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García-Carrasco JM, Muñoz AR, Olivero J, Figuerola J, Fa JE, Real R. Gone (and spread) with the birds: Can chorotype analysis highlight the spread of West Nile virus within the Afro-Palaearctic flyway? One Health 2023; 17:100585. [PMID: 37359749 PMCID: PMC10285635 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100585] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a globally significant vector-borne disease that is primarily transmitted between birds and mosquitoes. Recently, there has been an increase in WNV in southern Europe, with new cases reported in more northern regions. Bird migration plays a crucial role in the introduction of WNV in distant areas. To better understand and address this complex issue, we adopted a One Health approach, integrating clinical, zoological, and ecological data. We analyzed the role of migratory birds in the Palaearctic-African region in the spread of WNV across Africa and Europe. We categorized bird species into breeding and wintering chorotypes based on their distribution during the breeding season in the Western Palaearctic and the wintering season in the Afrotropical region, respectively. By linking these chorotypes to the occurrence of WNV outbreaks in both continents throughout the annual bird migration cycle, we investigated the relationship between migratory patterns and virus spread. We demonstrate that WNV-risk areas are interconnected through the migration of birds. We identified a total of 61 species that potentially contribute to the intercontinental spread of the virus or its variants, as well as pinpointed high-risk areas for future outbreaks. This interdisciplinary approach, which considers the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and ecosystems, represents a pioneering effort to establish connections between zoonotic diseases across continents. The findings of our study can aid in anticipating the arrival of new WNV strains and predicting the occurrence of other re-emerging diseases. By incorporating various disciplines, we can enhance our understanding of these complex dynamics and provide valuable insights for proactive and comprehensive disease management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- José-María García-Carrasco
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Antonio-Román Muñoz
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Jesús Olivero
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto IBYDA, Centro de Experimentación Grice-Hutchinson, Malaga, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana – CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Julia E. Fa
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Raimundo Real
- Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto IBYDA, Centro de Experimentación Grice-Hutchinson, Malaga, Spain
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2
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Manzi S, Nelli L, Fortuna C, Severini F, Toma L, Di Luca M, Michelutti A, Bertola M, Gradoni F, Toniolo F, Sgubin S, Lista F, Pazienza M, Montarsi F, Pombi M. A modified BG-Sentinel trap equipped with FTA card as a novel tool for mosquito-borne disease surveillance: a field test for flavivirus detection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12840. [PMID: 37553350 PMCID: PMC10409816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39857-1] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Early detection of pathogens in vectors is important in preventing the spread of arboviral diseases, providing a timely indicator of pathogen circulation before outbreaks occur. However, entomological surveillance may face logistical constraints, such as maintaining the cold chain, and resource limitations, such as the field and laboratory workload of mosquito processing. We propose an FTA card-based trapping system that aims to simplify both field and laboratory phases of arbovirus surveillance. We modified a BG-Sentinel trap to include a mosquito collection chamber and a sugar feeding source through an FTA card soaked in a long-lasting viscous solution of honey and hydroxy-cellulose hydrogel. The FTA card ensures environmental preservation of nucleic acids, allowing continuous collection and feeding activity of specimens for several days and reducing the effort required for viral detection. We tested the trap prototype during two field seasons (2019 and 2021) in North-eastern Italy and compared it to CDC-CO2 trapping applied in West Nile and Usutu virus regional surveillance. Collections by the BG-FTA approach detected high species diversity, including Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus, Culex modestus, Anopheles maculipennis sensu lato and Ochlerotatus caspius. When used for two-days sampling, the BG-FTA trap performed equally to CDC also for the WNV-major vector Cx. pipiens. The FTA cards detected both WNV and USUV, confirming the reliability of this novel approach to detect viral circulation in infectious mosquitoes. We recommend this surveillance approach as a particularly useful alternative in multi-target surveillance, for sampling in remote areas and in contexts characterized by high mosquito densities and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Manzi
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Nelli
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Claudia Fortuna
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Severini
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Toma
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M Di Luca
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Michelutti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Michela Bertola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
| | | | - Federica Toniolo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Sofia Sgubin
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Florigio Lista
- Istituto di Scienze Biomediche Della Difesa, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Marco Pombi
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
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3
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Santos PD, Günther A, Keller M, Homeier-Bachmann T, Groschup MH, Beer M, Höper D, Ziegler U. An advanced sequence clustering and designation workflow reveals the enzootic maintenance of a dominant West Nile virus subclade in Germany. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead013. [PMID: 37197362 PMCID: PMC10184446 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is the most widespread arthropod-borne (arbo) virus and the primary cause of arboviral encephalitis globally. Members of WNV species genetically diverged and are classified into different hierarchical groups below species rank. However, the demarcation criteria for allocating WNV sequences into these groups remain individual and inconsistent, and the use of names for different levels of the hierarchical levels is unstructured. In order to have an objective and comprehensible grouping of WNV sequences, we developed an advanced grouping workflow using the 'affinity propagation clustering' algorithm and newly included the 'agglomerative hierarchical clustering' algorithm for the allocation of WNV sequences into different groups below species rank. In addition, we propose to use a fixed set of terms for the hierarchical naming of WNV below species level and a clear decimal numbering system to label the determined groups. For validation, we applied the refined workflow to WNV sequences that have been previously grouped into various lineages, clades, and clusters in other studies. Although our workflow regrouped some WNV sequences, overall, it generally corresponds with previous groupings. We employed our novel approach to the sequences from the WNV circulation in Germany 2020, primarily from WNV-infected birds and horses. Besides two newly defined minor (sub)clusters comprising only three sequences each, Subcluster 2.5.3.4.3c was the predominant WNV sequence group detected in Germany from 2018 to 2020. This predominant subcluster was also associated with at least five human WNV infections in 2019-20. In summary, our analyses imply that the genetic diversity of the WNV population in Germany is shaped by enzootic maintenance of the dominant WNV subcluster accompanied by sporadic incursions of other rare clusters and subclusters. Moreover, we show that our refined approach for sequence grouping yields meaningful results. Although we primarily aimed at a more detailed WNV classification, the presented workflow can also be applied to the objective genotyping of other virus species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Markus Keller
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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4
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Barzon L, Pacenti M, Montarsi F, Fornasiero D, Gobbo F, Quaranta E, Monne I, Fusaro A, Volpe A, Sinigaglia A, Riccetti S, Molin ED, Satto S, Lisi V, Gobbi F, Galante S, Feltrin G, Valeriano V, Favero L, Russo F, Mazzucato M, Bortolami A, Mulatti P, Terregino C, Capelli G. Rapid spread of a new West Nile virus lineage 1 associated with increased risk of neuroinvasive disease during a large outbreak in northern Italy, 2022: One Health analysis. J Travel Med 2022:taac125. [PMID: 36331269 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taac125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A new strain of WNV lineage 1 (WNV - 1) emerged in the Veneto Region, northern Italy, in 2021, eight years after the last outbreak of WNV - 1 in Italy. The virus, which co-circulates with WNV-2, has become endemic in the Region, where, in 2022, most human cases of neuroinvasive disease (WNND) reported in Europe have occurred. METHODS Comparative analysis of the epidemiology and clinical presentation of WNV-1 and WNV-2 infection in humans, as well as the temporal and geographic distribution of WNV-1 and WNV-2 among wild birds and Culex pipiens mosquitoes in Veneto, from May 16th to August 21st, 2022, to determine if the high number of WNND cases was associated with WNV-1. RESULTS As of August 21st, 2022, 222 human cases of WNV infection were confirmed by molecular testing, including 103 with fever (WNF) and 119 with WNND. WNV lineage was determined in 201 (90.5%) cases, comprising 138 WNV-1 and 63 WNV-2 infections. During the same period, 35 blood donors tested positive, including 30 in whom WNV lineage was determined (13 WNV-1 and 17 WNV-2). Comparative analysis of the distribution of WNV-1 and WNV-2 infections among WNND cases, WNF cases and WNV-positive blood donors showed that patients with WNND were more likely to have WNV-1 infection than blood donors (odds ratio 3.44; 95% CI 95% 1.54 to 8.24; p = 0.0043). As observed in humans, in wild birds WNV-1 had higher infectious rate (IR) and showed a more rapid expansion than WNV-2. At variance, the distribution of the two lineages was more even in mosquitoes, but with a trend of rapid increase of WNV-1 IR over WNV-2. CONCLUSIONS Comparative analysis of WNV-1 vs WNV-2 infection in humans, wild birds, and mosquitos showed a rapid expansion of WNV-1 and suggested that WNV-1 infected patients might have an increased risk to develop severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Monia Pacenti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Diletta Fornasiero
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Federica Gobbo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Erika Quaranta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Isabella Monne
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Alice Fusaro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Andrea Volpe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sinigaglia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Riccetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Dal Molin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Sorsha Satto
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Vittoria Lisi
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Federico Gobbi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
| | - Silvia Galante
- UOC Medicina Trasfusionale, ULSS 6 Sede di Camposampiero, Azienda ULSS6 Euganea, via Cosma, 1 - Camposampiero (PD), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Feltrin
- Regional Transplant Centre, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Valerio Valeriano
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione - AULSS 6 Euganea; Servizio di Igiene e Sanità Pubblica, UOSD Epidemiologia e Ambiente, Via Ospedale Civile, 22, 35100 - Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Favero
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare, Veterinaria, Regione Veneto, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Novo - 30123 Venezia, Italy
| | - Francesca Russo
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare, Veterinaria, Regione Veneto, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Novo - 30123 Venezia, Italy
| | - Matteo Mazzucato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Alessio Bortolami
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Paolo Mulatti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Calogero Terregino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10 - Legnaro (PD), Italy
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5
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Barzon L, Montarsi F, Quaranta E, Monne I, Pacenti M, Michelutti A, Toniolo F, Danesi P, Marchetti G, Gobbo F, Sinigaglia A, Riccetti S, Dal Molin E, Favero L, Russo F, Capelli G. Early start of seasonal transmission and co-circulation of West Nile virus lineage 2 and a newly introduced lineage 1 strain, northern Italy, June 2022. EURO SURVEILLANCE : BULLETIN EUROPEEN SUR LES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES = EUROPEAN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE BULLETIN 2022; 27. [PMID: 35866436 PMCID: PMC9306260 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.29.2200548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In spring 2022, Europe faced an unprecedented heatwave, increasing the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks. As early as 7 June 2022, WNV was detected in Culex mosquitoes in northern Italy, and - in the following days - in two blood donors, a patient with encephalitis, wild birds and additional mosquito pools. Genome sequencing demonstrated co-circulation of WNV lineage 2 and a newly introduced WNV lineage 1, which was discovered in the region in 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Barzon
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padua, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Erika Quaranta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Isabella Monne
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Monia Pacenti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Alice Michelutti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Toniolo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Danesi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Giulio Marchetti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Gobbo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Riccetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Laura Favero
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare, Veterinaria, Regione del Veneto, Venice, Italy
| | - Francesca Russo
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare, Veterinaria, Regione del Veneto, Venice, Italy
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
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6
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Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Napp S, Llorente F, Solano-Manrique C, Molina-López R, Obón E, Solé A, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Fernández-Pinero J, Busquets N. West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Spreads Westwards in Europe and Overwinters in North-Eastern Spain (2017–2020). Viruses 2022; 14:v14030569. [PMID: 35336976 PMCID: PMC8951896 DOI: 10.3390/v14030569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus lineage 2 (WNV-L2) emerged in Europe in 2004; since then, it has spread across the continent, causing outbreaks in humans and animals. During 2017 and 2020, WNV-L2 was detected and isolated from four northern goshawks in two provinces of Catalonia (north-eastern Spain). In order to characterise the first Spanish WNV-L2 isolates and elucidate the potential overwintering of the virus in this Mediterranean region, complete genome sequencing, phylogenetic analyses, and a study of phenotypic characterisation were performed. Our results showed that these Spanish isolates belonged to the central-southern WNV-L2 clade. In more detail, they were related to the Lombardy cluster that emerged in Italy in 2013 and has been able to spread westwards, causing outbreaks in France (2018) and Spain (2017 and 2020). Phenotypic characterisation performed in vitro showed that these isolates presented characteristics corresponding to strains of moderate to high virulence. All these findings evidence that these WNV-L2 strains have been able to circulate and overwinter in the region, and are pathogenic, at least in northern goshawks, which seem to be very susceptible to WNV infection and may be good indicators of WNV-L2 circulation. Due to the increasing number of human and animal cases in Europe in the last years, this zoonotic flavivirus should be kept under extensive surveillance, following a One-Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Aguilera-Sepúlveda
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain; (P.A.-S.); (F.L.); (M.Á.J.-C.)
| | - Sebastián Napp
- Unitat Mixta d’Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Llorente
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain; (P.A.-S.); (F.L.); (M.Á.J.-C.)
| | - Carlos Solano-Manrique
- Centre de Fauna de Vallcalent, Àrea de Gestió Ambiental Servei de Fauna i Flora, Forestal Catalana, 25199 Lleida, Spain;
| | - Rafael Molina-López
- Centre de Fauna de Torreferrussa, Àrea de Gestió Ambiental Servei de Fauna i Flora, Forestal Catalana, 08130 Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Spain; (R.M.-L.); (E.O.)
| | - Elena Obón
- Centre de Fauna de Torreferrussa, Àrea de Gestió Ambiental Servei de Fauna i Flora, Forestal Catalana, 08130 Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Spain; (R.M.-L.); (E.O.)
| | - Alba Solé
- Departament d’Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural, 08007 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain; (P.A.-S.); (F.L.); (M.Á.J.-C.)
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jovita Fernández-Pinero
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain; (P.A.-S.); (F.L.); (M.Á.J.-C.)
- Correspondence: (J.F.-P.); (N.B.)
| | - Núria Busquets
- Unitat Mixta d’Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.F.-P.); (N.B.)
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7
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Barzon L, Gobbi F, Capelli G, Montarsi F, Martini S, Riccetti S, Sinigaglia A, Pacenti M, Pavan G, Rassu M, Padovan MT, Manfrin V, Zanella F, Russo F, Foglia F, Lazzarini L. Autochthonous dengue outbreak in Italy 2020: clinical, virological and entomological findings. J Travel Med 2021; 28:6354471. [PMID: 34409443 PMCID: PMC8499737 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taab130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In August 2020, in the context of COVID-19 pandemics, an autochthonous dengue outbreak was identified for the first time in Italy. METHODS Following the reporting of the index case of autochthonous dengue, epidemiological investigation, vector control and substances of human origin safety measures were immediately activated, according to the national arbovirus surveillance plan. Dengue cases were followed-up with weekly visits and laboratory tests until recovery and clearance of viral RNA from blood. RESULTS The primary dengue case was identified in a young woman, who developed fever after returning from Indonesia to northern Italy, on 27 July 2020. She spent the mandatory quarantine for COVID-19 at home with relatives, six of whom developed dengue within two weeks. Epidemiological investigation identified further five autochthonous dengue cases among people who lived or stayed near the residence of the primary case. The last case of the outbreak developed fever on 29 September 2020. Dengue cases had a mild febrile illness, except one with persistent asthenia and myalgia. DENV-1 RNA was detected in blood and/or urine in all autochthonous cases, up to 35 days after fever onset. All cases developed IgM and IgG antibodies which cross-reacted with West Nile virus (WNV) and other flaviviruses. Sequencing of the full viral genome from blood samples showed over 99% nucleotide identity with DENV-1 strains isolated in China in 2014-2015; phylogenetic analysis classified the virus within Genotype I. Entomological site inspection identified a high density of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which conceivably sustained local DENV-1 transmission. Aedes koreicus mosquitoes were also collected in the site. CONCLUSIONS Areas in Europe with high density of Aedes mosquitoes should be considered at risk for dengue transmission. The presence of endemic flaviviruses, such as WNV, might pose problems in the laboratory diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Barzon
- Veneto Region Arbovirosis Task Force, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venezia, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy.,Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Federico Gobbi
- Veneto Region Arbovirosis Task Force, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venezia, Italy.,Department of Infectious/Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Luigi Rizzardi 4, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Veneto Region Arbovirosis Task Force, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venezia, Italy.,Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Veneto Region Arbovirosis Task Force, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venezia, Italy.,Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Martini
- Veneto Region Arbovirosis Task Force, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venezia, Italy.,Entostudio s.r.l., Viale del Lavoro, 66, 35020 Ponte San Nicolò, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Riccetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sinigaglia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Monia Pacenti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Giacomina Pavan
- Department of Microbiology, St. Bortolo Hospital, Viale Ferdinando Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
| | - Mario Rassu
- Department of Microbiology, St. Bortolo Hospital, Viale Ferdinando Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Padovan
- Department of Public Health, Azienda AULSS8 Berica, Viale Ferdinando Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
| | - Vinicio Manfrin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Bortolo Hospital, Viale Ferdinando Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
| | - Francesca Zanella
- Veneto Region Arbovirosis Task Force, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venezia, Italy.,Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare Veterinaria, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venice, Italy
| | - Francesca Russo
- Veneto Region Arbovirosis Task Force, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venezia, Italy.,Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare Veterinaria, Dorsoduro, 3493 - Rio Nuovo - 30123 Venice, Italy
| | - Felice Foglia
- Department of Public Health, Azienda AULSS8 Berica, Viale Ferdinando Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
| | - Luca Lazzarini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Bortolo Hospital, Viale Ferdinando Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
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8
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Erdogan Bamac O, Cizmecigil UY, Mete A, Yilmaz A, Aydin O, Tali HE, Tali BH, Yilmaz SG, Gurel A, Turan N, Ozsoy S, Vatansever Celik E, Sadeyen JR, Roman-Sosa G, Iqbal M, Richt JA, Yilmaz H. Emergence of West Nile Virus Lineage-2 in Resident Corvids in Istanbul, Turkey. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:892-899. [PMID: 34748405 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile fever is a vector-borne viral disease affecting animals and humans causing significant health and economic problems globally. This study was aimed at investigating circulating West Nile virus (WNV) strains in free-ranging corvids in Istanbul, Turkey. Brain, liver, and kidney were collected from corvids (n = 34) between June 2019 and April 2020 and analyzed for the presence of WNV-specific RNA by quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations were also performed. Samples found to be positive by qRT-PCR were partially sequenced. WNV-specific RNA was detected in 8 of 34 corvids analyzed, which included 7 hooded crows (Corvus cornix) and 1 Eurasian magpie (Pica pica). Phylogenetic analysis based on partial WNV sequences from the 8 WNV-positive corvids identified in this study revealed that all sequences clustered within the WNV lineage-2; they were at least 97% homologues to WNV lineage-2 sequences from Slovakia, Italy, Czechia, Hungary, Senegal, Austria, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Germany. WNV sequences showed a divergence (87.94-94.46%) from sequences reported from Romania, Central African Republic, South Africa, Madagascar, Israel, and Cyprus, which clustered into a different clade of WNV lineage-2. Common histopathologic findings of WNV-positive corvids included lymphoplasmacytic hepatitis, myocarditis, and splenitis. The liver and heart were found to be the tissues most consistently positive for WNV-specific antigen by immunohistochemistry, followed by the kidney and brain. This study demonstrates for the first time the existence of WNV virus belonging to the genetic lineage-2 in resident corvids in Istanbul, Turkey. We hypothesize that the WNV strains circulating in Istanbul are possibly the result of a spillover event from Europe. Since WNV is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by mosquito vectors, the emergence of WNV in Istanbul also poses a risk to humans and other susceptible animals in this densely populated city and needs to be addressed by animal and public health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozge Erdogan Bamac
- Department of Pathology, and Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Utku Y Cizmecigil
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Asli Mete
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis Branch, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Aysun Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozge Aydin
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hasan E Tali
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Besim H Tali
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Semaha G Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aydin Gurel
- Department of Pathology, and Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nuri Turan
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serhat Ozsoy
- Department of Wild Animals and Ecology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Vatansever Celik
- Department of Wild Animals and Ecology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jean-Remy Sadeyen
- Avian Influenza Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, United Kingdom
| | - Gleyder Roman-Sosa
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Munir Iqbal
- Avian Influenza Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, United Kingdom
| | - Juergen A Richt
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Huseyin Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
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9
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Macaluso G, Gucciardi F, Guercio A, Blanda V, La Russa F, Torina A, Mira F, Bella SD, Lastra A, Giacchino I, Castronovo C, Vitale G, Purpari G. First neuroinvasive human case of West Nile Disease in Southern Italy: Results of the 'One Health' approach. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:2463-2472. [PMID: 34505400 PMCID: PMC8604128 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background West Nile Disease (WND) is a zoonotic mosquito‐borne infection involving viral pathogens, human and animal hosts, vectors and environment. Cooperation among medical, veterinary and entomological fields has been promoted by the Italian Public Health Authorities, and an integrated West Nile Virus (WNV) Surveillance Plan has been in force in Italy since 2016 to prevent the transmission risk of WND to humans through an early detection of viral circulation by animal and entomological surveillance. This managing model is unique in Europe. Objectives This survey aimed at presenting the ‘One Health’ approach applied in 2016 to the first autochthonous human case of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND) in Sicily (Southern Italy). Methods Serological (anti‐WNV IgM and IgG ELISA, anti‐WNV neutralizing antibodies) and molecular tests were conducted on blood, liquor and urine of a 38‐year‐old man with encephalitis and meningitis. Overall, 2704 adult culicides from 160 mosquito catches were morphologically identified. Female mosquitoes were analysed in pools for WNV RNA detection. Serological (anti‐WNV IgM and IgG ELISA) and molecular analyses for WNV were carried out in 11 horses, 271 chickens and two dogs sampled in farms around the man's residence. Results and conclusions WNND was confirmed by serological analysis on patient's liquor and serum. Collected mosquito species included Culex pipiens (93.56%, CI95% 92.64%–94.49%), Aedes albopictus (5.25%, CI95% 4.41%–6.09%), Culex hortensis (0.59%, CI95% 0.30%–0.88%), Culiseta longiareolata (0.55%, CI95% 0.27%–0.83%) and Anopheles maculipennis s.l. (0.04%, CI95% –0.04% to 0.11%). Mosquito pools were negative for WNV RNA. Two dogs (100%) and two horses (18.18%, CI95% –4.61 to 40.97%) resulted positive for anti‐WNV specific antibodies. The ‘One Health’ approach allowed to report the first human neuroinvasive WND in Sicily and to confirm the local circulation of WNV in animals of the same area where the clinical case occurred, defining the autochthonous origin of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusi Macaluso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Gucciardi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Annalisa Guercio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Blanda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco La Russa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Torina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Mira
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Santina Di Bella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Lastra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Ilenia Giacchino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Calogero Castronovo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
| | - Giustina Vitale
- U.O. Dipartimento Diagnostica Specialistica Patologie Diffusive, Regional Reference Center for diseases transmitted by arthropods, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Purpari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri", Palermo, Italy
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10
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Contrasted Epidemiological Patterns of West Nile Virus Lineages 1 and 2 Infections in France from 2015 to 2019. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110908. [PMID: 33143300 PMCID: PMC7692118 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2015, annual West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks of varying intensities have been reported in France. Recent intensification of enzootic WNV circulation was observed in the South of France with most horse cases detected in 2015 (n = 49), 2018 (n = 13), and 2019 (n = 13). A WNV lineage 1 strain was isolated from a horse suffering from West Nile neuro-invasive disease (WNND) during the 2015 episode in the Camargue area. A breaking point in WNV epidemiology was achieved in 2018, when WNV lineage 2 emerged in Southeastern areas. This virus most probably originated from WNV spread from Northern Italy and caused WNND in humans and the death of diurnal raptors. WNV lineage 2 emergence was associated with the most important human WNV epidemics identified so far in France (n = 26, including seven WNND cases and two infections in blood and organ donors). Two other major findings were the detection of WNV in areas with no or limited history of WNV circulation (Alpes-Maritimes in 2018, Corsica in 2018–2019, and Var in 2019) and distinct spatial distribution of human and horse WNV cases. These new data reinforce the necessity to enhance French WNV surveillance to better anticipate future WNV epidemics and epizootics and to improve the safety of blood and organ donations.
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11
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Guerrero-Carvajal F, Bravo-Barriga D, Martín-Cuervo M, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Ferraguti M, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Llorente F, Alonso JM, Frontera E. Serological evidence of co-circulation of West Nile and Usutu viruses in equids from western Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:1432-1444. [PMID: 32853452 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne emerging virus in Europe with capacity to cause neurological complications such as encephalitis or meningoencephalitis in humans, birds or equids. In Spain, WNV is actively circulating in mosquitoes, birds and horses in different regions, but never has been deeply studied in Extremadura. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV in equids of those areas and to analyse the risk factors associated with exposure to the virus. A total of 199 out of 725 equids presented antibodies against WNV by competition ELISA (27.45%), while 22 were doubtful (3.03%). Anti-WNV IgM antibodies were detected in 16 equids (2.21%), and 3 animals were doubtful (0.41%). All ELISA-reactive positive/doubtful sera (N = 226) were further tested by micro-virus neutralization test (VNT), and a total of 143 horses were confirmed as positive for WNV, obtaining a seroprevalence of 19.72% in equids of western Spain. In addition, specific antibodies against USUV were confirmed in 11 equids. In 24 equids, a specific flavivirus species (detected by ELISA test) could not be determined. The generalized linear mixed-effects models showed that the significant risk factors associated with individual WNV infection in equids were the age (adults) and hair coat colour (light), whereas in USUV infections, it was the breed (pure). Data demonstrated that WNV and USUV are circulating in regions of western Spain. Given the high WNV seroprevalence found in equids from the studied areas, it is important to improve the surveillance programmes of public health to detect undiagnosed human cases and to establish a vaccination programme in equid herds in these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
| | - María Martín-Cuervo
- Animal Medicine Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
| | - Pilar Aguilera-Sepúlveda
- Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martina Ferraguti
- Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology Department, Science Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Badajoz, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero
- Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Llorente
- Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Alonso
- Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
| | - Eva Frontera
- Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
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12
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Popescu CP, Florescu SA, Ruta SM. West Nile virus in Central Europe - Pandora's box is wide open! Travel Med Infect Dis 2020; 37:101864. [PMID: 32861859 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Corneliu Petru Popescu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Dr Victor Babes Clinical Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Simin Aysel Florescu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Dr Victor Babes Clinical Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Simona Maria Ruta
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
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13
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Pacenti M, Sinigaglia A, Martello T, De Rui ME, Franchin E, Pagni S, Peta E, Riccetti S, Milani A, Montarsi F, Capelli G, Doroldi CG, Bigolin F, Santelli L, Nardetto L, Zoccarato M, Barzon L. Clinical and virological findings in patients with Usutu virus infection, northern Italy, 2018. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 31771697 PMCID: PMC6885746 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.47.1900180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BackgroundUsutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, which shares its transmission cycle with the phylogenetically related West Nile virus (WNV). USUV circulates in several European countries and its activity has increased over the last 5 years.AimTo describe human cases of USUV infection identified by surveillance for WNV and USUV infection in the Veneto Region of northern Italy in 2018.MethodsFrom 1 June to 30 November 2018, all cases of suspected autochthonous arbovirus infection and blood donors who had a reactive WNV nucleic acid test were investigated for both WNV and USUV infection by in-house molecular methods. Anti-WNV and anti-USUV IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA and in-house immunofluorescence assay, respectively; positive serum samples were further tested by WNV and USUV neutralisation assays run in parallel.ResultsEight cases of USUV infection (one with neuroinvasive disease, six with fever and one viraemic blood donor who developed arthralgia and myalgia) and 427 cases of WNV infection were identified. A remarkable finding of this study was the persistence of USUV RNA in the blood and urine of three patients during follow-up. USUV genome sequences from two patients shared over 99% nt identity with USUV sequences detected in mosquito pools from the same area and clustered within lineage Europe 2.ConclusionsClinical presentation and laboratory findings in patients with USUV infection were similar to those found in patients with WNV infection. Cross-reactivity of serology and molecular tests challenged the differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monia Pacenti
- These authors contributed equally as first authors.,Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padua University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sinigaglia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,These authors contributed equally as first authors
| | | | | | - Elisa Franchin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,These authors contributed equally as first authors
| | - Silvana Pagni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,These authors contributed equally as first authors
| | - Elektra Peta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Riccetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Adelaide Milani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Bigolin
- Medicine Unit, Camposampiero Hospital, Azienda ULSS 6 Euganea, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Santelli
- Neurology Department, Ospedale S. Antonio, Azienda ULSS 6 Euganea, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Nardetto
- Neurology Department, Ospedale S. Antonio, Azienda ULSS 6 Euganea, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Zoccarato
- Neurology Department, Ospedale S. Antonio, Azienda ULSS 6 Euganea, Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,These authors contributed equally as first authors
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14
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Pacenti M, Sinigaglia A, Franchin E, Pagni S, Lavezzo E, Montarsi F, Capelli G, Barzon L. Human West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Infection: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Virological Findings. Viruses 2020; 12:v12040458. [PMID: 32325716 PMCID: PMC7232435 DOI: 10.3390/v12040458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 is expanding and causing large outbreaks in Europe. In this study, we analyzed the epidemiological, clinical, and virological features of WNV lineage 2 infection during the large outbreak that occurred in northern Italy in 2018. The study population included 86 patients with neuroinvasive disease (WNND), 307 with fever (WNF), and 34 blood donors. Phylogenetic analysis of WNV full genome sequences from patients’ samples showed that the virus belonged to the widespread central/southern European clade of WNV lineage 2 and was circulating in the area at least since 2014. The incidence of WNND and WNF progressively increased with age and was higher in males than in females. Among WNND patients, the case fatality rate was 22%. About 70% of blood donors reported symptoms during follow-up. Within the first week after symptom onset, WNV RNA was detectable in the blood or urine of 80% of patients, while 20% and 40% of WNND and WNF patients, respectively, were WNV IgM-seronegative. In CSF samples of WNND patients, WNV RNA was typically detectable when WNV IgM antibodies were absent. Blunted or no WNV IgM response and high WNV IgG levels were observed in seven patients with previous flavivirus immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monia Pacenti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, I-35128 Padova, Italy; (M.P.); (E.F.); (S.P.)
| | - Alessandro Sinigaglia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, I-35121 Padova, Italy; (A.S.); (E.L.)
| | - Elisa Franchin
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, I-35128 Padova, Italy; (M.P.); (E.F.); (S.P.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, I-35121 Padova, Italy; (A.S.); (E.L.)
| | - Silvana Pagni
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, I-35128 Padova, Italy; (M.P.); (E.F.); (S.P.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, I-35121 Padova, Italy; (A.S.); (E.L.)
| | - Enrico Lavezzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, I-35121 Padova, Italy; (A.S.); (E.L.)
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, I-35020 Legnaro PD, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.)
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, I-35020 Legnaro PD, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.)
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, I-35128 Padova, Italy; (M.P.); (E.F.); (S.P.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, I-35121 Padova, Italy; (A.S.); (E.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8218946
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15
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Christova I, Papa A, Trifonova I, Panayotova E, Pappa S, Mikov O. West Nile virus lineage 2 in humans and mosquitoes in Bulgaria, 2018-2019. J Clin Virol 2020; 127:104365. [PMID: 32305885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2, and especially the Hungarian clade, predominates in Europe. Most of the Hungarian clade strains cluster into 2 groups: Central/South-West European and Balkan. OBJECTIVES Since there was not any study on WNV in mosquitoes in Bulgaria, the present study was designed to test Culex spp. mosquitoes in areas near the Danube river. The aim of the study was to gain an insight into the recent molecular epidemiology of WNV in Bulgaria. STUDY DESIGN A total of 1871 Culex pipiens mosquitoes collected in 2018 and clinical samples from 23 patients with West Nile neuroinavsive disease observed in 2018 and 2019 were tested by TaqMan RT-PCR and RT-nested PCR and PCR products were sequenced. RESULTS WNV RNA was detected in clinical samples from 10 patients and in five (12.2 %) of 41 pools of Cx. pipiens mosquitos by realtime RT-PCR, resulting in a minimum infection rate of mosquitoes of 0.27 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial NS3 gene sequences from one clinical sample and four mosquito pools showed that all sequences clustered into the Hungarian clade of WNV lineage 2 and all but one were identical to respective sequences from Romania. Whole genome sequences of one mosquito pool belong to the Hungarian group of WNV lineage 2 and cluster in a separate subclade from the Bulgarian strain from 2015, suggesting that at least two different introductions occurred in Bulgaria. CONCLUSIONS The current study provides insights into the geographic distribution of WNV in Bulgaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Christova
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Anna Papa
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Iva Trifonova
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - E Panayotova
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Styliani Pappa
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ognyan Mikov
- Department of Parasitology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
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16
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Domanović D, Gossner CM, Lieshout-Krikke R, Mayr W, Baroti-Toth K, Dobrota AM, Escoval MA, Henseler O, Jungbauer C, Liumbruno G, Oyonarte S, Politis C, Sandid I, Vidović MS, Young JJ, Ushiro-Lumb I, Nowotny N. West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections and Challenges to Blood Safety in the European Union. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1050-1057. [PMID: 31107223 PMCID: PMC6537739 DOI: 10.3201/eid2506.181755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) circulate in several European Union (EU) countries. The risk of transfusion-transmitted West Nile virus (TT-WNV) has been recognized, and preventive blood safety measures have been implemented. We summarized the applied interventions in the EU countries and assessed the safety of the blood supply by compiling data on WNV positivity among blood donors and on reported TT-WNV cases. The paucity of reported TT-WNV infections and the screening results suggest that blood safety interventions are effective. However, limited circulation of WNV in the EU and presumed underrecognition or underreporting of TT-WNV cases contribute to the present situation. Because of cross-reactivity between genetically related flaviviruses in the automated nucleic acid test systems, USUV-positive blood donations are found during routine WNV screening. The clinical relevance of USUV infection in humans and the risk of USUV to blood safety are unknown.
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17
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Chaintoutis SC, Papa A, Pervanidou D, Dovas CI. Evolutionary dynamics of lineage 2 West Nile virus in Europe, 2004–2018: Phylogeny, selection pressure and phylogeography. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 141:106617. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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18
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Prediction of unfavorable outcomes in West Nile virus neuroinvasive infection - Result of a multinational ID-IRI study. J Clin Virol 2019; 122:104213. [PMID: 31778945 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.104213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WNV causes 1.4% of all central nervous system infections and is the most common cause of epidemic neuro-invasive disease in humans. OBJECTIVES Our main objective was to investigate retrospectively West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease (WNND) cases hospitalized during 2010-2017 and identified factors that can influence prognosis. STUDY DESIGN We documented the demographic, epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory data of WNND and identified factors that can influence prognosis. The data were recruited through Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI), which serves as a network for clinical researches. RESULTS We investigated 165 patients with WNND in 10 countries from three continents. 27 patients died and the mortality rate was 16.4%. In an univariate analysis age, congestive heart failure, neoplasm and ischemic heart disease (p < 0.001), neuropsychiatric disorders (p = 0.011), chronic hepatitis (p = 0.024) and hypertension (p = 0.043) were risk factors for death. Fatal evolution was also correlated with ICU addmission, disorientation, speech disorders, change in consciousnes, coma, a low Glasgow coma score, obtundation, confusion (p < 0.001), history of syncope (p = 0.002) and history of unconsciousness (p = 0.037). In a binomial logistic regresssion analysis only age and coma remained independent prediction factors for death. We created an equation that was calculated according to age, co-morbidities and clinical manifestations that may be used to establish the prognosis of WNND patients. CONCLUSIONS WNND remain an important factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide, evolution to death or survival with sequelae are not rare. Our study creates an equation that may be used in the future to establish the prognosis of WNND patients.
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19
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Moirano G, Richiardi L, Calzolari M, Merletti F, Maule M. Recent rapid changes in the spatio-temporal distribution of West Nile Neuro-invasive Disease in Italy. Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 67:54-61. [PMID: 31612606 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In Italy, the first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection was reported in 2008 and, since then, the number of cases has been steadily increasing. In this study, we describe the temporal and spatial pattern of WNV infection risk among humans in Italy, focusing on the human cases of West Nile Neuro-invasive Disease (WNND) observed between 2008 and 2017. Incidence rates are estimated for each year and province under study. The incidence temporal trend is estimated using Poisson regression, and a spatio-temporal cluster detection analysis is performed to detect high-risk areas. In total, 231 WNND cases were notified in Italy between 2008 and 2017. The annual incidence rates increased during the study period (annual percentage change: 11.7%; 95%CI: -0.9%; 26.1%). A geographical spread of the disease was observed during the study period throughout Northern Italy, with an increasing number of affected provinces. Provinces close to the Po River (the main river in the north of Italy) and the Oristano province (in the Sardinia Island) experienced the highest incidence rates during the study period. Our study shows a gradual, but rapid spread of WNND across Northern Italy from east to west and suggests the hypothesis that provinces close to Po River might present ecological and climatic conditions favourable to the virus circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovenale Moirano
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Torino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Richiardi
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Torino, Italy
| | - Mattia Calzolari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna 'B. Ubertini' (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Franco Merletti
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Torino, Italy
| | - Milena Maule
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Torino, Italy
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20
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Vilibic-Cavlek T, Savic V, Sabadi D, Peric L, Barbic L, Klobucar A, Miklausic B, Tabain I, Santini M, Vucelja M, Dvorski E, Butigan T, Kolaric-Sviben G, Potocnik-Hunjadi T, Balenovic M, Bogdanic M, Andric Z, Stevanovic V, Capak K, Balicevic M, Listes E, Savini G. Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu virus infections in Croatia in the 'One health' context, 2018. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:1946-1957. [PMID: 31067011 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In 2018, Croatia reported the largest outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infections as well as the re-occurrence of human Usutu virus (USUV) infections. For the first time, fatal WNV and USUV infections were detected in wild birds. We analysed epidemiological characteristics and molecular epidemiology of WNV and USUV infections detected during 2018 transmission season. From April to November, 178 patients with neuroinvasive disease and 68 patients with febrile disease were tested for WNV and USUV. Viral RNA was detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine samples using a real-time RT-PCR. Positive samples were tested by nested RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing. IgM/IgG antibodies were detected in serum/CSF samples using ELISA with confirmation of cross-reactive samples by virus neutralization test (VNT). WNV neuroinvasive disease was confirmed in 54 and WNV fever in seven patients from 10 continental Croatian counties. Areas affected in 2018 were those in which cases occurred in previous seasons, while in three areas human cases were reported for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis of six strains from patients residing in different geographic areas showed circulation of WNV lineage 2. In three patients, neuroinvasive USUV infection was confirmed by RT-PCR or VNT. Sequence analysis of one detected strain revealed USUV Europe 2 lineage. During the same period, a total of 2,574 horse and 1,069 poultry serum samples were tested for WNV antibodies using ELISA. Acute asymptomatic WNV infection (IgM antibodies) was documented in 20/0.7% horses. WNV IgG antibodies were found in 307/11.9% horses and in 125/12.7% poultry. WNV RNA was detected in two goshawks and USUV RNA was detected in one blackbird from north-western Croatia. In the Zagreb area, 3,670 female mosquitoes were collected. One Culex pipiens pool collected in July tested positive for USUV RNA. Our results highlight the importance of continuous multidisciplinary 'One health' surveillance of these emerging arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
- Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia.,School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Dario Sabadi
- Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.,Medical Faculty, Josip Juraj Stossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Ljiljana Peric
- Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.,Medical Faculty, Josip Juraj Stossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Ljubo Barbic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Klobucar
- Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Bozana Miklausic
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr Fran Mihaljevic", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Irena Tabain
- Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marija Santini
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr Fran Mihaljevic", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Vucelja
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maja Bogdanic
- Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | | | | | - Eddy Listes
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Regional Institute Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Giovanni Savini
- OIE Reference Center for West Nile Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy
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21
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Papa A, Papadopoulou E, Chatzixanthouliou C, Glouftsios P, Pappa S, Pervanidou D, Georgiou L. Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 belonging to the Eastern European subclade, Greece. Arch Virol 2019; 164:1673-1675. [PMID: 30953205 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04243-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) emerged in Greece in 2010 and since then human outbreaks occurred every year except 2015 and 2016. An early start and prolonged WNV transmission season was observed in 2018 with a record number of 316 reported cases and 47 fatalities. The Greek WNV strains detected during 2010-2018 clustered within the central European subclade of lineage 2. A novel WNV genetic variant was detected in August 2018 in one human case in the north-eastern region of Greece, at the land cross-border with Turkey and Bulgaria. The strain belongs to the Eastern European subclade of lineage 2 suggesting a new virus introduction in the country and the continuously changing epidemiology of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Papa
- Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever viruses, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 51124, Thessaloníki, Greece.
| | - Elpida Papadopoulou
- Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever viruses, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 51124, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | | | - Petros Glouftsios
- Internal Medicine Clinic, Didimoticho General Hospital, Didimoticho, Greece
| | - Styliani Pappa
- Department of Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever viruses, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 51124, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Danai Pervanidou
- Department for Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - Loukas Georgiou
- General Directorate of Public Health and Social Care of Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Komotini, Greece
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22
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Papa A. Emerging arboviruses of medical importance in the Mediterranean region. J Clin Virol 2019; 115:5-10. [PMID: 30928817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The epidemiology of viral infections transmitted by arthropods is changing due to a variety of parameters related to the virus, the host and the environment. The Mediterranean region is highly affected by changes in the intensity and extension of global-scale climate patterns, and, due to its location, it provides a vulnerable environment for emergence of arboviral diseases. The main arboviruses that pose currently a public health threat in the Mediterranean region are West Nile virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and, in less extend, tick-borne encephalitis virus. Usutu virus that affects mainly birds, can infect also humans, while Dengue and Chikungunya viruses showed that they are capable to cause sporadic autochthonous cases, and even outbreaks in the Mediterranean region. Sandly-transmitted viruses continue to have a public health impact, and novel ones have been identified. The presence of competent vectors (mainly mosquitoes), combined by arbovirus introduction through viremic travelers returning from endemic regions, prompt for increased surveillance to mitigate the risk for local transmission. In order to tackle efficiently and effectively the emerging arboviral diseases, an integrated "One Health initiative" is required to be maintained, involving public health, animal health and environmental authorities. Awareness of medical and veterinary staff and laboratory capacity are crucial for the early detection of pathogens, while reporting the unusual and enhance surveillance are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Papa
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece.
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23
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Vilibic-Cavlek T, Savic V, Petrovic T, Toplak I, Barbic L, Petric D, Tabain I, Hrnjakovic-Cvjetkovic I, Bogdanic M, Klobucar A, Mrzljak A, Stevanovic V, Dinjar-Kujundzic P, Radmanic L, Monaco F, Listes E, Savini G. Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections in Southern Europe. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:437. [PMID: 31867347 PMCID: PMC6908483 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The epidemiology of West Nile (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Since 1999, there have been regular reports of WNV outbreaks and the virus has expanded its area of circulation in many Southern European countries. After emerging in Italy in 1996, USUV has spread to other countries causing mortality in several bird species. In 2009, USUV seroconversion in horses was reported in Italy. Co-circulation of both viruses was detected in humans, horses and birds. The main vector of WNV and USUV in Europe is Culex pipiens, however, both viruses were found in native Culex mosquito species (Cx. modestus, Cx. perexiguus). Experimental competence to transmit the WNV was also proven for native and invasive mosquitoes of Aedes and Culex genera (Ae. albopictus, Ae. detritus, Cx. torrentium). Recently, Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus naturally-infected with USUV were reported. While neuroinvasive human WNV infections are well-documented, USUV infections are sporadically detected. However, there is increasing evidence of a role of USUV in human disease. Seroepidemiological studies showed that USUV circulation is more common than WNV in some endemic regions. Recent data showed that WNV strains detected in humans, horses, birds, and mosquitoes mainly belong to lineage 2. In addition to European USUV lineages, some reports indicate the presence of African USUV lineages as well. The trends in WNV/USUV range and vector expansion are likely to continue in future years. This mini-review provides an update on the epidemiology of WNV and USUV infections in Southern Europe within a multidisciplinary "One Health" context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- *Correspondence: Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
| | - Vladimir Savic
- Poultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tamas Petrovic
- Department for Virology, Scientific Veterinary Institute, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Ivan Toplak
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ljubo Barbic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases With Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dusan Petric
- Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Irena Tabain
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Hrnjakovic-Cvjetkovic
- Center for Microbiology, Institute of Public Health Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Maja Bogdanic
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Klobucar
- Division of Disinfection, Disinfestation and Pest Control, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anna Mrzljak
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Medicine, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Stevanovic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases With Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Luka Radmanic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases With Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Federica Monaco
- OIE Reference Center for West Nile Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Eddy Listes
- Laboratory for Diagnostics, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Regional Institute Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Giovanni Savini
- OIE Reference Center for West Nile Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
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24
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Busquets N, Laranjo-González M, Soler M, Nicolás O, Rivas R, Talavera S, Villalba R, San Miguel E, Torner N, Aranda C, Napp S. Detection of West Nile virus lineage 2 in North-Eastern Spain (Catalonia). Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 66:617-621. [PMID: 30506625 PMCID: PMC7380044 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In September 2017, West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 was detected in Catalonia (Northern Spain) in northern goshawks by passive surveillance. The phylogenetic analyses showed that it was related to the Central/Southern European strains, evidencing WNV lineage 2 spread to Western Europe. WNV local transmission was later detected in bearded vultures housed at the Wildlife Recovery center where the goshawk was transferred to. Further studies, before the following period of high mosquito activity, indicated that WNV had circulated intensively in poultry and horses but only surrounding of the area where the virus was detected. In other areas of Catalonia, circulation of flaviviruses different to WNV was identified. Public Health investigations failed to detect WNV infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Busquets
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | | | - Mercè Soler
- Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació Generalitat de Catalunya, Servei de Prevenció en Salut Animal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Nicolás
- Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat, Centre de Fauna de Vallcalent, Lleida, Spain
| | - Raquel Rivas
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Sandra Talavera
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Rubén Villalba
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria, Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAPAMA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena San Miguel
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria, Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAPAMA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Núria Torner
- Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Aranda
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain.,Servei de Control de Mosquits, Consell Comarcal del Baix Llobregat, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Sebastian Napp
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
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25
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Cotar AI, Fălcuță E, Dinu S, Necula A, Bîrluțiu V, Ceianu CS, Prioteasa FL. West Nile virus lineage 2 in Romania, 2015-2016: co-circulation and strain replacement. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:562. [PMID: 30367671 PMCID: PMC6203995 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3145-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background West Nile virus (WNV) is endemic in southeastern Romania and, after the unprecedented urban epidemic in Bucharest in 1996 caused by lineage 1 WNV, cases of West Nile fever have been recorded every year. Furthermore, a new outbreak occurred in 2010, this time produced by a lineage 2 WNV belonging to the Eastern European clade (Volgograd 2007-like strain), which was detected in humans and mosquitoes in the following years. Results We report here, for the first time, the emergence, in 2015, of lineage 2 WNV belonging to the monophyletic Central/Southern European group of strains which replaced in 2016, the previously endemized lineage 2 WNV Volgograd 2007-like strain in mosquito populations. The emerged WNV strain harbors H249P (NS3 protein) and I159T (E glycoprotein) substitutions, which have been previously associated in other studies with neurovirulence and efficient vector transmission. Conclusions In 2016, both early amplification of the emerged WNV and complete replacement in mosquito populations of the previously endemized WNV occurred in southeastern Romania. These events were associated with a significant outbreak of severe West Nile neuroinvasive disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ani Ioana Cotar
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena Fălcuță
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sorin Dinu
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Adriana Necula
- National Institute of Blood Transfusion, 2-8 Dr. C-tin Caracaş, 011155, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Victoria Bîrluțiu
- Faculty of Medicine, Lucian Blaga University, 2A Lucian Blaga, 550169, Sibiu, Romania.,Academic Emergency Hospital, 2-4 Corneliu Coposu Boulevard, 550245, Sibiu, Romania
| | - Cornelia Svetlana Ceianu
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florian Liviu Prioteasa
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, 103 Splaiul Independenței, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
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26
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Abstract
Many infectious diseases originating from, or carried by, wildlife affect wildlife conservation and biodiversity, livestock health, or human health. We provide an update on changes in the epidemiology of 25 selected infectious, wildlife-related diseases in Europe (from 2010-16) that had an impact, or may have a future impact, on the health of wildlife, livestock, and humans. These pathogens were selected based on their: 1) identification in recent Europe-wide projects as important surveillance targets, 2) inclusion in European Union legislation as pathogens requiring obligatory surveillance, 3) presence in recent literature on wildlife-related diseases in Europe since 2010, 4) inclusion in key pathogen lists released by the Office International des Epizooties, 5) identification in conference presentations and informal discussions on a group email list by a European network of wildlife disease scientists from the European Wildlife Disease Association, or 6) identification as pathogens with changes in their epidemiology during 2010-16. The wildlife pathogens or diseases included in this review are: avian influenza virus, seal influenza virus, lagoviruses, rabies virus, bat lyssaviruses, filoviruses, canine distemper virus, morbilliviruses in aquatic mammals, bluetongue virus, West Nile virus, hantaviruses, Schmallenberg virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, African swine fever virus, amphibian ranavirus, hepatitis E virus, bovine tuberculosis ( Mycobacterium bovis), tularemia ( Francisella tularensis), brucellosis ( Brucella spp.), salmonellosis ( Salmonella spp.), Coxiella burnetii, chytridiomycosis, Echinococcus multilocularis, Leishmania infantum, and chronic wasting disease. Further work is needed to identify all of the key drivers of disease change and emergence, as they appear to be influencing the incidence and spread of these pathogens in Europe. We present a summary of these recent changes during 2010-16 to discuss possible commonalities and drivers of disease change and to identify directions for future work on wildlife-related diseases in Europe. Many of the pathogens are entering Europe from other continents while others are expanding their ranges inside and beyond Europe. Surveillance for these wildlife-related diseases at a continental scale is therefore important for planet-wide assessment, awareness of, and preparedness for the risks they may pose to wildlife, domestic animal, and human health.
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27
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Barzon L. Ongoing and emerging arbovirus threats in Europe. J Clin Virol 2018; 107:38-47. [PMID: 30176404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
During the last decades, arboviruses that are endemic in Europe have expanded their geographic range and caused an increasing number of human outbreaks. These viruses include West Nile virus, which is expanding its area of circulation in central and southern Europe; Usutu virus, with increasing evidence of a role in human disease; tick-borne encephalitis virus, which is being detected in northern areas and at higher altitudes as a consequence of climate warming; Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, which is endemic in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, but has been recently detected in Spain; other viruses, such as California encephalitis virus antigenic group, which circulate in northern and central Europe but whose relevance for human disease in largely unknown. In addition, the rise in global travel and trade has posed Europe to an increased risk of introduction and expansion of exotic arthropod vectors and autochthonous transmission of arboviruses, like dengue and chikungunya viruses, following new introductions from endemic areas. Implementation of integrated arbovirus surveillance programs has been crucial to adopt proper control measures. The identification of emerging outbreaks is however challenging and requires a high degree of awareness and laboratory capacity, especially for the most neglected but potentially threatening pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, via A. Gabelli 63, 35121, Padova, Italy.
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Oluwayelu D, Adebiyi A, Tomori O. Endemic and emerging arboviral diseases of livestock in Nigeria: a review. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:337. [PMID: 29880024 PMCID: PMC5992842 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2911-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are the largest biologic group of vertebrate viruses and constitute important emerging infectious disease agents globally. Arthropod transmission provides a way for viruses to cross species barriers since the same arthropod may bite animals that rarely or never come into close contact in nature. In Nigeria, arboviruses have, over several decades, caused severe diseases in livestock resulting in great economic losses and, sometimes, infection of humans leading to morbidity and mortality. In the present review, a computerized search of existing literature was conducted using the Google search engine and PubMed electronic database to identify and review relevant publications on arboviral diseases of livestock in Nigeria. The keywords used were 'arbovirus', 'arthropod-borne viral diseases' or 'livestock diseases' and 'Nigeria' while the Boolean operator 'OR' was used to combine and narrow the searches. Additional information was obtained by searching the veterinary libraries for journals not listed in the database. The available publications were thereafter reviewed and findings qualitatively described. Our findings revealed that although there were several studies on arboviruses and the livestock diseases they cause in Nigeria, most of such reports were made four to six decades ago, with only a few reported recently. Consequently, the true economic and public health impact of these diseases are likely to be underestimated, mainly due to under-reporting or lack of awareness of them. Thus, it is essential to update information on arboviral diseases in Nigeria in order to increase awareness of the diseases and facilitate their prompt identification and reporting. The importance of routine surveillance for arbovirus livestock diseases and sentinel herd monitoring as basis for development of an early warning and alert system to prevent future outbreaks is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Oluwayelu
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria
- Centre for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria
| | - Adebowale Adebiyi
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria
| | - Oyewale Tomori
- Nigerian Academy of Science, Academy House, University of Lagos Campus, 8A Ransome Kuti Road, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos State Nigeria
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Integrated analysis of human-animal-vector surveillance: West Nile virus infections in Austria, 2015-2016. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018. [PMID: 29535293 PMCID: PMC5849732 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0021-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The results of integrated human and veterinary surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Austria during the transmission seasons 2015 and 2016 are shown. Altogether WNV nucleic acid was detected in 21 humans, horses, wild birds and mosquito pools. In detail: in four human clinical cases [two cases of West Nile fever (WNF) and two cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND)]; eight blood donors [among 145,541 tested donations], of which three remained asymptomatic and five subsequently developed mild WNF; two horses with WNND, of which one recovered and one had to be euthanized; two wild birds [one goshawk and one falcon, both succumbed to WNND]; and five Culex pipiens mosquito pools. Compared to previous years the number of infections increased remarkably. All infections were recorded in the city of Vienna and neighboring regions of Lower Austria. Sixteen coding-complete WNV sequences were established which were closely related to each other and to other Austrian, Czech and Italian viruses, all belonging to the Central/Southern European cluster of WNV sublineage 2d. However, several genetically slightly different WNV strains seem to co-circulate in the same area, as demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis. Based on detailed sequence analysis, all newly discovered Austrian WNV strains had the potential to cause neurological disease, but no correlation was found between severity of disease and the analyzed genetic virulence/neuroinvasiveness markers. Results of integrated human-animal-vector surveillance presented in this paper provide a comprehensive description of WNV activity in the region and will facilitate proactive public health measures to prevent or mitigate potential outbreaks.
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Zehender G, Veo C, Ebranati E, Carta V, Rovida F, Percivalle E, Moreno A, Lelli D, Calzolari M, Lavazza A, Chiapponi C, Baioni L, Capelli G, Ravagnan S, Da Rold G, Lavezzo E, Palù G, Baldanti F, Barzon L, Galli M. Reconstructing the recent West Nile virus lineage 2 epidemic in Europe and Italy using discrete and continuous phylogeography. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179679. [PMID: 28678837 PMCID: PMC5497961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus lineage 2 (WNV-2) was mainly confined to sub-Saharan Africa until the early 2000s, when it was identified for the first time in Central Europe causing outbreaks of human and animal infection. The aim of this study was to reconstruct the origin and dispersion of WNV-2 in Central Europe and Italy on a phylodynamic and phylogeographical basis. To this aim, discrete and continuous space phylogeographical models were applied to a total of 33 newly characterised full-length viral genomes obtained from mosquitoes, birds and humans in Northern Italy in the years 2013–2015 aligned with 64 complete sequences isolated mainly in Europe. The European isolates segregated into two highly significant clades: a small one including three sequences and a large clade including the majority of isolates obtained in Central Europe since 2004. Discrete phylogeographical analysis showed that the most probable location of the root of the largest European clade was in Hungary a mean 12.78 years ago. The European clade bifurcated into two highly supported subclades: one including most of the Central/East European isolates and the other encompassing all of the isolates obtained in Greece. The continuous space phylogeographical analysis of the Italian clade showed that WNV-2 entered Italy in about 2008, probably by crossing the Adriatic sea and reaching a central area of the Po Valley. The epidemic then spread simultaneously eastward, to reach the region of the Po delta in 2013, and westward to the border area between Lombardy and Piedmont in 2014; later, the western strain changed direction southward, and reached the central area of the Po valley once again in 2015. Over a period of about seven years, the virus spread all over an area of northern Italy by following the Po river and its main tributaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianguglielmo Zehender
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L.Sacco", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- CRC-Coordinated Research Center “EpiSoMI”, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Carla Veo
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L.Sacco", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- CRC-Coordinated Research Center “EpiSoMI”, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Erika Ebranati
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L.Sacco", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- CRC-Coordinated Research Center “EpiSoMI”, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Valentina Carta
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L.Sacco", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- CRC-Coordinated Research Center “EpiSoMI”, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Rovida
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Percivalle
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ana Moreno
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Davide Lelli
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Mattia Calzolari
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Chiapponi
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Baioni
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER), Parma, Italy
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Venice, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Ravagnan
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Venice, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Graziana Da Rold
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Venice, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico Lavezzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Massimo Galli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L.Sacco", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- CRC-Coordinated Research Center “EpiSoMI”, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
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Verna F, Modesto P, Radaelli MC, Francese DR, Monaci E, Desiato R, Grattarola C, Peletto S, Mosca A, Savini G, Chianese R, Demicheli V, Prearo M, Chiavacci L, Pautasso A, Casalone C. Control of Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Northwestern Italy: Preparedness from One Season to the Next. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:331-339. [PMID: 28437184 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are spreading worldwide due to globalization and climate change, representing a threat for both humans and animals. Of great concern are the infections caused by viruses belonging to the Flavivirus genus as West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) transmitted by Culex sp. or Dengue virus and Zika virus (ZIKV), transmitted by Aedes sp. This work describes the surveillance protocol enforced in Piedmont (Northwestern Italy) to control MBDs spread, focusing on the activities performed on mosquitoes during the 2015 vector season. MATERIALS AND METHODS From July to October, mosquitoes were fortnightly sampled in 50 selected sites according to risk factors with CDC dry ice-baited traps and BG-Sentinel traps baited with BG-Lure and dry ice. Adults were counted, identified to species level, pooled, and screened for flaviviruses using different reverse transcription-PCR protocols and sequencing. Finally, phylogenetic analysis was performed on a dataset including 2014 and 2015 WNV sequences and reference sequences retrieved from GenBank. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of 17,000 mosquitoes, grouped in 730 pools, were tested. Five pools of Culex pipiens were positive for WNV Lineage 2 in Novara, Alessandria, Vercelli, and Torino Provinces. One pool of C. pipiens and one pool of Anopheles maculipennis s.l. were positive for USUV in Vercelli and Alessandria Provinces. In Vercelli Province one pool of C. pipiens resulted positive both for WNV and USUV. Control measures were quickly implemented. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the WNV Lin 2 sequences from Piedmont region cluster with those circulating in Northeastern Italy in the previous years. Given the positive trend in WNV activity compared to 2014 and the emergence caused by other flavivirus as ZIKV, the level of attention for the 2016 vector season may be increased and this surveillance protocol could represent an important tool for public health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Verna
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Modesto
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Radaelli
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Monaci
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Rosanna Desiato
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Carla Grattarola
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Simone Peletto
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Mosca
- 2 Istituto per le Piante da Legno e l'Ambiente (IPLA) , Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- 3 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise , "G. Caporale," Teramo, Italy
| | - Rosa Chianese
- 4 Centro Regionale Sangue del Piemonte presso ASL TO4 Ospedale di Ivrea , Ivrea, Italy
| | - Vittorio Demicheli
- 5 Servizio Sovrazonale di Epidemiologia-SEREMI presso ASL , Alessandria, Italy
| | - Marino Prearo
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Chiavacci
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pautasso
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Casalone
- 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
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32
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Papa A. Emerging arboviral human diseases in Southern Europe. J Med Virol 2017; 89:1315-1322. [PMID: 28252204 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Southern Europe is characterized by unique landscape and climate which attract tourists, but also arthropod vectors, some of them carrying pathogens. Among several arboviral diseases that emerged in the region during the last decade, West Nile fever accounted for high number of human cases and fatalities, while Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever expanded its geographic distribution, and is considered as a real threat for Europe. Viruses evolve rapidly and acquire mutations making themselves stronger and naive populations more vulnerable. In an effort to tackle efficiently the emerging arboviral diseases, preparedness and strategic surveillance are needed for the early detection of the pathogen and containment and mitigation of probable outbreaks. In this review, the main human arboviral diseases that emerged in Southern Europe are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Papa
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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33
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Rizzo C, Napoli C, Venturi G, Pupella S, Lombardini L, Calistri P, Monaco F, Cagarelli R, Angelini P, Bellini R, Tamba M, Piatti A, Russo F, Palù G, Chiari M, Lavazza A, Bella A. West Nile virus transmission: results from the integrated surveillance system in Italy, 2008 to 2015. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 21:30340. [PMID: 27684046 PMCID: PMC5032855 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.37.30340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Italy a national Plan for the surveillance of imported and autochthonous human vector-borne diseases (chikungunya, dengue, Zika virus disease and West Nile virus (WNV) disease) that integrates human and veterinary (animals and vectors) surveillance, is issued and revised annually according with the observed epidemiological changes. Here we describe results of the WNV integrated veterinary and human surveillance systems in Italy from 2008 to 2015. A real time data exchange protocol is in place between the surveillance systems to rapidly identify occurrence of human and animal cases and to define and update the map of affected areas i.e. provinces during the vector activity period from June to October. WNV continues to cause severe illnesses in Italy during every transmission season, albeit cases are sporadic and the epidemiology varies by virus lineage and geographic area. The integration of surveillance activities and a multidisciplinary approach made it possible and have been fundamental in supporting implementation of and/or strengthening preventive measures aimed at reducing the risk of transmission of WNV trough blood, tissues and organ donation and to implementing further measures for vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Rizzo
- National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS), Italy
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