Tünetmentes Nyugat-Nílusi Vírus fertőzésen átesett lovak hosszútávú immun védettségének vizsgálata a neutralizáló ellenanyagszintek mérésével

Abstract

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a zoonotic RNA arbovirus belonging to the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae virus family. WNV is phylogenetically separated into several genetic lineages, of which lineage 2 is currently responsible for the outbreaks in Hungary. The virus circulates among mosquitoes belonging to the Culex genus and wild birds. Moreover, humans and horses can also be accidental hosts of the virus, mainly asymptomatically, but in some cases, a severe disease affecting the central nervous system can develop. Licensed vaccines are available for horses against WNV infection, but infected animals are believed to have life-long immunity to the virus. In this study, we summarize the results of a 4-year-long follow-up investigation to prove the presence of long-lasting immune protection in horses previously asymptomatically infected by WNV.