从而导致热敏感性的变化。更具体地说，与历史毒株相比，当代WNV毒株在较高温度下是否具有更高的传播潜力？利用从纽约州蚊子中分离出的WNV的监测和测序数据，我们发现气温上升、WNV遗传多样性增加和患病率升高之间存在显著相关性。然后，我们分析了在近期温暖夏季（2017年和2018年）和较凉爽的历史夏季（2003年和2004年）收集的蚊子中基因不同的WNV毒株。评估致倦库蚊的传播效率，并计算20°C、24°C和28°C时的相对R₀，我们发现当代毒株在温度升高时表现出更高的传播潜力。我们的结果表明，当代WNV毒株具有更大的表型和基因型多样性，这表明气候变暖与病毒适应性共同作用可能促进具有更高传播潜力的毒株的出现。
