West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors
<b> </b>West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are two related arboviruses (genus <i>Flavivirus</i>, family <i>Flaviviridae</i>), with birds as a reservoir and mosquitoes as transmitting vectors. In recent years, WNV epidemiology changed in many European cou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/2/157 |
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| author | Elena Percivalle Irene Cassaniti Antonella Sarasini Francesca Rovida Kodjo Messan Guy Adzasehoun Ilaria Colombini Paola Isernia Irene Cuppari Fausto Baldanti |
| author_facet | Elena Percivalle Irene Cassaniti Antonella Sarasini Francesca Rovida Kodjo Messan Guy Adzasehoun Ilaria Colombini Paola Isernia Irene Cuppari Fausto Baldanti |
| author_sort | Elena Percivalle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b> </b>West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are two related arboviruses (genus <i>Flavivirus</i>, family <i>Flaviviridae</i>), with birds as a reservoir and mosquitoes as transmitting vectors. In recent years, WNV epidemiology changed in many European countries with increased frequency of outbreaks posing the issue of virus transmission risks by blood transfusion. USUV emerged for the first time in birds of the Tuscany region (Italy) in 1996 and in 2001 in Austria. While WNV is responsible for both mild and neuroinvasive diseases, USUV infection is usually asymptomatic and neuroinvasive symptoms are rare. Since WNV and USUV co-circulate, the surveillance of WNV allows also the detection of USUV. Due to the great similarity in amino-acid sequence of major surface proteins of the two viruses, a high cross-reactivity can lead to misinterpretation of serological results. Here, we report the results obtained from 54 asymptomatic blood donors during a three-year follow-up showing an unexpected high positivity (46.3%) for USUV. The major obstacle encountered in the differential diagnosis between these two viruses was the high cross-reactivity found in neutralizing antibodies (NT Abs) and, in some cases, a long follow-up was mandatory for a correct diagnosis. Moreover, two new ELISpot assays were developed for a more rapid and specific differential diagnosis, especially in those cases in which NT Abs were not determinant. Using a combination of Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot), molecular, and serological tests, we could identify 25 true positive WNV and 25 true positive USUV blood donors. Our data highlight the importance of raising awareness for increasing USUV infections in endemic countries involved in blood transfusion and organ donation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:55:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc62c24b21884c978f38aa6426be156e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:55:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc62c24b21884c978f38aa6426be156e2022-12-21T19:40:04ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152020-01-0112215710.3390/v12020157v12020157West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood DonorsElena Percivalle0Irene Cassaniti1Antonella Sarasini2Francesca Rovida3Kodjo Messan Guy Adzasehoun4Ilaria Colombini5Paola Isernia6Irene Cuppari7Fausto Baldanti8Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, ItalyMolecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, ItalyMolecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, ItalyMolecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, ItalyMolecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, ItalySIMT, Centro Lavorazione e Validazione, Ospedale di Cremona, 26100 Cremona, ItalySIMT, Centro Lavorazione e Validazione, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalySIMT, Centro Lavorazione e Validazione, Ospedale Maggiore Milano, 20162 Milano, ItalyMolecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy<b> </b>West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are two related arboviruses (genus <i>Flavivirus</i>, family <i>Flaviviridae</i>), with birds as a reservoir and mosquitoes as transmitting vectors. In recent years, WNV epidemiology changed in many European countries with increased frequency of outbreaks posing the issue of virus transmission risks by blood transfusion. USUV emerged for the first time in birds of the Tuscany region (Italy) in 1996 and in 2001 in Austria. While WNV is responsible for both mild and neuroinvasive diseases, USUV infection is usually asymptomatic and neuroinvasive symptoms are rare. Since WNV and USUV co-circulate, the surveillance of WNV allows also the detection of USUV. Due to the great similarity in amino-acid sequence of major surface proteins of the two viruses, a high cross-reactivity can lead to misinterpretation of serological results. Here, we report the results obtained from 54 asymptomatic blood donors during a three-year follow-up showing an unexpected high positivity (46.3%) for USUV. The major obstacle encountered in the differential diagnosis between these two viruses was the high cross-reactivity found in neutralizing antibodies (NT Abs) and, in some cases, a long follow-up was mandatory for a correct diagnosis. Moreover, two new ELISpot assays were developed for a more rapid and specific differential diagnosis, especially in those cases in which NT Abs were not determinant. Using a combination of Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot), molecular, and serological tests, we could identify 25 true positive WNV and 25 true positive USUV blood donors. Our data highlight the importance of raising awareness for increasing USUV infections in endemic countries involved in blood transfusion and organ donation.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/2/157blood donorswest nile virususutu virusflaviviruslombardia region |
| spellingShingle | Elena Percivalle Irene Cassaniti Antonella Sarasini Francesca Rovida Kodjo Messan Guy Adzasehoun Ilaria Colombini Paola Isernia Irene Cuppari Fausto Baldanti West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors Viruses blood donors west nile virus usutu virus flavivirus lombardia region |
| title | West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors |
| title_full | West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors |
| title_fullStr | West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors |
| title_full_unstemmed | West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors |
| title_short | West Nile or Usutu Virus? A Three-Year Follow-Up of Humoral and Cellular Response in a Group of Asymptomatic Blood Donors |
| title_sort | west nile or usutu virus a three year follow up of humoral and cellular response in a group of asymptomatic blood donors |
| topic | blood donors west nile virus usutu virus flavivirus lombardia region |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/2/157 |
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