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Linthout C, Martins AD, de Wit M, Delecroix C, Abbo SR, Pijlman GP, Koenraadt CJM. The potential role of the Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus as spillover vector for West Nile virus in the Netherlands. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:262. [PMID: 38886805 PMCID: PMC11181672 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06279-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years the Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus has invaded Europe, including the Netherlands. This species is a known vector for a range of arboviruses, possibly including West Nile virus (WNV). As WNV emerged in the Netherlands in 2020, it is important to investigate the vectorial capacity of mosquito species present in the Netherlands to estimate the risk of future outbreaks and further spread of the virus. Therefore, this study evaluates the potential role of Ae. japonicus in WNV transmission and spillover from birds to dead-end hosts in the Netherlands. METHODS We conducted human landing collections in allotment gardens (Lelystad, the Netherlands) in June, August and September 2021 to study the diurnal and seasonal host-seeking behaviour of Ae. japonicus. Furthermore, their host preference in relation to birds using live chicken-baited traps was investigated. Vector competence of field-collected Ae. japonicus mosquitoes for two isolates of WNV at two different temperatures was determined. Based on the data generated from these studies, we developed a Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) model to calculate the risk of WNV spillover from birds to humans via Ae. japonicus, under the condition that the virus is introduced and circulates in an enzootic cycle in a given area. RESULTS Our results show that Ae. japonicus mosquitoes are actively host seeking throughout the day, with peaks in activity in the morning and evening. Their abundance in August was higher than in June and September. For the host-preference experiment, we documented a small number of mosquitoes feeding on birds: only six blood-fed females were caught over 4 full days of sampling. Finally, our vector competence experiments with Ae. japonicus compared to its natural vector Culex pipiens showed a higher infection and transmission rate when infected with a local, Dutch, WNV isolate compared to a Greek isolate of the virus. Interestingly, we also found a small number of infected Cx. pipiens males with virus-positive leg and saliva samples. CONCLUSIONS Combining the field and laboratory derived data, our model predicts that Ae. japonicus could act as a spillover vector for WNV and could be responsible for a high initial invasion risk of WNV when present in large numbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Linthout
- Department of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Afonso Dimas Martins
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mariken de Wit
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Clara Delecroix
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra R Abbo
- Department of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Department of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Wang HR, Liu T, Gao X, Wang HB, Xiao JH. Impact of climate change on the global circulation of West Nile virus and adaptation responses: a scoping review. Infect Dis Poverty 2024; 13:38. [PMID: 38790027 PMCID: PMC11127377 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01207-2] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV), the most widely distributed flavivirus causing encephalitis globally, is a vector-borne pathogen of global importance. The changing climate is poised to reshape the landscape of various infectious diseases, particularly vector-borne ones like WNV. Understanding the anticipated geographical and range shifts in disease transmission due to climate change, alongside effective adaptation strategies, is critical for mitigating future public health impacts. This scoping review aims to consolidate evidence on the impact of climate change on WNV and to identify a spectrum of applicable adaptation strategies. MAIN BODY We systematically analyzed research articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. Our criteria included English-language research articles published between 2007 and 2023, focusing on the impacts of climate change on WNV and related adaptation strategies. We extracted data concerning study objectives, populations, geographical focus, and specific findings. Literature was categorized into two primary themes: 1) climate-WNV associations, and 2) climate change impacts on WNV transmission, providing a clear understanding. Out of 2168 articles reviewed, 120 met our criteria. Most evidence originated from North America (59.2%) and Europe (28.3%), with a primary focus on human cases (31.7%). Studies on climate-WNV correlations (n = 83) highlighted temperature (67.5%) as a pivotal climate factor. In the analysis of climate change impacts on WNV (n = 37), most evidence suggested that climate change may affect the transmission and distribution of WNV, with the extent of the impact depending on local and regional conditions. Although few studies directly addressed the implementation of adaptation strategies for climate-induced disease transmission, the proposed strategies (n = 49) fell into six categories: 1) surveillance and monitoring (38.8%), 2) predictive modeling (18.4%), 3) cross-disciplinary collaboration (16.3%), 4) environmental management (12.2%), 5) public education (8.2%), and 6) health system readiness (6.1%). Additionally, we developed an accessible online platform to summarize the evidence on climate change impacts on WNV transmission ( https://2xzl2o-neaop.shinyapps.io/WNVScopingReview/ ). CONCLUSIONS This review reveals that climate change may affect the transmission and distribution of WNV, but the literature reflects only a small share of the global WNV dynamics. There is an urgent need for adaptive responses to anticipate and respond to the climate-driven spread of WNV. Nevertheless, studies focusing on these adaptation responses are sparse compared to those examining the impacts of climate change. Further research on the impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies for vector-borne diseases, along with more comprehensive evidence synthesis, is needed to inform effective policy responses tailored to local contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ran Wang
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Bin Wang
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Hua Xiao
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
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3
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de Freitas Costa E, Streng K, Avelino de Souza Santos M, Counotte MJ. The effect of temperature on the boundary conditions of West Nile virus circulation in Europe. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012162. [PMID: 38709836 PMCID: PMC11098507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a vector-borne flavivirus that causes an increasing number of human and equine West Nile fever cases in Europe. While the virus has been present in the Mediterranean basin and the Balkans since the 1960s, recent years have witnessed its northward expansion, with the first human cases reported in Germany in 2018 and the Netherlands in 2020. WNV transmission and amplification within mosquitoes are temperature-dependent. This study applies a mathematical modelling approach to assess the conditions under which WNV circulation occurs based on the proportion of mosquito bites on WNV-competent birds (dilution), vector-host ratios, mosquito season length and the observed daily temperature data. We modelled five distinct European regions where previous WNV circulation has been observed within the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece. We observed that the number of days in which the basic reproduction number (R0) is above one, increased over the last 40 years in all five regions. In the Netherlands, the number of days in which the R0 is above one, is 70% lower than in Spain. The temperature in Greece, Spain and Italy allowed for circulation under low vector-host ratios, and at a high dilution. On the other hand in the Netherlands and Germany, given the observed daily temperature, the thresholds for circulation requires a lower dilution and higher vector-host ratios. For the Netherlands, a short window of introductions between late May and mid-June would result in detectable outbreaks. Our findings revealed that the temperate maritime climate of the Netherlands allows WNV circulation primarily during warmer summers, and only under high vector-host ratios. This research contributes valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between temperature, vector properties, and WNV transmission, offering guidance for proactive strategies in addressing this emerging health threat in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo de Freitas Costa
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Kiki Streng
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Michel Jacques Counotte
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
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4
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Mencattelli G, Ndione MHD, Silverj A, Diagne MM, Curini V, Teodori L, Di Domenico M, Mbaye R, Leone A, Marcacci M, Gaye A, Ndiaye E, Diallo D, Ancora M, Secondini B, Di Lollo V, Mangone I, Bucciacchio A, Polci A, Marini G, Rosà R, Segata N, Fall G, Cammà C, Monaco F, Diallo M, Rota-Stabelli O, Faye O, Rizzoli A, Savini G. Spatial and temporal dynamics of West Nile virus between Africa and Europe. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6440. [PMID: 37833275 PMCID: PMC10575862 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is unclear whether West Nile virus (WNV) circulates between Africa and Europe, despite numerous studies supporting an African origin and high transmission in Europe. We integrated genomic data with geographic observations and phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences to uncover the spatial and temporal viral dynamics of WNV between these two continents. We focused our analysis towards WNV lineages 1 (L1) and 2 (L2), the most spatially widespread and pathogenic WNV lineages. Our study shows a Northern-Western African origin of L1, with back-and-forth exchanges between West Africa and Southern-Western Europe; and a Southern African origin of L2, with one main introduction from South Africa to Europe, and no back introductions observed. We also noticed a potential overlap between L1 and L2 Eastern and Western phylogeography and two Afro-Palearctic bird migratory flyways. Future studies linking avian and mosquito species susceptibility, migratory connectivity patterns, and phylogeographic inference are suggested to elucidate the dynamics of emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Mencattelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy.
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | | | - Andrea Silverj
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Curini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Liana Teodori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Rassoul Mbaye
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Alessandra Leone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maurilia Marcacci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Alioune Gaye
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - ElHadji Ndiaye
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Diawo Diallo
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Massimo Ancora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Barbara Secondini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Valeria Di Lollo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Iolanda Mangone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Bucciacchio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Polci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Marini
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Roberto Rosà
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Nicola Segata
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Gamou Fall
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Cesare Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Mawlouth Diallo
- Medical Zoology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Oumar Faye
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
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5
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Martinet JP, Bohers C, Vazeille M, Ferté H, Mousson L, Mathieu B, Depaquit J, Failloux AB. Assessing vector competence of mosquitoes from northeastern France to West Nile virus and Usutu virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011144. [PMID: 37276229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are two arthropod-borne viruses that circulate in mainland France. Assessing vector competence has only been conducted so far with mosquitoes from southern France while an increasingly active circulation of WNV and USUV has been reported in the last years. The main vectors are mosquitoes of the Culex genus and the common mosquito Culex pipiens. Here, we measure the vector competence of five mosquito species (Aedes rusticus, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles plumbeus, Culex pipiens and Culiseta longiareolata) present in northeastern France. Field-collected populations were exposed to artificial infectious blood meal containing WNV or USUV and examined at different days post-infection. We show that (i) Cx. pipiens transmitted WNV and USUV, (ii) Ae. rusticus only WNV, and (iii) unexpectedly, Ae. albopictus transmitted both WNV and USUV. Less surprising, An. plumbeus was not competent for both viruses. Combined with data on distribution and population dynamics, these assessments of vector competence will help in developing a risk map and implementing appropriate prevention and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Martinet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Paris, France
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Faculté de Pharmacie, ANSES, SFR Cap Santé, EA7510 ESCAPE-USC VECPAR, Reims, France
| | - Chloé Bohers
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Paris, France
| | - Marie Vazeille
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Paris, France
| | - Hubert Ferté
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Faculté de Pharmacie, ANSES, SFR Cap Santé, EA7510 ESCAPE-USC VECPAR, Reims, France
| | - Laurence Mousson
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Faculté de Médecine, Maïeutique et Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jérôme Depaquit
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Faculté de Pharmacie, ANSES, SFR Cap Santé, EA7510 ESCAPE-USC VECPAR, Reims, France
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU de Reims, Reims, France
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Paris, France
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6
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van Bree JW, Visser I, Duyvestyn JM, Aguilar-Bretones M, Marshall EM, van Hemert MJ, Pijlman GP, van Nierop GP, Kikkert M, Rockx BH, Miesen P, Fros JJ. Novel approaches for the rapid development of rationally designed arbovirus vaccines. One Health 2023; 16:100565. [PMID: 37363258 PMCID: PMC10288159 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases, including those transmitted by mosquitoes, account for more than 17% of infectious diseases worldwide. This number is expected to rise with an increased spread of vector mosquitoes and viruses due to climate change and man-made alterations to ecosystems. Among the most common, medically relevant mosquito-borne infections are those caused by arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), especially members of the genera Flavivirus and Alphavirus. Arbovirus infections can cause severe disease in humans, livestock and wildlife. Severe consequences from infections include congenital malformations as well as arthritogenic, haemorrhagic or neuroinvasive disease. Inactivated or live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs) are available for a small number of arboviruses; however there are no licensed vaccines for the majority of these infections. Here we discuss recent developments in pan-arbovirus LAV approaches, from site-directed attenuation strategies targeting conserved determinants of virulence to universal strategies that utilize genome-wide re-coding of viral genomes. In addition to these approaches, we discuss novel strategies targeting mosquito saliva proteins that play an important role in virus transmission and pathogenesis in vertebrate hosts. For rapid pre-clinical evaluations of novel arbovirus vaccine candidates, representative in vitro and in vivo experimental systems are required to assess the desired specific immune responses. Here we discuss promising models to study attenuation of neuroinvasion, neurovirulence and virus transmission, as well as antibody induction and potential for cross-reactivity. Investigating broadly applicable vaccination strategies to target the direct interface of the vertebrate host, the mosquito vector and the viral pathogen is a prime example of a One Health strategy to tackle human and animal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce W.M. van Bree
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Imke Visser
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jo M. Duyvestyn
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Eleanor M. Marshall
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martijn J. van Hemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Barry H.G. Rockx
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pascal Miesen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jelke J. Fros
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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7
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van Bree JWM, Linthout C, van Dijk T, Abbo SR, Fros JJ, Koenraadt CJM, Pijlman GP, Wang H. Competition between two Usutu virus isolates in cell culture and in the common house mosquito Culex pipiens. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1195621. [PMID: 37293213 PMCID: PMC10244747 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1195621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus of African origin. Over the past decades, USUV has spread through Europe causing mass die-offs among multiple bird species. The natural transmission cycle of USUV involves Culex spp. mosquitoes as vectors and birds as amplifying hosts. Next to birds and mosquitoes, USUV has also been isolated from multiple mammalian species, including humans, which are considered dead-end hosts. USUV isolates are phylogenetically classified into an African and European branch, subdivided into eight genetic lineages (Africa 1, 2, and 3 and Europe 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 lineages). Currently, multiple African and European lineages are co-circulating in Europe. Despite increased knowledge of the epidemiology and pathogenicity of the different lineages, the effects of co-infection and transmission efficacy of the co-circulating USUV strains remain unclear. In this study, we report a comparative study between two USUV isolates as follows: a Dutch isolate (USUV-NL, Africa lineage 3) and an Italian isolate (USUV-IT, Europe lineage 2). Upon co-infection, USUV-NL was consistently outcompeted by USUV-IT in mosquito, mammalian, and avian cell lines. In mosquito cells, the fitness advantage of USUV-IT was most prominently observed in comparison to the mammalian or avian cell lines. When Culex pipiens mosquitoes were orally infected with the different isolates, no overall differences in vector competence for USUV-IT and USUV-NL were observed. However, during the in vivo co-infection assay, it was observed that USUV-NL infectivity and transmission were negatively affected by USUV-IT but not vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce W. M. van Bree
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Linthout
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Teije van Dijk
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sandra R. Abbo
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jelke J. Fros
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Haidong Wang
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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8
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Adepoju OA, Afinowi OA, Tauheed AM, Danazumi AU, Dibba LBS, Balogun JB, Flore G, Saidu U, Ibrahim B, Balogun OO, Balogun EO. Multisectoral Perspectives on Global Warming and Vector-borne Diseases: a Focus on Southern Europe. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2023; 10:47-70. [PMID: 36742193 PMCID: PMC9883833 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-023-00283-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The climate change (CC) or global warming (GW) modifies environment that favors vectors' abundance, growth, and reproduction, and consequently, the rate of development of pathogens within the vectors. This review highlights the threats of GW-induced vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in Southern Europe (SE) and the need for mitigation efforts to prevent potential global health catastrophe. Recent Findings Reports showed astronomical surges in the incidences of CC-induced VBDs in the SE. The recently (2022) reported first cases of African swine fever in Northern Italy and West Nile fever in SE are linked to the CC-modified environmental conditions that support vectors and pathogens' growth and development, and disease transmission. Summary VBDs endemic to the tropics are increasingly becoming a major health challenge in the SE, a temperate region, due to the favorable environmental conditions caused by CC/GW that support vectors and pathogens' biology in the previously non-endemic temperate regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwafemi A. Adepoju
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
| | | | - Abdullah M. Tauheed
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
| | - Ammar U. Danazumi
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lamin B. S. Dibba
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, University of the Gambia, Serrekunda, The Gambia
| | - Joshua B. Balogun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State Dutse, Nigeria
| | - Gouegni Flore
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
| | - Umar Saidu
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
| | - Bashiru Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
| | - Olukunmi O. Balogun
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Emmanuel O. Balogun
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2222 Kaduna State Nigeria
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9
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Vector Competence of German Aedes punctor (Kirby, 1837) for West Nile Virus Lineages 1 and 2. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122787. [PMID: 36560791 PMCID: PMC9787774 DOI: 10.3390/v14122787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes as a biological vector. Because of its biting behavior, the widespread snow-melt mosquito Aedes punctor could be a potential bridge vector for WNV to humans and nonhuman mammals. However, little is known on its role in transmission of WNV. The aim of this study was to determine the vector competence of German Ae. punctor for WNV lineages 1 and 2. Field-collected larvae and pupae were reared to adults and offered infectious blood containing either an Italian WNV lineage 1 or a German WNV lineage 2 strain via cotton stick feeding. Engorged females were incubated for 14/15 or 21 days at 18 °C. After incubation; surviving mosquitoes were dissected and forced to salivate. Mosquito bodies with abdomens, thoraces and heads, legs plus wings and saliva samples were investigated for WNV RNA by RT-qPCR. Altogether, 2/70 (2.86%) and 5/85 (5.88%) mosquito bodies were found infected with WNV lineage 1 or 2, respectively. In two mosquitoes, viral RNA was also detected in legs and wings. No saliva sample contained viral RNA. Based on these results, we conclude that Ae. punctor does not play an important role in WNV transmission in Germany.
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10
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Cuervo PF, Artigas P, Mas-Coma S, Bargues MD. West Nile virus in Spain: Forecasting the geographical distribution of risky areas with an ecological niche modelling approach. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e1113-e1129. [PMID: 34812589 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a well-known emerging vector-borne arbovirus with a zoonotic life cycle, represents a threat to both public and animal health. Transmitted by ornithophilic mosquitoes, its transmission is difficult to predict and even more difficult to prevent. The massive and unprecedented number of human cases and equid outbreaks in Spain during 2020 interpellates for new approaches. For the first time, we present an integrate analysis from a niche perspective to provide an insight to the situation of West Nile disease (WND) in Spain. Our modelling approach benefits from the combined use of global occurrence records of outbreaks of WND in equids and of its two alleged main vectors in Spain, Culex pipiens and Cx. perexiguus. Maps of the climatic suitability for the presence of the two vectors species and for the circulation of WNV are provided. The main outcome of our study is a map delineating the areas under certain climatic risk of transmission. Our analyses indicate that the climatic risk of transmission of WND is medium in areas nearby the south Atlantic coastal area of the Cadiz Gulf and the Mediterranean coast, and high in southwestern Spain. The higher risk of transmission in the basins of the rivers Guadiana and Guadalquivir cannot be attributed exclusively to the local abundance of Cx. pipiens, but could be ascribed to the presence and abundance of Cx. perexiguus. Furthermore, this integrated analysis suggests that the WNV presents an ecological niche of its own, not fully overlapping the ones of its hosts or vector, and thus requiring particular environmental conditions to succeed in its infection cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Fernando Cuervo
- Facultad de Farmacia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET - Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Patricio Artigas
- Facultad de Farmacia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Facultad de Farmacia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Dolores Bargues
- Facultad de Farmacia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
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11
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Wang H, Abbo SR, Visser TM, Westenberg M, Geertsema C, Fros JJ, Koenraadt CJM, Pijlman GP. Competition between Usutu virus and West Nile virus during simultaneous and sequential infection of Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 9:2642-2652. [PMID: 33215969 PMCID: PMC7738303 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1854623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are closely related mosquito-borne flaviviruses that are mainly transmitted between bird hosts by vector mosquitoes. Infections in humans are incidental but can cause severe disease. USUV is endemic in large parts of Europe, while WNV mainly circulates in Southern Europe. In recent years, WNV is also frequently detected in Northern Europe, thereby expanding the area where both viruses co-circulate. However, it remains unclear how USUV may affect the future spread of WNV and the likelihood of human co-infection. Here we investigated whether co-infections with both viruses in cell lines and their primary mosquito vector, Culex pipiens, affect virus replication and transmission dynamics. We show that USUV is outcompeted by WNV in mammalian, avian and mosquito cells during co-infection. Mosquitoes that were exposed to both viruses simultaneously via infectious blood meal displayed significantly reduced USUV transmission compared to mosquitoes that were only exposed to USUV (from 15% to 3%), while the infection and transmission of WNV was unaffected. In contrast, when mosquitoes were pre-infected with USUV via infectious blood meal, WNV transmission was significantly reduced (from 44% to 17%). Injection experiments established the involvement of the midgut in the observed USUV-mediated WNV inhibition. The competition between USUV and WNV during co-infection clearly indicates that the chance of concurrent USUV and WNV transmission via a single mosquito bite is low. The competitive relation between USUV and WNV may impact virus transmission dynamics in the field and affect the epidemiology of WNV in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Wang
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sandra R Abbo
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Tessa M Visser
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Marcel Westenberg
- Dutch National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO-NL), Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Corinne Geertsema
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jelke J Fros
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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12
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Abbo SR, Visser TM, Koenraadt CJM, Pijlman GP, Wang H. Effect of blood source on vector competence of Culex pipiens biotypes for Usutu virus. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:194. [PMID: 33832527 PMCID: PMC8028107 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04686-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infectious blood meal experiments have been frequently performed with different virus-vector combinations to assess the transmission potential of arthropod-borne (arbo)viruses. A wide variety of host blood sources have been used to deliver arboviruses to their arthropod vectors in laboratory studies. The type of blood used during vector competence experiments does not always reflect the blood from the viremic vertebrate hosts in the field, but little is known about the effect of blood source on the experimental outcome of vector competence studies. Here we investigated the effect of avian versus human blood on the infection and transmission rates of the zoonotic Usutu virus (USUV) in its primary mosquito vector Culex pipiens. Methods Cx. pipiens biotypes (pipiens and molestus) were orally infected with USUV through infectious blood meals containing either chicken or human whole blood. The USUV infection and transmission rates were determined by checking mosquito bodies and saliva for USUV presence after 14 days of incubation at 28 °C. In addition, viral titers were determined for USUV-positive mosquito bodies and saliva. Results Human and chicken blood lead to similar USUV transmission rates for Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens (18% and 15%, respectively), while human blood moderately but not significantly increased the transmission rate (30%) compared to chicken blood (17%) for biotype molestus. USUV infection rates with human blood were consistently higher in both Cx. pipiens biotypes compared to chicken blood. In virus-positive mosquitoes, USUV body and saliva titers did not differ between mosquitoes taking either human or chicken blood. Importantly, biotype molestus had much lower USUV saliva titers compared to biotype pipiens, regardless of which blood was offered. Conclusions Infection of mosquitoes with human blood led to higher USUV infection rates as compared to chicken blood. However, the blood source had no effect on the vector competence for USUV. Interestingly, biotype molestus is less likely to transmit USUV compared to biotype pipiens due to very low virus titers in the saliva. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra R Abbo
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa M Visser
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Haidong Wang
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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13
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Sikkema RS, Schrama M, van den Berg T, Morren J, Munger E, Krol L, van der Beek JG, Blom R, Chestakova I, van der Linden A, Boter M, van Mastrigt T, Molenkamp R, Koenraadt CJ, van den Brand JM, Oude Munnink BB, Koopmans MP, van der Jeugd H. Detection of West Nile virus in a common whitethroat ( Curruca communis) and Culex mosquitoes in the Netherlands, 2020. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 25. [PMID: 33034280 PMCID: PMC7545818 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.40.2001704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
On 22 August, a common whitethroat in the Netherlands tested positive for West Nile virus lineage 2. The same bird had tested negative in spring. Subsequent testing of Culex mosquitoes collected in August and early September in the same location generated two of 44 positive mosquito pools, providing first evidence for enzootic transmission in the Netherlands. Sequences generated from the positive mosquito pools clustered with sequences that originate from Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maarten Schrama
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tijs van den Berg
- Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jolien Morren
- Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Louie Krol
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Rody Blom
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Marjan Boter
- Viroscience, ErasmusMC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tjomme van Mastrigt
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, the Netherlands.,Wildlife Ecology and Conservation group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.,Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Judith Ma van den Brand
- Division of Pathology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Henk van der Jeugd
- Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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14
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Shocket MS, Verwillow AB, Numazu MG, Slamani H, Cohen JM, El Moustaid F, Rohr J, Johnson LR, Mordecai EA. Transmission of West Nile and five other temperate mosquito-borne viruses peaks at temperatures between 23°C and 26°C. eLife 2020; 9:e58511. [PMID: 32930091 PMCID: PMC7492091 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The temperature-dependence of many important mosquito-borne diseases has never been quantified. These relationships are critical for understanding current distributions and predicting future shifts from climate change. We used trait-based models to characterize temperature-dependent transmission of 10 vector-pathogen pairs of mosquitoes (Culex pipiens, Cx. quinquefascsiatus, Cx. tarsalis, and others) and viruses (West Nile, Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, Sindbis, and Rift Valley Fever viruses), most with substantial transmission in temperate regions. Transmission is optimized at intermediate temperatures (23-26°C) and often has wider thermal breadths (due to cooler lower thermal limits) compared to pathogens with predominately tropical distributions (in previous studies). The incidence of human West Nile virus cases across US counties responded unimodally to average summer temperature and peaked at 24°C, matching model-predicted optima (24-25°C). Climate warming will likely shift transmission of these diseases, increasing it in cooler locations while decreasing it in warmer locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta S Shocket
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | | | - Mailo G Numazu
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Hani Slamani
- Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)BlacksburgUnited States
| | - Jeremy M Cohen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South FloridaTampaUnited States
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of WisconsinMadisonUnited States
| | - Fadoua El Moustaid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)BlacksburgUnited States
| | - Jason Rohr
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South FloridaTampaUnited States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute of Global Health, Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre DameSouth BendUnited States
| | - Leah R Johnson
- Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)BlacksburgUnited States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)BlacksburgUnited States
| | - Erin A Mordecai
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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15
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Esser HJ, Liefting Y, Ibáñez-Justicia A, van der Jeugd H, van Turnhout CAM, Stroo A, Reusken CBEM, Koopmans MPG, de Boer WF. Spatial risk analysis for the introduction and circulation of six arboviruses in the Netherlands. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:464. [PMID: 32912330 PMCID: PMC7488554 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04339-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Arboviruses are a growing public health concern in Europe, with both endemic and exotic arboviruses expected to spread further into novel areas in the next decades. Predicting where future outbreaks will occur is a major challenge, particularly for regions where these arboviruses are not endemic. Spatial modelling of ecological risk factors for arbovirus circulation can help identify areas of potential emergence. Moreover, combining hazard maps of different arboviruses may facilitate a cost-efficient, targeted multiplex-surveillance strategy in areas where virus transmission is most likely. Here, we developed predictive hazard maps for the introduction and/or establishment of six arboviruses that were previously prioritized for the Netherlands: West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Rift Valley fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, louping-ill virus and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. Methods Our spatial model included ecological risk factors that were identified as relevant for these arboviruses by an earlier systematic review, including abiotic conditions, vector abundance, and host availability. We used geographic information system (GIS)-based tools and geostatistical analyses to model spatially continuous datasets on these risk factors to identify regions in the Netherlands with suitable ecological conditions for arbovirus introduction and establishment. Results The resulting hazard maps show that there is spatial clustering of areas with either a relatively low or relatively high environmental suitability for arbovirus circulation. Moreover, there was some overlap in high-hazard areas for virus introduction and/or establishment, particularly in the southern part of the country. Conclusions The similarities in environmental suitability for some of the arboviruses provide opportunities for targeted sampling of vectors and/or sentinel hosts in these potential hotspots of emergence, thereby increasing the efficient use of limited resources for surveillance.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Joan Esser
- Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands. .,Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands. .,Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Yorick Liefting
- Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Adolfo Ibáñez-Justicia
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), National Reference Centre (NRC), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henk van der Jeugd
- Vogeltrekstation - Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chris A M van Turnhout
- Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Animal Ecology & Ecophysiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Stroo
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), National Reference Centre (NRC), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal B E M Reusken
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.,Department of Viroscience, WHO CC for Arbovirus and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marion P G Koopmans
- Department of Viroscience, WHO CC for Arbovirus and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Fred de Boer
- Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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16
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Forced Zika Virus Infection of Culex pipiens Leads to Limited Virus Accumulation in Mosquito Saliva. Viruses 2020; 12:v12060659. [PMID: 32575394 PMCID: PMC7354520 DOI: 10.3390/v12060659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that caused a large outbreak in the Americas in 2015 and 2016. The virus is currently present in tropical areas around the globe and can cause severe disease in humans, including Guillain-Barré syndrome and congenital microcephaly. The tropical yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is the main vector in the urban transmission cycles of ZIKV. The discovery of ZIKV in wild-caught Culex mosquitoes and the ability of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to transmit ZIKV in the laboratory raised the question of whether the common house mosquito Culex pipiens, which is abundantly present in temperate regions in North America, Asia and Europe, could also be involved in ZIKV transmission. In this study, we investigated the vector competence of Cx. pipiens (biotypes molestus and pipiens) from the Netherlands for ZIKV, using Usutu virus as a control. After an infectious blood meal containing ZIKV, none of the tested mosquitoes accumulated ZIKV in the saliva, although 2% of the Cx. pipiens pipiens mosquitoes showed ZIKV–positive bodies. To test the barrier function of the mosquito midgut on virus transmission, ZIKV was forced into Cx. pipiens mosquitoes by intrathoracic injection, resulting in 74% (molestus) and 78% (pipiens) ZIKV–positive bodies. Strikingly, 14% (molestus) and 7% (pipiens) of the tested mosquitoes accumulated ZIKV in the saliva after injection. This is the first demonstration of ZIKV accumulation in the saliva of Cx. pipiens upon forced infection. Nevertheless, a strong midgut barrier restricted virus dissemination in the mosquito after oral exposure and we, therefore, consider Cx. pipiens as a highly inefficient vector for ZIKV.
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17
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Holicki CM, Ziegler U, Răileanu C, Kampen H, Werner D, Schulz J, Silaghi C, Groschup MH, Vasić A. West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Vector Competence of Indigenous Culex and Aedes Mosquitoes from Germany at Temperate Climate Conditions. Viruses 2020; 12:v12050561. [PMID: 32438619 PMCID: PMC7291008 DOI: 10.3390/v12050561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a widespread zoonotic arbovirus and a threat to public health in Germany since its first emergence in 2018. It has become of particular relevance in Germany in 2019 due to its rapid geographical spread and the detection of the first human clinical cases. The susceptibility of indigenous Culex pipiens (biotypes pipiens and molestus) for a German WNV lineage 2 strain was experimentally compared to that of Serbian Cx. pipiens biotype molestus and invasive German Aedes albopictus. All tested populations proved to be competent laboratory vectors of WNV. Culex pipiens biotype pipiens displayed the highest transmission efficiencies (40.0%–52.9%) at 25 °C. This biotype was also able to transmit WNV at 18 °C (transmission efficiencies of 4.4%–8.3%), proving that temperate climates in Central and Northern Europe may support WNV circulation. Furthermore, due to their feeding behaviors, Cx. pipiens biotype molestus and Ae. albopictus can act as “bridge vectors”, leading to human WNV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora M. Holicki
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.M.H.); (U.Z.); (J.S.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.M.H.); (U.Z.); (J.S.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Cristian Răileanu
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.R.); (H.K.); (C.S.)
| | - Helge Kampen
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.R.); (H.K.); (C.S.)
| | - Doreen Werner
- Biodiversity of Aquatic and Semiaquatic Landscape Features, Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, 15374 Muencheberg, Germany;
| | - Jana Schulz
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.M.H.); (U.Z.); (J.S.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.R.); (H.K.); (C.S.)
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.M.H.); (U.Z.); (J.S.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Ana Vasić
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.R.); (H.K.); (C.S.)
- Correspondence:
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18
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Abbo SR, Visser TM, Wang H, Göertz GP, Fros JJ, Abma-Henkens MHC, Geertsema C, Vogels CBF, Koopmans MPG, Reusken CBEM, Hall-Mendelin S, Hall RA, van Oers MM, Koenraadt CJM, Pijlman GP. The invasive Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus found in the Netherlands can experimentally transmit Zika virus and Usutu virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008217. [PMID: 32282830 PMCID: PMC7153878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus is invading Europe and was first discovered in Lelystad, the Netherlands in 2013, where it has established a permanent population. In this study, we investigated the vector competence of Ae. japonicus from the Netherlands for the emerging Zika virus (ZIKV) and zoonotic Usutu virus (USUV). ZIKV causes severe congenital microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in humans. USUV is closely related to West Nile virus, has recently spread throughout Europe and is causing mass mortality of birds. USUV infection in humans can result in clinical manifestations ranging from mild disease to severe neurological impairments. Methodology/Principal findings In our study, field-collected Ae. japonicus females received an infectious blood meal with ZIKV or USUV by droplet feeding. After 14 days at 28°C, 3% of the ZIKV-blood fed mosquitoes and 13% of the USUV-blood fed mosquitoes showed virus-positive saliva, indicating that Ae. japonicus can transmit both viruses. To investigate the effect of the mosquito midgut barrier on virus transmission, female mosquitoes were intrathoracically injected with ZIKV or USUV. Of the injected mosquitoes, 96% (ZIKV) and 88% (USUV) showed virus-positive saliva after 14 days at 28°C. This indicates that ZIKV and USUV can efficiently replicate in Ae. japonicus but that a strong midgut barrier is normally restricting virus dissemination. Small RNA deep sequencing of orally infected mosquitoes confirmed active replication of ZIKV and USUV, as demonstrated by potent small interfering RNA responses against both viruses. Additionally, de novo small RNA assembly revealed the presence of a novel narnavirus in Ae. japonicus. Conclusions/Significance Given that Ae. japonicus can experimentally transmit arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) like ZIKV and USUV and is currently expanding its territories, we should consider this mosquito as a potential vector for arboviral diseases in Europe. Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) cause a high disease burden in humans and animals. Zika virus (ZIKV) causes microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in humans, whereas Usutu virus (USUV) induces high mortality in birds and neurological disease in humans. The spread of arboviruses such as ZIKV and USUV is determined by the presence of mosquitoes that can transmit these viruses from one vertebrate host to the next. Here, we investigate the risk of transmission of ZIKV and USUV by the Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus. This mosquito is invading Europe and is currently present in the Netherlands. We found that field-collected Ae. japonicus mosquitoes can experimentally transmit ZIKV and USUV. Of the orally infected mosquitoes, 3% (ZIKV) and 13% (USUV) showed virus-positive saliva after 14 days at 28°C. We also found that ZIKV and USUV activated the antiviral RNA interference immune response of Ae. japonicus. Moreover, a strong barrier in the mosquito midgut restricted virus dissemination, since 96% (ZIKV) and 88% (USUV) of the mosquitoes injected with ZIKV or USUV showed virus-positive saliva. Additionally, we discovered a narnavirus in Ae. japonicus. Given that Ae. japonicus can transmit ZIKV and USUV, we should consider this mosquito as a potential vector for arboviral diseases in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra R. Abbo
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tessa M. Visser
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Haidong Wang
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Giel P. Göertz
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jelke J. Fros
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Corinne Geertsema
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Chantal B. F. Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Sonja Hall-Mendelin
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Coopers Plains, Australia
| | - Roy A. Hall
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Monique M. van Oers
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Wöhnke E, Vasic A, Raileanu C, Holicki CM, Tews BA, Silaghi C. Comparison of vector competence of Aedes vexans Green River and Culex pipiens biotype pipiens for West Nile virus lineages 1 and 2. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:416-424. [PMID: 32162489 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a zoonotic arbovirus, has recently established an autochthonous transmission cycle in Germany. In dead-end hosts like humans and horses the WNV infection may cause severe symptoms in the central nervous system. In nature, WNV is maintained in an enzootic transmission cycle between birds and ornithophilic mosquitoes. Bridge vector species, such as members of the Culex pipiens complex and Aedes spp., also widely distributed in Germany, might transmit WNV to other vertebrate host species. This study determined and compared the vector competence of field-collected northern-German Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens and laboratory-reared Ae. vexans Green River (GR) for WNV lineage 1 (strain: Magpie/Italy/203204) and WNV lineage 2 (strain: "Austria") under temperatures typical for northern Germany in spring/summer and autumn. For assessment of vector competence, 7- to 14-day-old female mosquitoes were offered a WNV containing blood meal via Hemotek membrane feeding system or cotton-stick feeding. After incubation at 18°C respectively 24°C for 14 days engorged female mosquitoes were salivated and dissected for determination of infection, dissemination and transmission rates by reverse transcriptase quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Both Ae. vexans GR and Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens were infected with both tested WNV strains and tested 14 days post-inoculation. Disseminated infections were detected only in Ae. vexans GR incubated at 18°C and in Cx. pipiens pipiens incubated at 24°C after infection with WNV lineage 1. Transmission of WNV lineage 1 was detected in Cx. pipiens pipiens incubated at 24°C. These results indicate that Cx. pipiens pipiens from Northern Germany may be involved in the transmission of WNV, also to dead-end hosts like humans and horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Wöhnke
- Laboratory of Vector Capacity, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ana Vasic
- Laboratory of Vector Capacity, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Cristian Raileanu
- Laboratory of Vector Capacity, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Cora Marielle Holicki
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Birke Andrea Tews
- Laboratory for Molecular Vector-Pathogen-Interaction, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Laboratory of Vector Capacity, Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany.,University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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20
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Martinet JP, Ferté H, Failloux AB, Schaffner F, Depaquit J. Mosquitoes of North-Western Europe as Potential Vectors of Arboviruses: A Review. Viruses 2019; 11:E1059. [PMID: 31739553 PMCID: PMC6893686 DOI: 10.3390/v11111059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intensification of trade and travel is linked to the growing number of imported cases of dengue, chikungunya or Zika viruses into continental Europe and to the expansion of invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus. Local outbreaks have already occurred in several European countries. Very little information exists on the vector competence of native mosquitoes for arboviruses. As such, the vectorial status of the nine mosquito species largely established in North-Western Europe (Aedes cinereus and Aedes geminus, Aedes cantans, Aedes punctor, Aedes rusticus, Anopheles claviger s.s., Anopheles plumbeus, Coquillettidia richiardii, Culex pipiens s.l., and Culiseta annulata) remains mostly unknown. OBJECTIVES To review the vector competence of both invasive and native mosquito populations found in North-Western Europe (i.e., France, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland) for dengue, chikungunya, Zika, West Nile and Usutu viruses. METHODS A bibliographical search with research strings addressing mosquito vector competence for considered countries was performed. RESULTS Out of 6357 results, 119 references were related to the vector competence of mosquitoes in Western Europe. Eight species appear to be competent for at least one virus. CONCLUSIONS Aedes albopictus is responsible for the current outbreaks. The spread of Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus increases the risk of the autochthonous transmission of these viruses. Although native species could contribute to their transmission, more studies are still needed to assess that risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Martinet
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, ANSES, SFR Cap Santé, EA7510 ESCAPE–USC VECPAR, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51096 Reims CEDEX, France; (H.F.); (J.D.)
