West Nile virus lineage 2 isolated from Culex modestus mosquitoes in the Czech Republic, 2013: expansion of the European WNV endemic area to the North?

Euro Surveill. 2014 Aug 7;19(31):2-5. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.31.20867.

Abstract

We report the detection and isolation of four almost identical strains of West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2from Culex modestus mosquitoes collected at three fish ponds in South Moravia, Czech Republic, during August 2013. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the Czech WNV strains isolated are closely related to Austrian, Italian and Serbian strains reported in 2008,2011 and 2012, respectively. Our findings show the current northernmost range of lineage 2 WNV in Europe.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culex / virology*
  • Culicidae / virology
  • Czech Republic / epidemiology
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Insect Vectors / virology
  • Italy
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile virus / classification
  • West Nile virus / genetics*
  • West Nile virus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral