This is represented by West Nile virus (WNV) infection, which is endemically present in my Country, with several cases of neuroinvasive disease having been recently diagnosed in the general population - especially in elderly patients -, 13 of which have resulted in fatal outcomes. We are dealing with a flaviviral zoonotic infection - with the vast majority of cases being either symptomless or subclinical -, mostly transmitted by ornithophilic Culex mosquitoes, whose occurrence at progressively more northern latitudes appears to be primarily driven by global warming. In this respect, it should be duly emphasized, first of all, that only a very small minority (1 out of 30,000, approximately) of Culex mosquitoes circulating in the external environment are expected to potentially carry and, thereafter, to transmit the virus to a huge variety of susceptible species, including humans and horses, both of which are classified as "dead-end hosts". Furthermore and albeit uncommonly, WNV can be also transmitted transplacentally and via the mother's milk as well as through blood transfusions and organ/tissue transplantations. Still noteworthy, WNV appears to be a microbial pathogen with an incredibly broad host range, including both domestic and wild mammals and birds as well as reptiles and even amphibians (Agliani et al., 2023).
The first West Nile disease confirmation in Italy was officially reported in 1998, when several cases of WNV encephalomyelitis were reported in horses from Tuscany region (Cantile et al., 2000).
Notwithstanding all the above, however, and in a similar fashion to what already seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the "West Nile disease storytelling" has been entrusted, once again, to the medical profession, without an "ad hoc" involvement of veterinarians.
This openly contradicts the One Health concept/principle, postulating that human, animal and environmental health are mutually and inextricably linked to each other.
Errare humanum est perseverare autem diabolicum!
References
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Agliani G, Giglia G, Marshall EM, Gröne A, Rockx BHG, van den Brand JMA. Pathological features of West Nile and Usutu virus natural infections in wild and domestic animals and in humans: A comparative review. One Health 2023;16:100525. DOI:10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.
100525. -
Cantile C, Di Guardo G, Eleni C, Arispici M. Clinical and neuropathological features of West Nile virus equine encephalomyelitis in Italy. Equine Veterinary Journal 2000;32(1):31-35. DOI:10.2746/
042516400777612080.