解説
日本人はウエストナイルウイルス交差免疫を持つか
2007 年 51 巻 4 号 p. 225-240
詳細
2007 年 51 巻 4 号 p. 225-240
West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV) and Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) are closely related and all belong to the JEV antigen group of flaviviruses. An epidemic of WNV was first reported from the United States in 1999, where an SLEV epidemic had been observed since 1933 in central and southern regions. Recently, the probability of the spread of WNV to Japan has increased year by year. The present article first described the relationship between the WNV and SLEV epidemics in the United States in order to suggest the existence of a cross-immunity to WNV caused by SLEV infection in the American population. Secondly, the past and present status of JEV epidemics and JEV vaccination in Japan were explained in relation to the socio-economic changes after the Second World War. Finally, the article suggested that the level of cross-immunity to WNV caused by natural infection and vaccination with JEV in the Japanese population may not be high enough to prevent a WNV epidemic after the possible future spread of WNV to Japan.
