Definition:
West Nile virus is an RNA virus which is also a member of the Flaviviridae family that is transmitted through culicine mosquitoes which usually bite birds and infect horses and humans (Guharoy R. Noviasky JA, et al. (2004) West Nile Virus Infection, AmJ Health Syst. Pharm. Jun 15:61 (12).
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis include the use of IgM antibodies or the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that is measured in the blood through blood tests within the 8th day of the onset of the symptom. The use of acute and convalescent phase serum and the use of plaque reduction neutralisation test or the PRNT is also used along with the used of CT Scan and MRI.
Treatment:
Treatment includes administration of ribavirin, intravenous immunoglobulin or alpha interferon (Hayes E B, Sejvar J J, Zaki S R, Lanciotti R S, Bode A V, Campbell G L. "Virology, pathology, and clinical manifestations of West Nile virus disease." Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal 2005b; 11: 1174-1179).
Symptoms and Signs:
At first the effect of the virus to human does not present any symptoms however, mild febrile syndrome termed as West Nile Fever will be manifest thereafter a neuroinvasive coined as West Nile meningitis or encephalitis may show (Olejnik E. "Infectious adenitis transmitted by Culex molestus." Bull. Res. Counc. Isr. 1952; 2: 210-21).
Causes:
It is said to be caused by a virus that is transmitted through mosquito vectors which usually infect birds, horses and humans.
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