- Arbovirus et Insectes Vecteurs, Département de Virologie, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Hubert Ferté
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, ANSES, SFR Cap Santé, EA7510 ESCAPE–USC VECPAR, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51096 Reims CEDEX, France; (H.F.); (J.D.)
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Arbovirus et Insectes Vecteurs, Département de Virologie, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Francis Schaffner
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland;
- Francis Schaffner Consultancy, Lörracherstrasse 50, 4125 Riehen (Basel-Land), Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Depaquit
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, ANSES, SFR Cap Santé, EA7510 ESCAPE–USC VECPAR, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51096 Reims CEDEX, France; (H.F.); (J.D.)
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France
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21
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Ciota AT, Keyel AC. The Role of Temperature in Transmission of Zoonotic Arboviruses. Viruses 2019; 11:E1013. [PMID: 31683823 PMCID: PMC6893470 DOI: 10.3390/v11111013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We reviewed the literature on the role of temperature in transmission of zoonotic arboviruses. Vector competence is affected by both direct and indirect effects of temperature, and generally increases with increasing temperature, but results may vary by vector species, population, and viral strain. Temperature additionally has a significant influence on life history traits of vectors at both immature and adult life stages, and for important behaviors such as blood-feeding and mating. Similar to vector competence, temperature effects on life history traits can vary by species and population. Vector, host, and viral distributions are all affected by temperature, and are generally expected to change with increased temperatures predicted under climate change. Arboviruses are generally expected to shift poleward and to higher elevations under climate change, yet significant variability on fine geographic scales is likely. Temperature effects are generally unimodal, with increases in abundance up to an optimum, and then decreases at high temperatures. Improved vector distribution information could facilitate future distribution modeling. A wide variety of approaches have been used to model viral distributions, although most research has focused on the West Nile virus. Direct temperature effects are frequently observed, as are indirect effects, such as through droughts, where temperature interacts with rainfall. Thermal biology approaches hold much promise for syntheses across viruses, vectors, and hosts, yet future studies must consider the specificity of interactions and the dynamic nature of evolving biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Ciota
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
| | - Alexander C Keyel
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA.
- Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
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22
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Mordecai EA, Caldwell JM, Grossman MK, Lippi CA, Johnson LR, Neira M, Rohr JR, Ryan SJ, Savage V, Shocket MS, Sippy R, Stewart Ibarra AM, Thomas MB, Villena O. Thermal biology of mosquito-borne disease. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:1690-1708. [PMID: 31286630 PMCID: PMC6744319 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases cause a major burden of disease worldwide. The vital rates of these ectothermic vectors and parasites respond strongly and nonlinearly to temperature and therefore to climate change. Here, we review how trait-based approaches can synthesise and mechanistically predict the temperature dependence of transmission across vectors, pathogens, and environments. We present 11 pathogens transmitted by 15 different mosquito species - including globally important diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika - synthesised from previously published studies. Transmission varied strongly and unimodally with temperature, peaking at 23-29ºC and declining to zero below 9-23ºC and above 32-38ºC. Different traits restricted transmission at low versus high temperatures, and temperature effects on transmission varied by both mosquito and parasite species. Temperate pathogens exhibit broader thermal ranges and cooler thermal minima and optima than tropical pathogens. Among tropical pathogens, malaria and Ross River virus had lower thermal optima (25-26ºC) while dengue and Zika viruses had the highest (29ºC) thermal optima. We expect warming to increase transmission below thermal optima but decrease transmission above optima. Key directions for future work include linking mechanistic models to field transmission, combining temperature effects with control measures, incorporating trait variation and temperature variation, and investigating climate adaptation and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A. Mordecai
- Department of BiologyStanford University371 Serra MallStanfordCAUSA
| | | | - Marissa K. Grossman
- Department of Entomology and Center for Infectious Disease DynamicsPenn State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Catherine A. Lippi
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Leah R. Johnson
- Department of StatisticsVirginia Polytechnic and State University250 Drillfield DriveBlacksburgVAUSA
| | - Marco Neira
- Center for Research on Health in Latin America (CISeAL)Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorQuitoEcuador
| | - Jason R. Rohr
- Department of Biological SciencesEck Institute of Global HealthEnvironmental Change InitiativeUniversity of Notre Dame, Notre DameINUSA
| | - Sadie J. Ryan
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Van Savage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Department of BiomathematicsUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCA90095USA
- Santa Fe Institute1399 Hyde Park RdSanta FeNM87501USA
| | - Marta S. Shocket
- Department of BiologyStanford University371 Serra MallStanfordCAUSA
| | - Rachel Sippy
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
- Institute for Global Health and Translational SciencesSUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNY13210USA
| | - Anna M. Stewart Ibarra
- Institute for Global Health and Translational SciencesSUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNY13210USA
| | - Matthew B. Thomas
- Department of Entomology and Center for Infectious Disease DynamicsPenn State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Oswaldo Villena
- Department of StatisticsVirginia Polytechnic and State University250 Drillfield DriveBlacksburgVAUSA
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23
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Kain MP, Bolker BM. Predicting West Nile virus transmission in North American bird communities using phylogenetic mixed effects models and eBird citizen science data. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:395. [PMID: 31395085 PMCID: PMC6686473 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3656-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-transmitted disease of birds that has caused bird population declines and can spill over into human populations. Previous research has identified bird species that infect a large fraction of the total pool of infected mosquitoes and correlate with human infection risk; however, these analyses cover small spatial regions and cannot be used to predict transmission in bird communities in which these species are rare or absent. Here we present a mechanistic model for WNV transmission that predicts WNV spread (R0) in any bird community in North America by scaling up from the physiological responses of individual birds to transmission at the level of the community. We predict unmeasured bird species' responses to infection using phylogenetic imputation, based on these species' phylogenetic relationships with bird species with measured responses. RESULTS We focused our analysis on Texas, USA, because it is among the states with the highest total incidence of WNV in humans and is well sampled by birders in the eBird database. Spatio-temporal patterns: WNV transmission is primarily driven by temperature variation across time and space, and secondarily by bird community composition. In Texas, we predicted WNV R0 to be highest in the spring and fall when temperatures maximize the product of mosquito transmission and survival probabilities. In the most favorable months for WNV transmission (April, May, September and October), we predicted R0 to be highest in the "Piney Woods" and "Oak Woods & Prairies" ecoregions of Texas, and lowest in the "High Plains" and "South Texas Brush County" ecoregions. Dilution effect: More abundant bird species are more competent hosts for WNV, and predicted WNV R0 decreases with increasing species richness. Keystone species: We predicted that northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are the most important hosts for amplifying WNV and that mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) are the most important sinks of infection across Texas. CONCLUSIONS Despite some data limitations, we demonstrate the power of phylogenetic imputation in predicting disease transmission in heterogeneous host communities. Our mechanistic modeling framework shows promise both for assisting future analyses on transmission and spillover in heterogeneous multispecies pathogen systems and for improving model transparency by clarifying assumptions, choices and shortcomings in complex ecological analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan P. Kain
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Benjamin M. Bolker
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Canada
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24
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Culex torrentium: A Potent Vector for the Transmission of West Nile Virus in Central Europe. Viruses 2019; 11:v11060492. [PMID: 31146418 PMCID: PMC6630772 DOI: 10.3390/v11060492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuous circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) in Central, South and East Europe and its recent detection in several dead birds and two horses in Germany highlights the need for information on WNV vector competence of mosquitoes from Central Europe. Therefore, three common Culex species (Culex pipiens biotype pipiens, Culex pipiens biotype molestus and Culex torrentium) from Germany were orally infected with WNV and kept at 18 °C, 21 °C, 24 °C or 27 °C for 14 or 21 days post infection (dpi). Thereafter viable WNV was present in the saliva in all tested taxa, but only at incubation temperatures of 24 °C or 27 °C and predominantly at the extended incubation period of 21 dpi. Highest transmission efficiency rates of 17 % (24 °C) and 24% (27 °C) were found for Cx. torrentium. Culex p. pipiens and Cx. p. molestus showed low transmission efficiencies with a maximum of only 3%. Consequently, temperatures above 21 °C support transmission of WNV, which matches the predominant distribution of human WNV cases around the Mediterranean Sea and in South-East Europe. Culex torrentium has been identified as a potent vector for WNV in Central and Northern Europe, which highlights the need for surveillance of mosquito-borne viruses north of the Alps.
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25
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Esser HJ, Mögling R, Cleton NB, van der Jeugd H, Sprong H, Stroo A, Koopmans MPG, de Boer WF, Reusken CBEM. Risk factors associated with sustained circulation of six zoonotic arboviruses: a systematic review for selection of surveillance sites in non-endemic areas. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:265. [PMID: 31133059 PMCID: PMC6537422 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3515-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Arboviruses represent a significant burden to public health and local economies due to their ability to cause unpredictable and widespread epidemics. To maximize early detection of arbovirus emergence in non-endemic areas, surveillance efforts should target areas where circulation is most likely. However, identifying such hotspots of potential emergence is a major challenge. The ecological conditions leading to arbovirus outbreaks are shaped by complex interactions between the virus, its vertebrate hosts, arthropod vector, and abiotic environment that are often poorly understood. Here, we systematically review the ecological risk factors associated with the circulation of six arboviruses that are of considerable concern to northwestern Europe. These include three mosquito-borne viruses (Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, Rift Valley fever virus) and three tick-borne viruses (Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and louping-ill virus). We consider both intrinsic (e.g. vector and reservoir host competence) and extrinsic (e.g. temperature, precipitation, host densities, land use) risk factors, identify current knowledge gaps, and discuss future directions. Our systematic review provides baseline information for the identification of regions and habitats that have suitable ecological conditions for endemic circulation, and therefore may be used to target early warning surveillance programs aimed at detecting multi-virus and/or arbovirus emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen J Esser
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands. .,Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Ramona Mögling
- Department of Viroscience, WHO CC for arbovirus and viral hemorrhagic fever reference and research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natalie B Cleton
- Department of Viroscience, WHO CC for arbovirus and viral hemorrhagic fever reference and research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Henk van der Jeugd
- Vogeltrekstation-Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Stroo
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), National Reference Centre (NRC), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marion P G Koopmans
- Department of Viroscience, WHO CC for arbovirus and viral hemorrhagic fever reference and research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem F de Boer
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal B E M Reusken
- Department of Viroscience, WHO CC for arbovirus and viral hemorrhagic fever reference and research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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26
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Dorko E, Bušová A, Csank T, Feketeová E, Rimárová K, Diabelková J, Čellár R, Bereš M, Gyuranecz M, Pistl J, Bakonyi T, Jenča A, Jenčová J, Petrášová A. West Nile virus - a new infection in the Slovak Republic? Cent Eur J Public Health 2019; 26 Suppl:S51-S55. [PMID: 30817874 DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among the variable population of Eastern Slovakia. METHODS A serologic survey was conducted using 464 serum samples. The basic demographic, epidemiologic and clinical information was obtained for each serum sample at the time of specimen collection. The presence of antibodies against WNV was investigated using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the ELISA positive samples were further analysed by a neutralization test with WNV and Usutu virus. RESULTS Three serum samples (0.65%) from the participants (N = 464) were considered positive for antibodies to WNV. A 29-year-old female was repeatedly exposed to mosquito bites working as a shepherdess and participating in many outdoor activities. Two other females (61 and 76 years old) were treated at the Department of Neurology due to monoparesis of the upper extremity, vertigo; both had a significant epidemiological history with frequent tick and mosquito bites and stay in an endemic region. CONCLUSIONS Although there was no evidence of WNV infection in the Slovak Republic, the epidemiological situation in the neighbouring countries warrants vigilance and appropriate measures, including the introduction of specific diagnostic tools into clinical practice. The constant monitoring of birds and mosquitoes also seems necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Dorko
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Andrea Bušová
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Tomáš Csank
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Eva Feketeová
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Kvetoslava Rimárová
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Diabelková
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Róbert Čellár
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of Locomotory Apparatus, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Matúš Bereš
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of Locomotory Apparatus, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Miklós Gyuranecz
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Juraj Pistl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Tamás Bakonyi
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.,Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infectious Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrej Jenča
- Department of Stomatology and Maxilofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Janka Jenčová
- Department of Stomatology and Maxilofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Adriána Petrášová
- Department of Stomatology and Maxilofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic
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Ziyaeyan M, Behzadi MA, Leyva-Grado VH, Azizi K, Pouladfar G, Dorzaban H, Ziyaeyan A, Salek S, Jaber Hashemi A, Jamalidoust M. Widespread circulation of West Nile virus, but not Zika virus in southern Iran. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0007022. [PMID: 30557321 PMCID: PMC6312345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are mosquito-borne viral infections. Over the past few decades, WNV has been associated with several outbreaks involving high numbers of neuroinvasive diseases among humans. The recent re-emergence of ZIKV has been associated with congenital malformation and also with Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. The geographic range of arthropod-borne viruses has been rapidly increasing in recent years. The objectives of this study were to determine the presence of IgG specific antibodies and the genome of WNV and ZIKV in human samples, as well as WNV and ZIKV genomes in wild-caught mosquitoes in urban and rural areas of the Hormozgan province, in southern Iran. A total of 494 serum samples were tested for the presence of WNV and ZIKV IgG antibodies using ELISA assays. One hundred and two (20.6%) samples were reactive for WNV IgG antibodies. All serum samples were negative for ZIKV IgG antibodies. Using the multivariable logistic analysis, age (45+ vs. 1-25; OR = 3.4, 95% C.I.: 1.8-6.3), occupation (mostly outdoor vs. mostly indoor; OR = 2.4, 95% C.I.: 1.1-5.2), and skin type(type I/II vs. type III/IV and type V/VI; OR = 4.3, 95% C.I.: 1.7-10.8 and OR = 2.7, 95% C.I.: 1.3-5.5 respectively, skin types based on Fitzpatrick scale) showed significant association with WNV seroreactivity. We collected 2,015 mosquitoes in 136 pools belonging to 5 genera and 14 species. Three pools of Culex pipiens complex were positive for WNV RNA using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR). ZIKV RNA was not detected in any of the pools. All WNV ELISA reactive serum samples were negative for WNV RNA. In conclusion, we provided evidence of the establishment of WNV in southern Iran and no proof of ZIKV in serum samples or in mosquito vectors. The establishment of an organized arbovirus surveillance system and active case finding strategies seems to be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazyar Ziyaeyan
- Department of Clinical Virology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Behzadi
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Victor Hugo Leyva-Grado
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kourosh Azizi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Pouladfar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hedayat Dorzaban
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Sanaz Salek
- Department of Clinical Virology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Aghyl Jaber Hashemi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Marzieh Jamalidoust
- Department of Clinical Virology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
