State WNV surveillance program in the Vojvodina Province – the concept and results

Abstract

The concept and the results of the national integrated West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance program conducted in 2021 at the territory of the Vojvodina Province were presented. The WNV surveillance program, funded by the Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, was conducted by the veterinary service in collaboration with entomologists and ornithologists. The objective of the program was early detection of WNV circulation in the environment and timely reporting to the public health service and local authorities in order to increase both clinical and mosquito control preparedness. The program was based on the detection of WNV presence in wild birds as natural hosts and mosquitoes as virus vectors, and on serological testing of sentinel horses for the presence of WNV-specific IgM antibodies. WNV circulation was detected in all districts of the Vojvodina Province from the beginning of August until the end of October 2021. The integrated WNV surveillance program detected higher intensity of WNV circulation in 2021 compared to 2014 and 2015, but lower intensity than it was detected during season 2018. The WNV surveillance program in 2021 showed satisfactory results in view of capacity to indicate the spatial distribution of the risk for humans.