Genotype-specific variation in West Nile virus dispersal in California.

Virology
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus that was first reported in North America in New York in 1999 and, by 2003, had spread more than 4000 km to California. However, variation in viral genetics associated with spread is not well understood. Herein, we report sequences for more than 100 WNV isolates made from mosquito pools that were collected from 2003 to 2011 as part of routine surveillance by the California Mosquito-borne Virus Surveillance System. We performed phylogeographic analyses and demonstrated that 5 independent introductions of WNV (1 WN02 genotype strain and 4 SW03 genotype strains) occurred in California. The SW03 genotype of WNV was constrained to the southwestern U.S. and had a more rapid rate of spread. In addition, geographic constraint of WNV strains within a single region for up to 6 years suggest viral maintenance has been driven by resident, rather than migratory, birds and overwintering in mosquitoes.

Year of Publication
2015
Journal
Virology
Volume
485
Pages
79-85
Date Published
2015 Nov
ISSN
1096-0341
URL
DOI
10.1016/j.virol.2015.07.004
PubMed ID
26210076
PubMed Central ID
PMC4619151
Links
Grant list
HHSN272200900018C / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI067380 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
HHSN272200900018 / PHS HHS / United States
R01 AI055607 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
AI55607 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U19 AI110818 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
AI067380 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States