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Sidorenko M, Radzijevskaja J, Mickevičius S, Bratchikov M, Mardosaitė-Busaitienė D, Sakalauskas P, Paulauskas A. Phylogenetic characterisation of tick-borne encephalitis virus from Lithuania. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296472. [PMID: 38324618 PMCID: PMC10849421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The Baltic states are the region in Europe where tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is most endemic. The highest notification rate of TBE cases is reported in Lithuania, where the incidence of TBE has significantly increased since 1992. A recent study reported 0.4% prevalence of TBE virus (TBEV) in the two most common tick species distributed in Lithuania, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, with the existence of endemic foci confirmed in seven out of Lithuania's ten counties. However, until now, no comprehensive data on molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analysis have been available for the circulating TBEV strains. The aim of this study was to analyse TBEV strains derived from I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks collected from Lithuania and provide a genotypic characterisation of viruses based on sequence analysis of partial E protein and NS3 genes. The 54 nucleotide sequences obtained were compared with 81 TBEV strains selected from the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial E and NS3 gene sequences derived from 34 Lithuanian TBEV isolates revealed that these were specific to Lithuania, and all belonged to the European subtype, with a maximum identity to the Neudoerfl reference strain (GenBank accession no. U27495) of 98.7% and 97.4%, respectively. The TBEV strains showed significant regional genetic diversity. The detected TBEV genotypes were not specific to the tick species. However, genetic differences were observed between strains from different locations, while strains from the same location showed a high similarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Sidorenko
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jana Radzijevskaja
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Saulius Mickevičius
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Maksim Bratchikov
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Povilas Sakalauskas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Algimantas Paulauskas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
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2
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Jensen BB, Andersen NS, Wölfel S, Chen M, Paarup HM, Olesen CR, Fournier PE, Jensen PM, Skarphedinsson S. Rickettsiosis in Denmark: A nation-wide survey. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102236. [PMID: 37708802 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia helvetica has been reported at varying prevalences in Danish and other European Ixodes ricinus populations. Though apparently widespread and with reported cases of human infection, the significance of the bacteria as a threat to public health remains unclear. We present a nation-wide survey of rickettsia in ticks, roe deer and humans in Denmark. Ticks were collected by flagging and screened for presence of rickettsial DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Sera from roe deer, hunters, neuroborreliosis patients and blood donors were analyzed for presence of anti-R. helvetica and Rickettsia felis antibodies by immunofluorescence microscopy. The Rickettsia minimum infection rate in ticks was 4.9 % (367/973 pools positive, 7510 ticks in total), with 3.9 % in nymphs and 9.3 % in adults. Rickettsia helvetica accounted for 4.17 % and Rickettsia monacensis for 0.03 %, 0.6 % comprised non-differentiable rickettsial DNA. The prevalence of antibodies against R. helvetica was 2.8 % (9/319) in roe deer, while no hunters (n = 536) or blood donors (n = 181) were positive. The prevalence of anti-R. helvetica antibodies among Lyme neuroborreliosis patients was 6 % (3/47), where it co-occurred with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Based on our study autochthonous rickettsiosis is of limited concern to the public health in Denmark, but our finding of R. monacensis for the first time in Denmark illustrates the dynamic nature of tick-borne pathogens, emphasizing that continuous surveillance is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Bødker Jensen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Soenderborg, Denmark; Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Nanna Skaarup Andersen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Silke Wölfel
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany; amedes MVZ for Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Soenderborg, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Helene M Paarup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Pierre Edouard Fournier
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; IHU-Mediterranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | - Sigurdur Skarphedinsson
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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3
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Lamsal A, Edgar KS, Jenkins A, Renssen H, Kjaer LJ, Alfsnes K, Bastakoti S, Dieseth M, Klitgaard K, Lindstedt HEH, Paulsen KM, Vikse R, Korslund L, Kjelland V, Stuen S, Kjellander P, Christensson M, Teräväinen M, Jensen LM, Regmi M, Giri D, Marsteen L, Bødker R, Soleng A, Andreassen ÅK. Prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in questing Ixodes ricinus nymphs in southern Scandinavia and the possible influence of meteorological factors. Zoonoses Public Health 2023; 70:473-484. [PMID: 37248739 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus ticks are Scandinavia's main vector for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which infects many people annually. The aims of the present study were (i) to obtain information on the TBEV prevalence in host-seeking I. ricinus collected within the Øresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak (ØKS) region, which lies in southern Norway, southern Sweden and Denmark; (ii) to analyse whether there are potential spatial patterns in the TBEV prevalence; and (iii) to understand the relationship between TBEV prevalence and meteorological factors in southern Scandinavia. Tick nymphs were collected in 2016, in southern Scandinavia, and screened for TBEV, using pools of 10 nymphs, with RT real-time PCR, and positive samples were confirmed with pyrosequencing. Spatial autocorrelation and cluster analysis was performed with Global Moran's I and SatScan to test for spatial patterns and potential local clusters of the TBEV pool prevalence at each of the 50 sites. A climatic analysis was made to correlate parameters such as minimum, mean and maximum temperature, relative humidity and saturation deficit with TBEV pool prevalence. The climatic data were acquired from the nearest meteorological stations for 2015 and 2016. This study confirms the presence of TBEV in 12 out of 30 locations in Denmark, where six were from Jutland, three from Zealand and two from Bornholm and Falster counties. In total, five out of nine sites were positive from southern Sweden. TBEV prevalence of 0.7%, 0.5% and 0.5%, in nymphs, was found at three sites along the Oslofjord (two sites) and northern Skåne region (one site), indicating a potential concern for public health. We report an overall estimated TBEV prevalence of 0.1% in questing I. ricinus nymphs in southern Scandinavia with a region-specific prevalence of 0.1% in Denmark, 0.2% in southern Sweden and 0.1% in southeastern Norway. No evidence of a spatial pattern or local clusters was found in the study region. We found a strong correlation between TBEV prevalence in ticks and relative humidity in Sweden and Norway, which might suggest that humidity has a role in maintaining TBEV prevalence in ticks. TBEV is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in southern Scandinavia, and we recommend further studies to understand the TBEV transmission potential with changing climate in Scandinavia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaka Lamsal
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin Skarsfjord Edgar
- Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
| | - Andrew Jenkins
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Hans Renssen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Lene Jung Kjaer
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Kristian Alfsnes
- Department of Bacteriology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srijana Bastakoti
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Malene Dieseth
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kirstine Klitgaard
- Department for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Katrine M Paulsen
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rose Vikse
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Korslund
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Vivian Kjelland
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
- Research Unit, Sørlandet Hospital Health Enterprise, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Petter Kjellander
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Christensson
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Malin Teräväinen
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Laura Mark Jensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Manoj Regmi
- Department of Data Science, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dhiraj Giri
- School of Arts, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | | | - René Bødker
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild Kristine Andreassen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Hansen MF, Sørensen PK, Sørensen AE, Krogfelt KA. Can protection motivation theory predict protective behavior against ticks? BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1214. [PMID: 37349761 PMCID: PMC10286392 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16125-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cases of reported tick-borne diseases in humans have increased over the past decades. Strategies informing the public about ticks, their associated diseases, and preventive measures are often highlighted as important in limiting pathogen transfer and disease. However, knowledge about the motivation for people to apply preventative measures is sparse. METHODS The aim was to examine if Protection Motivation Theory, a model of disease prevention and health promotion, can predict the use of protective measures against ticks. Ordinal logistic regression and Chi-square tests were used on data from a cross-sectional survey with respondents from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (n = 2658). We examined the effect of (1) the perceived seriousness of tick bites, Lyme borreliosis (LB), and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and (2) the perceived probability of getting a tick bite, Lyme borreliosis, and tick-borne encephalitis on protection against ticks. Finally, we examined if there was an association between the use of a protective measure and the perceived efficacy of that measure. RESULTS The perceived seriousness of a tick bite and LB significantly predict who is more likely to apply protective measures for all three countries combined. The perceived seriousness of TBE did not significantly predict the level of adoption of protective measures applied by respondents. The perceived likelihood of getting a tick bite within the next 12 months and the perceived likelihood of getting LB if bitten by a tick significantly predicted the application of protective measures. However, the increases in the likelihood of protection were very small. The application of a certain type of protection was always correlated with the perceived efficacy of the same protective measure. CONCLUSION Some variables of PMT may be used to predict the level of adoption of protection applied against ticks and tick-borne diseases. We found that the perceived seriousness of a tick bite and LB significantly predict the level of adoption protection. The perceived likelihood of getting a tick bite or LB also significantly predicted the level of adoption of protection, although the change was very small. The results regarding TBE were less clear. Lastly, there was an association between applying a protective measure and the perceived efficacy of the same measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Frimodt Hansen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, Roskilde, DK-4100 Denmark
| | - Pelle Korsbaek Sørensen
- Research Centre for Health Promotion, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Research and Development, Centre for Nursing, University College Absalon, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anja Elaine Sørensen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, Roskilde, DK-4100 Denmark
| | - Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, Roskilde, DK-4100 Denmark
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5
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Noll M, Wall R, Makepeace BL, Vineer HR. Distribution of ticks in the Western Palearctic: an updated systematic review (2015-2021). Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:141. [PMID: 37095583 PMCID: PMC10127368 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens are thought to have changed rapidly over the last two decades, with their ranges expanding into new regions. This expansion has been driven by a range of environmental and socio-economic factors, including climate change. Spatial modelling is being increasingly used to track the current and future distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens and to assess the associated disease risk. However, such analysis is dependent on high-resolution occurrence data for each species. To facilitate such analysis, in this review we have compiled georeferenced tick locations in the Western Palearctic, with a resolution accuracy under 10 km, that were reported between 2015 and 2021 METHODS: The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers documenting the distribution of ticks that were published between 2015 and 2021, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The papers were then screened and excluded in accordance with the PRISMA flow chart. Coordinate-referenced tick locations along with information on identification and collection methods were extracted from each eligible publication. Spatial analysis was conducted using R software (version 4.1.2). RESULTS From the 1491 papers identified during the initial search, 124 met the inclusion criteria, and from these, 2267 coordinate-referenced tick records from 33 tick species were included in the final dataset. Over 30% of articles did not record the tick location adequately to meet inclusion criteria, only providing a location name or general location. Among the tick records, Ixodes ricinus had the highest representation (55%), followed by Dermacentor reticulatus (22.1%) and Ixodes frontalis (4.8%). The majority of ticks were collected from vegetation, with only 19.1% collected from hosts. CONCLUSIONS The data presented provides a collection of recent high-resolution, coordinate-referenced tick locations for use in spatial analyses, which in turn can be used in combination with previously collated datasets to analyse the changes in tick distribution and research in the Western Palearctic. In the future it is recommended that, where data privacy rules allow, high-resolution methods are routinely used by researchers to geolocate tick samples and ensure their work can be used to its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Noll
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Richard Wall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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6
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Comparison of whole genomes of tick-borne encephalitis virus from mountainous alpine regions and regions with a lower altitude. Virus Genes 2021; 57:217-221. [PMID: 33486691 PMCID: PMC7985117 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-020-01821-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been a notifiable disease in Germany since 2001. Its causative agent, the TBE virus (TBEV), is the most important arbovirus in Europe and Northern Asia. The illness, caused by the European Subtype usually displays flu-like symptoms, but can result in sequelae and, in 2 % of all cases, in death. Over the last few decades, the virus has spread into new habitats, such as higher altitudes in the Alpine region. For this study, it was hypothesized that the environmental challenges that the virus might be exposed to at such altitudes could lead to the selection of viral strains with a higher resilience to such environmental factors. To determine whether strains identified at higher altitudes possessed different genetic traits compared to viruses from lower altitudes, an analysis of viral genomes from higher Alpine altitudes (> 500 m above sea level) (n = 5) and lower altitudes (< 500 m above sea level) (n = 4) was performed. No common phylogenetic ancestry or shared amino acid substitutions could be identified that differentiated the alpine from the lowland viral strains. These findings support the idea of many individual introductions of TBEV into the alpine region and the establishment of foci due to non-viral specific factors such as favorable conditions for vector species and host animals due to climate change.
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Agergaard CN, Rosenstierne MW, Bødker R, Rasmussen M, Andersen PHS, Fomsgaard A. New tick-borne encephalitis virus hot spot in Northern Zealand, Denmark, October 2019. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 31662158 PMCID: PMC6820129 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.43.1900639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
During summer 2019, three patients residing by Tisvilde Hegn, Denmark were hospitalised with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) after tick bites. A new TBE virus (TBEV) micro-focus was identified in tick nymphs collected around a playground in Tisvilde Hegn forest. Estimated TBEV prevalence was 8%, higher than in endemic areas around Europe. Whole genome sequencing showed clustering to a TBEV strain from Norway. This is the second time TBEV is found in Ixodes ricinus outside Bornholm, Denmark.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte N Agergaard
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maiken W Rosenstierne
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - René Bødker
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Rasmussen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter H S Andersen
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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8
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Bilgin Z, Turan N, Cizmecigil UY, Altan E, Esatgil MU, Yilmaz A, Aydin O, Kocazeybek B, Richt JA, Yilmaz H. Investigation of Vector-Borne Viruses in Ticks, Mosquitos, and Ruminants in the Thrace District of Turkey. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:670-679. [PMID: 32397953 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a considerable increase in vector-borne zoonotic diseases around the world, including Turkey, such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), tick borne encephalitis (TBE), Rift Valley fever (RVF), and West Nile fever (WNF), causing disease and death in humans and animals and significant economical losses. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of CCHF virus (CCHFV) and TBE virus (TBEV) in ticks and RVF virus (RVFV) and WNF virus (WNV) in mosquitos, as well as in sheep and cattle, in the Thrace district of the Marmara region, which borders Bulgaria and Greece. Buffy-coat samples from 86 cattle and 81 sheep, as well as 563 ticks and 7390 mosquitos, were collected and examined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR for the presence of CCHFV, TBEV, RVFV, and WNV. All buffy-coat samples from cattle and sheep were negative for these viruses. Similarly, all tick samples were negative for CCHFV-RNA and TBEV-RNA. Among 245 pools representing 7390 mosquitos, only 1 pool sample was found to be positive for WNV-RNA and was confirmed by sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it was WNV lineage-2. No RVFV-RNA was detected in the 245 mosquito pools. In conclusion, results of this study indicate that CCHFV, TBEV, and RVFV are not present in livestock and respective vectors in the Thrace district of Marmara region of Turkey, whereas WNV-RNA was found in mosquitos from this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahide Bilgin
- Department of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nuri Turan
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Utku Y Cizmecigil
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Eda Altan
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Meltem Ulutas Esatgil
- Department of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aysun Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozge Aydin
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bekir Kocazeybek
- Department of Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Juergen A Richt
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Huseyin Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
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9
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Vikse R, Paulsen KM, Edgar KS, H-O Pettersson J, Ottesen PS, Okbaldet YB, Kiran N, Lamsal A, Lindstedt HEH, Pedersen BN, Soleng A, Andreassen ÅK. Geographical distribution and prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks and phylogeographic structure of the Ixodes ricinus vector in Norway. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:370-381. [PMID: 32112526 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a zoonotic flaviviral infection, is endemic in large parts of Norway and Eurasia. Humans are mainly infected with TBEV via bites from infected ticks. In Norway, the main geographical distribution of ticks is along the Norwegian coastline from southeast (~59°N) and up to the southern parts of Nordland County (~65°N). In this study, we collected ticks by flagging along the coast from Østfold County to Nordland County. By whole-genome sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of Ixodes ricinus, the phylogenetic tree suggests that there is limited phylogeographic structure both in Norway and in Europe. The overall TBEV prevalence is 0.3% for nymphs and 4.3% for adults. The highest estimated TBEV prevalence in adult ticks was detected in Rogaland and Vestfold County, while for nymphs it is highest in Vestfold, Vest-Agder and Rogaland. The present work is one of the largest studies on distribution and prevalence of TBEV in ticks in Scandinavia, showing that the virus is wider distributed in Norway than previously anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Vikse
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katrine M Paulsen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin Skarsfjord Edgar
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - John H-O Pettersson
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Modelling, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology/Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Preben Skrede Ottesen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yohannes Bein Okbaldet
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nosheen Kiran
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alaka Lamsal
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,University of South East Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - Heidi Elisabeth H Lindstedt
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Benedikte Nevjen Pedersen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,University of South East Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,University of South East Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
