West Nile virus (WNV)in Slovakia, characterisation, epizootology, phylogenesis and diagnostics

CNS viral infections can be caused by many arboviruses. In the period 2016-2018, in 40% of these cases, the etiological agent was not determined. In Southern Europe, West Nile and Usutu viruses (WNV and USUV) are currently a significant problem, which due to climate change and the expansion of their vectors are reaching Central Europe, thus opening a new significant health and epidemiological problem in human and veterinary medicine. Both are zoonotic, mosquito-borne, neurotropic arboviruses. Tick-borne orbiviruses of the Great Island virus (OSGIV) group share the same characteristics. The last information about human infections with these viruses is from the 1960s, but recent studies have confirmed autochthonous WNV infections in horses and birds in Slovakia. The aim of the project is the genetic analysis of WNV, USUV and OSGIV detected in vectors and reservoirs; study of the role of these viruses in cases of viral infections of the CNS of humans; development of ELISA test and neutralization test for detection of OSGIV antibodies and study of their antigenic diversity.