Pathogens (Jul 2021)

West Nile Virus in Brazil

  • Érica Azevedo Costa,
  • Marta Giovanetti,
  • Lilian Silva Catenacci,
  • Vagner Fonseca,
  • Flávia Figueira Aburjaile,
  • Flávia L. L. Chalhoub,
  • Joilson Xavier,
  • Felipe Campos de Melo Iani,
  • Marcelo Adriano da Cunha e Silva Vieira,
  • Danielle Freitas Henriques,
  • Daniele Barbosa de Almeida Medeiros,
  • Maria Isabel Maldonado Coelho Guedes,
  • Beatriz Senra Álvares da Silva Santos,
  • Aila Solimar Gonçalves Silva,
  • Renata de Pino Albuquerque Maranhão,
  • Nieli Rodrigues da Costa Faria,
  • Renata Farinelli de Siqueira,
  • Tulio de Oliveira,
  • Karina Ribeiro Leite Jardim Cavalcante,
  • Noely Fabiana Oliveira de Moura,
  • Alessandro Pecego Martins Romano,
  • Carlos F. Campelo de Albuquerque,
  • Lauro César Soares Feitosa,
  • José Joffre Martins Bayeux,
  • Raffaella Bertoni Cavalcanti Teixeira,
  • Osmaikon Lisboa Lobato,
  • Silvokleio da Costa Silva,
  • Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis,
  • Rivaldo Venâncio da Cunha,
  • José Lourenço,
  • Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10070896
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 7
p. 896

Abstract

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Background: West Nile virus (WNV) was first sequenced in Brazil in 2019, when it was isolated from a horse in the Espírito Santo state. Despite multiple studies reporting serological evidence suggestive of past circulation since 2004, WNV remains a low priority for surveillance and public health, such that much is still unknown about its genomic diversity, evolution, and transmission in the country. Methods: A combination of diagnostic assays, nanopore sequencing, phylogenetic inference, and epidemiological modeling are here used to provide a holistic overview of what is known about WNV in Brazil. Results: We report new genetic evidence of WNV circulation in southern (Minas Gerais, São Paulo) and northeastern (Piauí) states isolated from equine red blood cells. A novel, climate-informed theoretical perspective of the potential transmission of WNV across the country highlights the state of Piauí as particularly relevant for WNV epidemiology in Brazil, although it does not reject possible circulation in other states. Conclusion: Our output demonstrates the scarceness of existing data, and that although there is sufficient evidence for the circulation and persistence of the virus, much is still unknown on its local evolution, epidemiology, and activity. We advocate for a shift to active surveillance, to ensure adequate preparedness for future epidemics with spill-over potential to humans.

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