title: [West nile virus infection: re-emergent disease in Croatia].
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a small, enveloped, spherical virus that belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, Japanese encephalitis serocomplex. Natural reservoirs of WNV are birds, and the main vectors are mosquitoes of the genus Culex. There are seven genetic lineages of WNV. Lineages 1 and 2 are the most widely distributed (Africa, North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia). About 80% of infections are asymptomatic. In 20% of patients nonspecific febrile disease occurs (West Nile fever). Less than 1% of infected persons will develop neuroinvasive WNV disease (meningitis, encephalitis, and poliomyelitis). In Croatia, antibodies to WNV were demonstrated in humans,bears and horses. In August-September 2012 clinical cases of human WNV neuroinvasive disease and asymptomatic acute infection in horses were reported for the first time in three eastern Croatian counties. The diagnosis was confirmed by serologic tests (enzyme immunoassay, IgG avidity, plaque-reduction neutralization test).
authors.affiliation: Odjel za virologiju, Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Medicinski fakultet Sveusiliyta u Zagrebu. tatjana.vilibic-cavlek@hzjz.hr
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vilibić-Cavlek
authors.forename: Ljubo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbić
authors.forename: Suncanica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ljubin-Sternak
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pem-Novosel
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stevanović
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gjenero-Margan
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mlinarić-Galinović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D001503:Ursidae / Q000821:virology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral