Sediment, suspended matter, river water and ground water samples were collected at twelve sites in the drainage valley of the Nile River, around Sohag (Central Egypt) and close to the Aswan High Dam. Elemental composition of the river water (27 elements), ground water (eight elements), suspended matter (12 elements) and sediments (12 elements) was studied. Aswan High Dam construction, agricultu...

West Nile virus, a member of the family Flaviviridae, has spread throughout the United States. With more than 9000 cases and 200 deaths in 2003, West Nile virus has become the most common cause of viral encephalitis in several states. West Nile virus encephalitis is a zoonosis. The life cycle of the virus includes mainly birds as hosts and mosquitoes as vectors. Humans are accidental hosts, ins...

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is an ancient icon of both cultural and scientific interest. The species is emblematic of the great civilizations of the Nile River valley and serves as a model for international wildlife conservation. Despite its familiarity, a centuries-long dispute over the taxonomic status of the Nile crocodile remains unresolved. This dispute not only confounds our...

These are the first reported human cases of West Nile fever in Central Europe (5); an extensive outbreak occurred in Romania in 1996, with approximately 500 patients hospitalized and a 4% to 8% fatality rate (6,7). West Nile virus should be viewed as a potential agent of local sporadic cases, clusters, or outbreaks, even in temperate Europe. Environmental factors (including human activities) th...

In 2005, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) disease occurred in Sacramento County, California; 163 human cases were reported. In response to WNV surveillance indicating increased WNV activity, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District conducted an emergency aerial spray. We determined the economic impact of the outbreak, including the vector control event and the medical cost t...

West Nile virus was introduced into the United States in 1999 and in only four seasons has become endemic east of the Rocky Mountains. Recently, immunoglobulin M (IgM)-capture enzyme immunoassays for the detection of West Nile virus-specific IgM and indirect IgG enzyme immunoassays for the detection of IgG antibodies against West Nile virus were made available from Focus Technologies and PANBIO...

BACKGROUND The circulation of West Nile virus and Usutu virus was detected in the Emilia-Romagna region in 2008 and 2009. To evaluate the extent of circulation of both viruses, environmental surveillance, based on bird and mosquito testing, was conducted in 2008 and gradually improved over the years. METHODS In February-March 2009-2011, 5,993 hibernating mosquitoes were manually sampled, out ...

Although West Nile fever is mild in the vast majority of infected persons, there is growing evidence that the disease may be more severe in the immunocompromised population. We describe 3 recipients of kidney or pancreas transplants who developed West Nile fever, 2 of whom had meningoencephalitis. As is the norm when treating serious infections in transplant recipients, a reduction of immunosup...

West Nile virus, an Old World flavivirus related to St. Louis encephalitis virus, was first recorded in the New World during August 1999 in the borough of Queens, New York City. Through October 1999, 62 patients, 7 of whom died, had confirmed infections with the virus. Ornithophilic mosquitoes are the principal vectors of West Nile virus in the Old World, and birds of several species, chiefly m...

5. Dupuis AP II, Marra PP, Kramer LD. Serologic evidence of West Nile virus transmission, Jamaica, West Indies. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003;9:860–3. 6. Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Beasley DW, Coffey L, Carrara AS, Travassos da Rosa A, et al. West Nile virus in Mexico: evidence of widespread circulation since July 2002. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003;9:1604–7. 7. Mattar S, Edwards E, Laguado J, Gonza...