title: Phylogeography and epidemiological history of West Nile virus genotype 1a in Europe and the Mediterranean basin.
abstract: Aim of this study was to reconstruct the temporal and spatial phylodynamics of WNV-1a, the genotype to which the majority of European/Mediterranean viral strains belongs, by using sequences retrieved from public databases. WNV-1a isolates segregated into two major clades: the recent West Mediterranean sequences formed a single monophyletic group within clade A. Clade B included sequences from East Mediterranean and America. Phylogeographic analysis suggested that WNV-1a probably originated in sub-Saharan Africa in the early XXth century, and then spread northwards since the late 1970s, via two routes: one crossing Eastern Mediterranean and the other the Western Mediterranean countries. Our data suggest that the circulation of the virus in a given geographical area usually precedes the onset of the outbreak by one year or more, and underline the importance of the spatial-temporal phylodynamics reconstruction in clarifying the recent epidemiology and in setting up an efficient surveillance system for emerging/reemerging zoonosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, University of Milan, c/o Ospedale L. Sacco, Via G.B. Grassi 74, Milan, Italy. gianguglielmo.zehender@unimi.it
authors.forename: Gianguglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zehender
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ebranati
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Presti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccozzi
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D005060:Europe; D005838:Genotype; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics*