First molecular analysis of West Nile virus during the 2013 outbreak in Croatia

Virus Res. 2014 Aug 30:189:63-6. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.04.017. Epub 2014 May 5.

Abstract

This is the second subsequent year of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) outbreak in Croatia. Between July and October 2013, 22 patients presented with symptoms of WNND: all with meningitis and 18 additionally with encephalitis. In contrast to 2012, where six autochthonous infections were confirmed in eastern Croatia, the majority of this year's cases occurred in and around the city of Zagreb, where no West Nile virus infections have been observed before. Viral RNA was recovered from two patients and phylogenetic analyses revealed West Nile virus lineage 2. This represents the first molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the circulating West Nile virus strain in Croatia.

Keywords: Croatia; Outbreak; Phylogeny; West Nile neuroinvasive disease; West Nile virus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Croatia / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Topography, Medical
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology*
  • West Nile virus / classification*
  • West Nile virus / genetics
  • West Nile virus / isolation & purification*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HG796244
  • GENBANK/HG796245