西尼罗河病毒为黄病毒属,是一种有包膜的球形单链 RNA 虫媒病毒,属于日本脑炎血清群。其他黄病毒包括黄热病、登革热、寨卡病毒和圣路易斯脑炎病毒。[10]Beasley DW, Davis CT, Whiteman M, et al. Molecular determinants of virulence of West Nile virus in North America. Arch Virol Suppl. 2004;(18):35-41.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15119761?tool=bestpractice.com昆津病毒 (Kunjin virus) 是大洋洲地方性病毒,为西尼罗病毒的一种亚型。
该病毒主要在已感染的鸟类(>130 个不同种类)和叮咬这些鸟类的昆虫(通常是雌蚊)之间传播。已感染的蚊子在叮咬其他动物(例如,马)或人群时传播该病毒。[9]Hayes EB, Komar N, Nasci RS, et al. Epidemiology and transmission dynamics of West Nile virus disease. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11:1167-1173.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16102302?tool=bestpractice.com
罕见情况下,此病毒也可通过输注感染的血液、移植已被感染的器官进行传播,或经胎盘由母亲传播给胎儿。其他少见的传播途径包括:接触已被感染血液的针刺伤、结膜暴露于已被感染的血液、透析或哺乳。[11]Groves JA, Shafi H, Nomura JH, et al. A probable case of West Nile virus transfusion transmission. Transfusion. 2017 Mar;57(3pt2):850-856. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28164314?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Laboratory-acquired West Nile virus infections - United States, 2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2002;51:1133-1135.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5150a2.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12537288?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Iwamoto M, Jernigan DB, Guasch A, et al. Transmission of West Nile virus from an organ donor to four transplant recipients. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:2196-2203.http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/348/22/2196http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12773646?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Biggerstaff BJ, Petersen LR. Estimated risk of West Nile virus transmission through blood transfusion in the United States, 2002. Transfusion. 2003;43:1007-1017.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12869104?tool=bestpractice.com[15]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Intrauterine West Nile virus infection - New York, 2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2002;51:1135-1136.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5150a3.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12537289?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Possible West Nile virus transmission to an infant through breast-feeding - Michigan, 2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2002;51:877-878.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5139a1.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12375687?tool=bestpractice.com