Microorganisms (Jun 2019)

West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus Co-Circulation in Europe: Epidemiology and Implications

  • Silvia Zannoli,
  • Vittorio Sambri

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7070184
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 7
p. 184

Abstract

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West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are neurotropic mosquito-borne flaviviruses that may infect humans. Although WNV is much more widespread and plays a much larger role in human health, the two viruses are characterized by similar envelope antigens, clinical manifestations, and present overlapping in terms of geographic range of transmission, host, and vector species. This review highlights some of the most relevant aspects of WNV and USUV human infections in Europe, and the possible implications of their co-circulation.

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