West Nile Virus

Japanese encephalitis and West Nile viruses are members of the Japanese encephalitis serological group of the genus Flavivirus and therefore closely related genetically and antigenically. They share a number of properties, including the use of birds as their major wildlife maintenance host and Culicine mosquitoes for transmission, and they are both associated with severe human disease, as well as fatal infections in horses. The emergence of these two viruses, and their well-established propensity to colonise new areas, make it timely to re-examine their ecology, biology, molecular structure, replication and epidemiology, and these therefore provide the focus of this volume.

Often a serious illness, West Nile Virus seems to arise as a seasonal epidemic in North America, beginning in the summer and continuing into the fall.

Before 1999, the West Nile Virus was unknown in the Western hemisphere. Since then, however, each summer has shown it moving progressively across the United States starting in New York. Such recurrent and steady movement means that the virus is here to stay. Transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, the disease causes encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. Although most cases are relatively mild and include symptoms like a fever and skin rash, those with more severe cases can exhibit convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Some cases even prove fatal. There is no specific treatment for the virus, with most therapy coming under hospital oversight. In working to prevent the disease, several areas have taken to spraying against mosquitoes and recommended the use of insect repellent. Nonetheless, the virus continues to show itself and has become a regular, but still dangerous, routine of life. This book gives a useful overview of a disease that nobody knew much about a few short years ago, but is now making headlines. Carefully selected abstracts of virus-related literature follow as do accessible author, title, and subject indexes. For the study of the West Nile Virus, this book is a valuable resource.

In this period of obvious natural emergence of viral and other diseases, it is unclear as to what diseases are emerging, why they are emerging, and what, if anything, can be done to prevent or diminish their impact. This book, a compendium of presentations made at an international meeting of experts, provides summaries of areas of concern and details as to how disease agents such as Nipah and Hendra viruses in Australasia and West Nile virus in the Americas might have suddenly appeared. Either by alterations in natural habitats and diversity or by chance, pathogens emerge from time to time. This book addresses various aspects of such emergences, such as pathogenetic mechanisms of viruses, diagnosis of viral infections, viral host-management strategies, viral genetics, vaccine development and application. It is especially valuable for laboratory virologists, disease ecologists, physicians, and those who want to understand the complexities of viral characteristics.

As new cases of West Nile Virus begin to appear across the United States, this book offers a timely discussion of this potentially devastating disease. Author Melissa Abramovitz outlines the mechanics of virus transmission and how mosquitoes and disease-carrying birds have played a key role in the West Nile Virus epidemic. This book covers basic information about the virus and its possible effects, as well as a discussion of personal and governmental prevention plans. The last chapter focuses on treatments currently in development.

The only available reference to comprehensively discuss the common and unusual types of rickettsiosis in over twenty years, this book will offer the reader a full review on the bacteriology, transmission, and pathophysiology of these conditions. Written from experts in the field from Europe, USA, Africa, and Asia, specialists analyze specific patho