The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in Australia
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus responsible for outbreaks of viral encephalitis in humans and horses, with particularly virulent strains causing recent outbreaks of disease in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North America. A strain of WNV, Kunjin (WNVKUN), is endemic in northern...
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doaj-83be92392d78436cbd51b44f1f4367972020-11-24T21:00:23ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012013-11-0110126255627210.3390/ijerph10126255ijerph10126255The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in AustraliaNatalie A. Prow0Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, AustraliaWest Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus responsible for outbreaks of viral encephalitis in humans and horses, with particularly virulent strains causing recent outbreaks of disease in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North America. A strain of WNV, Kunjin (WNVKUN), is endemic in northern Australia and infection with this virus is generally asymptomatic. However in early 2011, an unprecedented outbreak of encephalitis in horses occurred in south-eastern Australia, resulting in mortality in approximately 10%–15% of infected horses. A WNV-like virus (WNVNSW2011) was isolated and found to be most closely related to the indigenous WNVKUN, rather than other exotic WNV strains. Furthermore, at least two amino acid changes associated with increased virulence of the North American New York 99 strain (WNVNY99) compared to the prototype WNVKUN were present in the WNVNSW2011 sequence. This review summarizes our current understanding of WNVKUN and how the epidemiology and ecology of this virus has changed. Analysis of virulence determinants of contemporary WNVKUN isolates will provide clues on where virulent strains have emerged in Australia. A better understanding of the changing ecology and epidemiology associated with the emergence of virulent strains is essential to prepare for future outbreaks of WNV disease in Australia.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/12/6255West Nile virusKunjin virusepidemiologyAustralia |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Natalie A. Prow |
spellingShingle |
Natalie A. Prow The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in Australia International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health West Nile virus Kunjin virus epidemiology Australia |
author_facet |
Natalie A. Prow |
author_sort |
Natalie A. Prow |
title |
The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in Australia |
title_short |
The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in Australia |
title_full |
The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in Australia |
title_fullStr |
The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in Australia |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Changing Epidemiology of Kunjin Virus in Australia |
title_sort |
changing epidemiology of kunjin virus in australia |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2013-11-01 |
description |
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus responsible for outbreaks of viral encephalitis in humans and horses, with particularly virulent strains causing recent outbreaks of disease in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North America. A strain of WNV, Kunjin (WNVKUN), is endemic in northern Australia and infection with this virus is generally asymptomatic. However in early 2011, an unprecedented outbreak of encephalitis in horses occurred in south-eastern Australia, resulting in mortality in approximately 10%–15% of infected horses. A WNV-like virus (WNVNSW2011) was isolated and found to be most closely related to the indigenous WNVKUN, rather than other exotic WNV strains. Furthermore, at least two amino acid changes associated with increased virulence of the North American New York 99 strain (WNVNY99) compared to the prototype WNVKUN were present in the WNVNSW2011 sequence. This review summarizes our current understanding of WNVKUN and how the epidemiology and ecology of this virus has changed. Analysis of virulence determinants of contemporary WNVKUN isolates will provide clues on where virulent strains have emerged in Australia. A better understanding of the changing ecology and epidemiology associated with the emergence of virulent strains is essential to prepare for future outbreaks of WNV disease in Australia. |
topic |
West Nile virus Kunjin virus epidemiology Australia |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/12/6255 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT natalieaprow thechangingepidemiologyofkunjinvirusinaustralia AT natalieaprow changingepidemiologyofkunjinvirusinaustralia |
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1716779830115041280 |