The continuous spread of West Nile virus (WNV): seroprevalence in asymptomatic horses

West Nile virus (WNV) was probably introduced in southern and northern Mexico from the USA in two independent events. Since then, WNV activity has been reported in several Mexican states bordering the USA and the Gulf of Mexico, but disease manifestations seen there in humans and equids are quite di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2009-08, Vol.137 (8), p.1163-1168
Main Authors: ALONSO-PADILLA, J., LOZA-RUBIO, E., ESCRIBANO-ROMERO, E., CÓRDOBA, L., CUEVAS, S., MEJÍA, F., CALDERÓN, R., MILIÁN, F., TRAVASSOS DA ROSA, A., WEAVER, S. C., ESTRADA-FRANCO, J. G., SAIZ, J. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Antigens
Biological and medical sciences
Bird migration
Emerging viruses
Encephalitis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Horse Diseases - epidemiology
Horse Diseases - immunology
Horses
Ilheus virus
Mexico - epidemiology
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Serology
viral expansion
Virology
Viruses
West Nile Fever - epidemiology
West Nile Fever - immunology
West Nile Fever - veterinary
West Nile virus
zoonoses
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Summary:West Nile virus (WNV) was probably introduced in southern and northern Mexico from the USA in two independent events. Since then, WNV activity has been reported in several Mexican states bordering the USA and the Gulf of Mexico, but disease manifestations seen there in humans and equids are quite different to those observed in the USA. We have analysed WNV seroprevalence in asymptomatic, unvaccinated equids from two Mexican states where no data had been previously recorded. WNV IgG antibodies were detected in 31·6% (91/288) of equine sera from Chiapas and Puebla states (53·3% and 8·0%, respectively). Analysis by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) showed good specificity (99·4%) and sensitivity (84·9%) with the ELISA results. Further analyses to detect antibodies against three different flaviviruses (WNV, St Louis encephalitis virus, Ilheus virus) by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests on a subset of 138 samples showed that 53% of the 83 HI-positive samples showed specific reaction to WNV. These data suggest continuous expansion of WNV through Mexico.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268809002325