Flaviviruses in Europe: Complex Circulation Patterns and Their Consequences for the Diagnosis and Control of West Nile Disease

Cécile Beck, Miguel Angel Jimenez-Clavero, Agnès Leblond, Benoît Durand, Norbert Nowotny, Isabelle Leparc-Goffart, Stéphan Zientara, Elsa Jourdain and Sylvie Lecollinet
Additional contact information
Cécile Beck: UMR1161 Virologie INRA, ANSES, ENVA, EU-RL on equine West Nile disease, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort 94704, France
Miguel Angel Jimenez-Clavero: CISA-INIA, Valdeolmos (Madrid) 28130, Spain
Agnès Leblond: Département Hippique, VetAgroSup, Marcy l'Etoile 69280, France
Benoît Durand: Epidemiology Unit, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort 94704, France
Norbert Nowotny: Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria
Isabelle Leparc-Goffart: IRBA, Marseille 13384, France
Stéphan Zientara: UMR1161 Virologie INRA, ANSES, ENVA, EU-RL on equine West Nile disease, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort 94704, France
Elsa Jourdain: UR346, INRA, Saint Genès Champanelle 63122, France
Sylvie Lecollinet: UMR1161 Virologie INRA, ANSES, ENVA, EU-RL on equine West Nile disease, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort 94704, France

IJERPH, 2013, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-35

Abstract: In Europe, many flaviviruses are endemic (West Nile, Usutu, tick-borne encephalitis viruses) or occasionally imported (dengue, yellow fever viruses). Due to the temporal and geographical co-circulation of flaviviruses in Europe, flavivirus differentiation by diagnostic tests is crucial in the adaptation of surveillance and control efforts. Serological diagnosis of flavivirus infections is complicated by the antigenic similarities among the Flavivirus genus. Indeed, most flavivirus antibodies are directed against the highly immunogenic envelope protein, which contains both flavivirus cross-reactive and virus-specific epitopes. Serological assay results should thus be interpreted with care and confirmed by comparative neutralization tests using a panel of viruses known to circulate in Europe. However, antibody cross-reactivity could be advantageous in efforts to control emerging flaviviruses because it ensures partial cross-protection. In contrast, it might also facilitate subsequent diseases, through a phenomenon called antibody-dependent enhancement mainly described for dengue virus infections. Here, we review the serological methods commonly used in WNV diagnosis and surveillance in Europe. By examining past and current epidemiological situations in different European countries, we present the challenges involved in interpreting flavivirus serological tests and setting up appropriate surveillance programs; we also address the consequences of flavivirus circulation and vaccination for host immunity.

Keywords: flaviviruses; West Nile virus; antibodies; cross-reactivity; diagnosis; cross-protection; ADE; natural infection; vaccination; vector-borne diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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