To the Editor: West Nile virus (WNV) is a member of the genus Flavivirus within the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex.
Serosurvey of West Nile virus and other flaviviruses of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex in birds from Andalusia, southern Spain.
The natural cycle of all members of the JE
antigenic complex of Flaviviruses involves birds as the main amplifying host and several species of mosquitoes as the vectors, ornithophilic mosquitoes, particularly, Culex species.
Similarly, ONN virus lineage has been considered a distinct group of viruses within the
antigenic complex.
West Nile virus is a member of the Japanese encephalitis
antigenic complex of flaviviruses.
Genus: Flavivirus Japanese Encephalitis
Antigenic ComplexThe HI and EIA tests used in this study cross-react only poorly between alphaviruses in different
antigenic complexes but may cross-react with other alphaviruses within the same
antigenic complex.
However, antibodies produced during ILHV infection cross-react in serologic assays to other flavivirus antigens, and ILHV was originally classified in the Japanese encephalitis
antigenic complex (1-3).
SFV antibodies failed to detect ONNV by IFA, although both viruses are members of the same
antigenic complex (12).
That we found antiborrelial-complex antibodies may suggest the presence of a new species in this
antigenic complex containing cross-reactive antigens, but many other studies are necessary to confirm it.
To investigate the genetic relationship of the Austrian USUV with other flaviviruses in the JEV
antigenic complex, we constructed a phylogenetic tree by using the programs in the PHYLIP package; we also included in the phylogenetic analysis three other important mosquito-borne flaviviruses (YFV, SLEV, and DENV3).
West Nile (WN) virus is a member of the Japanese encephalitis (JE)
antigenic complex of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae.