ABSTRACT
The West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne virus that is closely related to approximately 70 other members of the family Flaviviridae. WNV is maintained in nature by cycling between more than 200 species of birds and many species of mosquitoes. As with most viral infections, isolation of WNV from biological specimens such as blood, serum, cerebral spinal fluid, or histology tissues is the gold standard for diagnosis of infection. The frequency of invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) by WNV increases with age and in immunocompromised individuals. Despite extensive investigations studying essential antiviral immune responses to WNV in murine models, an efficacious treatment for WNV infection in humans remains elusive. In the absence of an effective therapeutic, prevention remains the key viable option against WNV infection. Recent vaccine developments hold great promise for future use to prevent WNV infection. In the CNS, WNV has a propensity to infect neurons.
