Wrapping Up ESCV 2025 in Thessaloniki
From emerging arboviruses to smarter sydromic testing, ESCV 2025 gave us plenty to think about. Last week Antoinette Brink represented PathoFinder at ESCV, a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues and hear the latest advances in diagnostics and surveillance. Here are some highlights that stood out:
Viruses may be closer than we think:
Speakers highlighted how viruses are circulating right on our doorstep
- Dr. Elad Eliahoo (Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israel) shared findings on Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in ticks and animals.
- Arboviruses like Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, and Oropouche are shifting geographically due to climate change and urbanisation, raising urgent questions around blood safety and surveillance strategies.
Multiplex PCR testing and syndromic panels:
- Prof. Athanasios Michos (University of Athens) stressed that syndromic testing only makes a clinical impact when results guide decisions, like switching or stopping antibiotics.
- Prof. Georgia Gioula (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) highlighted multiplex PCR's role in monitoring respiratory pathogens but noted that most current panels still cannot distinguish Enteroviruses from Rhinoviruses, an important challenge as new Enterovirus C types and EV-D68 emerge in wastewater survelliance.
RSV subtyping still matters:
- Dr. Adam Meijer (RIVM, Netherlands) underlined the importance of differentiating RSV-A and RSV-B to evaluate the efficacy of new RSV immunisations, which are build on a RSV-A backbone.
ESCV 2025 highlighted the future of diagnostics: more precise multiplex panels, customised surveillance assays, and agile point-of-care systems. At PathoFinder these insights drive us to keep innovating viral diagnostics.