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Smura T, Tonteri E, Jääskeläinen A, von Troil G, Kuivanen S, Huitu O, Kareinen L, Uusitalo J, Uusitalo R, Hannila-Handelberg T, Voutilainen L, Nikkari S, Sironen T, Sane J, Castrén J, Vapalahti O. Recent establishment of tick-borne encephalitis foci with distinct viral lineages in the Helsinki area, Finland. Emerg Microbes Infect 2019; 8:675-683. [PMID: 31084456 PMCID: PMC6522972 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1612279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases has increased and new foci have emerged in Finland during the last decade. We evaluated risk for locally acquired TBE in the capital region inhabited by 1.2 million people. We screened ticks and small mammals from probable places of TBE virus (TBEV) transmission and places without reported circulation. The TBEV positive samples were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Within the study period 2007–2017, there was a clear increase of both all TBE cases and locally acquired cases in the Helsinki area. The surveillance of ticks and small mammals for TBEV confirmed four distinct TBEV foci in the Helsinki area. All detected TBEV strains were of the European subtype. TBEV genome sequences indicated that distinct TBEV lineages circulate in each focus. Molecular clock analysis suggested that the virus lineages were introduced to these foci decades ago. In conclusion, TBE has emerged in the mainland of Helsinki area during the last decade, with at least four distinct virus lineages independently introduced into the region previously. Although the overall annual TBE incidence is below the threshold for recommending general vaccinations, the situation requires further surveillance to detect and prevent possible further emergence of local TBE clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teemu Smura
- a Department of Virology , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.,b Division of Clinical Microbiology , Helsinki University Hospital Laboratory Services (HUSLAB) , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Elina Tonteri
- c Centers for Military Medicine and Biothreat Preparedness , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Anu Jääskeläinen
- b Division of Clinical Microbiology , Helsinki University Hospital Laboratory Services (HUSLAB) , Helsinki , Finland
| | | | - Suvi Kuivanen
- a Department of Virology , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Otso Huitu
- e Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Lauri Kareinen
- a Department of Virology , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Joni Uusitalo
- a Department of Virology , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Ruut Uusitalo
- a Department of Virology , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.,f Department of Geosciences and Geography , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.,g Department of Veterinary Biosciences , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
| | | | - Liina Voutilainen
- c Centers for Military Medicine and Biothreat Preparedness , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Simo Nikkari
- c Centers for Military Medicine and Biothreat Preparedness , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Tarja Sironen
- a Department of Virology , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Jussi Sane
- h Department of Health Security, Infectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit , National Institute for Health and Welfare , Helsinki , Finland
| | | | - Olli Vapalahti
- a Department of Virology , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.,b Division of Clinical Microbiology , Helsinki University Hospital Laboratory Services (HUSLAB) , Helsinki , Finland.,g Department of Veterinary Biosciences , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
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11
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Boelke M, Bestehorn M, Marchwald B, Kubinski M, Liebig K, Glanz J, Schulz C, Dobler G, Monazahian M, Becker SC. First Isolation and Phylogenetic Analyses of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Lower Saxony, Germany. Viruses 2019; 11:E462. [PMID: 31117224 PMCID: PMC6563265 DOI: 10.3390/v11050462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important tick-borne arboviral disease in Europe. Presently, the main endemic regions in Germany are located in the southern half of the country. Although recently, sporadic human TBE cases were reported outside of these known endemic regions. The detection and characterization of invading TBE virus (TBEV) strains will considerably facilitate the surveillance and assessment of this important disease. In 2018, ticks were collected by flagging in several locations of the German federal state of Lower Saxony where TBEV-infections in humans (diagnosed clinical TBE disease or detection of TBEV antibodies) were reported previously. Ticks were pooled according to their developmental stage and tested for TBEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. Five of 730 (0.68%) pools from Ixodes spp. ticks collected in the areas of "Rauher Busch" and "Barsinghausen/Mooshuette" were found positive for TBEV-RNA. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole genomes and E gene sequences revealed a close relationship between the two TBEV isolates, which cluster with a TBEV strain from Poland isolated in 1971. This study provides first data on the phylogeny of TBEV in the German federal state of Lower Saxony, outside of the known TBE endemic areas of Germany. Our results support the hypothesis of an east-west invasion of TBEV strains in Western Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Boelke
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Malena Bestehorn
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Microbiology of the Bundeswehr, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Birgit Marchwald
- The Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (NLGA), Roesebeckstraße 4-6, 30449 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Mareike Kubinski
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Katrin Liebig
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Julien Glanz
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Claudia Schulz
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Microbiology of the Bundeswehr, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Masyar Monazahian
- The Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (NLGA), Roesebeckstraße 4-6, 30449 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Stefanie C Becker
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
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