Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41413585›Full record

ArticleVirology journal2025

Circulation dynamics of West Nile virus in Germany, 2023 and 2024.

Anne Schwarzer, Franziska Schopf, Martin H Groschup, Sabine Bock, Kristin Heenemann, Louise Herms, Anke Himmelreich, Susanne Kenklies, Jochen Kilwinski, Andrea Konrath and 13 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Virology journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

23 authors.

Anne SchwarzerFederal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Franziska SchopfFederal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Martin H GroschupFederal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Sabine BockBerlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Gerhard-Neumann-Straße 2, 15236, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany.
Kristin HeenemannInstitute of Virology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Louise HermsLower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Eintrachtweg 17, 30173, Hannover, Germany.
Anke HimmelreichInstitute for Hygiene and Environment, Marckmannstraße 129A, 20539, Hamburg, Germany.
Susanne KenkliesState Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Haferbreiter Weg 132-135, 39576, Stendal, Germany.
Jochen KilwinskiChemical and Veterinary Investigation Office Westfalen, Zur Taubeneiche 10-12, 59821, Arnsberg, Germany.
Andrea KonrathSaxon State Laboratory of Health and Veterinary Affairs, Bahnhofstraße 58-60, 04158, Leipzig, Germany.
Friederike MichelSaxon State Laboratory of Health and Veterinary Affairs, Jägerstraße 8/10, 01099, Dresden, Germany.
Kerstin MüllerDivision for Small Mammals, Birds and Reptiles, School of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19B, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
Grit PriemerState Office of Agriculture, Food Safety and Fisheries Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania, Thierfelderstraße 18, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
Ronja RahnerClinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University, Frankfurter Straße 114, 35392, Gießen, Germany.
Claudia SauerwaldDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Hessian State Laboratory, Schubertstraße 60, 35392, Gießen, Germany.
Nelly ScudaBavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Eggenreuther Weg 43, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
Timo SiempelkampThuringian State Office for Consumer Protection, Tennstedter Straße 8/9, 99947, Bad Langensalza, Germany.
Jasmin SkuballaState Institute for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis Karlsruhe, Weißenburger Straße 3, 76187, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Hubert WonnemannState Laboratory of Schleswig-Holstein, Max-Eyth-Straße 5, 24537, Neumünster, Germany.
Markus KellerFederal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Thomas W VahlenkampInstitute of Virology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Ute ZieglerFederal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. ute.ziegler@fli.de.
Balal SadeghiFederal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. balal.sadeghi@fli.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) is spreading rapidly to numerous countries in Europe. WNV maintains an enzootic cycle with many bird species as key amplifying hosts and mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex as main vectors. Worldwide, nine WNV lineages have been described so far. The objective of this study was to elucidate the genetic diversity of WNV in Germany in 2023 and 2024 with a focus on birds as reservoir hosts.

methodsA total of 86 samples (25 from 2023, 61 from 2024) from dead and live birds submitted by German state veterinary laboratories and as part of a nationwide wild bird surveillance network. Samples were selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS) based on bird species, Ct value, and location. Viral RNA was extracted from bird samples and submitted to two WNV specific reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction protocols. Subsequently, viral RNAs were amplified, WGS was performed using MinION technology and WGS data were processed to determine lineages and clusters.

resultsThe majority of WNV RNA positive birds selected for WGS in 2023 and 2024 were Eurasian Goshawks (Astur gentilis, n = 45). In 2023, WNV RNA positive birds were identified in only six federal states, as opposed to 13 federal states in 2024. All WNV RNA positive bird samples from 2023 to 2024 belonged to WNV Lineage 2 (WNV-2). Of the 86 sequenced samples, ~ 73% clustered within subcluster 2.5.3.4.3c. This subcluster, which also includes closely related sequences from Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, represents the dominant circulating variant. The remaining sequences (~ 27%) grouped within cluster 2.5.3.2, demonstrating the co-circulation of at least two genetically distinct WNV-2 variants in Germany.

conclusionsThese findings highlight the ongoing geographic expansion and local establishment of WNV-2 seven years after the initial detection of this virus in Germany, characterized by continuous virus evolution and the predominance of subcluster 2.5.3.4.3c, which suggests regional connectivity of transmission chains, underscoring the importance of transboundary surveillance and coordinated control measures.

Indexed as

Bird DiseasesGenetic VariationWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusAnimalsBirdsCulexDisease ReservoirsGenome, ViralGermanyPhylogenyRNA, ViralWhole Genome SequencingRNA, ViralFlavivirusGermanyMonitoringPhylogenyWest Nile virusZoonosis

Identifiers

PMID41413585
PMCPMC12955091

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.