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Channon RB, Yang Y, Feibelman KM, Geiss BJ, Dandy DS, Henry CS. Development of an Electrochemical Paper-Based Analytical Device for Trace Detection of Virus Particles. Anal Chem 2018; 90:7777-7783. [PMID: 29790331 PMCID: PMC6595480 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Viral pathogens are a serious health threat around the world, particularly in resource limited settings, where current sensing approaches are often insufficient and slow, compounding the spread and burden of these pathogens. Here, we describe a label-free, point-of-care approach toward detection of virus particles, based on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device with integrated microwire Au electrodes. The device is initially characterized through capturing of streptavidin modified nanoparticles by biotin-modified microwires. An order of magnitude improvement in detection limits is achieved through use of a microfluidic device over a classical static paper-based device, due to enhanced mass transport and capturing of particles on the modified electrodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy detection of West Nile virus particles was carried out using antibody functionalized Au microwires, achieving a detection limit of 10.2 particles in 50 μL of cell culture media. No increase in signal is found on addition of an excess of a nonspecific target (Sindbis). This detection motif is significantly cheaper (∼$1 per test) and faster (∼30 min) than current methods, while achieving the desired selectivity and sensitivity. This sensing motif represents a general platform for trace detection of a wide range of biological pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B. Channon
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Kristen M. Feibelman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Brian J. Geiss
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - David S. Dandy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Charles S. Henry
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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Vogels CBF, Fros JJ, Pijlman GP, van Loon JJA, Gort G, Koenraadt CJM. Virus interferes with host-seeking behaviour of mosquito. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 220:3598-3603. [PMID: 28978641 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.164186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Transmission of vector-borne pathogens is dependent on the host-seeking behaviour of their vector. Pathogen manipulation of the host-seeking behaviour of vectors towards susceptible hosts is supposedly beneficial for transmission. For West Nile virus (WNV), manipulation of the host-seeking behaviour of the main mosquito vector towards birds would be advantageous, because mammals are dead-end hosts. We hypothesised that WNV infection induces a stronger host-seeking response and a shift in host preference towards birds, to enhance its transmission by mosquitoes. However, here we show that WNV infection decreases the host-seeking response, and does not induce a shift in mosquito host preference. Other fitness-related traits are not affected by WNV infection. No effect of WNV infection was found on antennal electrophysiological responsiveness. Thus, the reduced host-seeking response is likely to result from interference in the mosquito's central nervous system. This is the first study that shows changes, specifically in the host-seeking behaviour induced by a pathogen, that do not favour transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B F Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelke J Fros
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joop J A van Loon
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerrit Gort
- Biometris, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Romo H, Papa A, Kading R, Clark R, Delorey M, Brault AC. Comparative Vector Competence of North American Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus for African and European Lineage 2 West Nile Viruses. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018; 98:1863-1869. [PMID: 29637885 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is phylogenetically separated into distinct lineages. Lineage 1 (L1) and lineage 2 (L2) encompass all WNV isolates associated with human and veterinary disease cases. Although L1 WNV is globally distributed, including North America, L2 WNV only recently emerged out of sub-Saharan Africa into Europe and Russia. The spread of L2 WNV throughout and beyond Europe depends, in part, on availability of competent vectors. The vector competence of mosquitoes within the Culex genus for WNV is well established for L1 WNV but less extensively studied for L2 WNV. Assessing the vector competence of North American Culex mosquitoes for L2 WNV will be critical for predicting the potential for L2 WNV emergence in North America. We address the vector competence of North American Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus for L2 WNV. Both mosquito species were highly competent for each of the L2 WNV strains assessed, but variation in infection, dissemination, and transmission was observed. An L2 WNV strain (NS10) isolated during the Greek outbreak in 2010 exhibited a reduced capacity to infect Cx. pipiens compared with other L2 WNV strains. In addition, a South African L2 WNV strain (SA89) displayed a significantly shorter extrinsic incubation period in Cx. quinquefasciatus compared with other L2 WNV strains. These results demonstrate that North American Culex mosquito species are competent vectors of African and European L2 WNV and that emergence of L2 WNV is unlikely to be hindered by poor competence of North American vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Romo
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Anna Papa
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Rebekah Kading
- Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Immunology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Rebecca Clark
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Mark Delorey
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Aaron C Brault
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
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Altered vector competence in an experimental mosquito-mouse transmission model of Zika infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006350. [PMID: 29505571 PMCID: PMC5854422 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Few animal models of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection have incorporated arthropod-borne transmission. Here, we establish an Aedes aegypti mosquito model of ZIKV infection of mice, and demonstrate altered vector competency among three strains, (Orlando, ORL, Ho Chi Minh, HCM, and Patilas, PAT). All strains acquired ZIKV in their midguts after a blood meal from infected mice, but ZIKV transmission only occurred in mice fed upon by HCM, and to a lesser extent PAT, but not ORL, mosquitoes. This defect in transmission from ORL or PAT mosquitoes was overcome by intrathoracic injection of ZIKV into mosquito. Genetic analysis revealed significant diversity among these strains, suggesting a genetic basis for differences in ability for mosquito strains to transmit ZIKV. The intrathoracic injection mosquito-mouse transmission model is critical to understanding the influence of mosquitoes on ZIKV transmission, infectivity and pathogenesis in the vertebrate host, and represents a natural transmission route for testing vaccines and therapeutics. Zika virus (ZIKV), an emerging flavivirus, is associated with severe clinical outcomes, including Guillain-Barre syndrome and birth defects. Transmission of ZIKV is primarily mosquito-borne, but the complete transmission cycle from mammalian host to mosquito and back to mammalian host has not yet been demonstrated experimentally. Here, for the first time, we establish a transmission model of ZIKV between mice lacking both interferon α and interferon γ receptor (AG129) and the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the main vector of ZIKV. We also highlight differences in vector competence among a common laboratory strain, Orlando (ORL), and two wild-caught strains, Ho Chi Minh (HCM) and Patillas (PAT), of the Aedes aegypti mosquito using oral feeding on infected mice and intrathoracic inoculation of ZIKV. Our results suggest different ZIKV susceptibility among these strains, which could be relevant as this virus spreads throughout the globe. In addition, the mosquito transmission model demonstrated here can be used to better understand the effect mosquitoes have on replication and pathogenesis of this virus.
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Mosquitoes as Arbovirus Vectors: From Species Identification to Vector Competence. PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH MONOGRAPHS 2018. [PMCID: PMC7122353 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-94075-5_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes and other arthropods transmit a large number of medically important pathogens, in particular viruses. These arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) include a wide variety of RNA viruses belonging to the Flaviviridae family (West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), Dengue virus (DENV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Zika virus (ZIKV)), the Togaviridae family (Chikungunya virus (CHIKV)), and Bunyavirales order (Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV)) (please refer also to Table 9.1). Arboviral transmission to humans and livestock constitutes a major threat to public health and economy as illustrated by the emergence of ZIKV in the Americas, RVFV outbreaks in Africa, and the worldwide outbreaks of DENV. To answer the question if those viral pathogens also pose a risk to Europe, we need to first answer the key questions (summarized in Fig. 9.1):Who could contribute to such an outbreak? Information about mosquito species resident or imported, potential hosts and viruses able to infect vectors and hosts in Germany is needed. Where would competent mosquito species meet favorable conditions for transmission? Information on the minimum requirements for efficient replication of the virus in a given vector species and subsequent transmission is needed. How do viruses and vectors interact to facilitate transmission? Information on the vector immunity, vector physiology, vector genetics, and vector microbiomes is needed.
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Vloet RPM, Vogels CBF, Koenraadt CJM, Pijlman GP, Eiden M, Gonzales JL, van Keulen LJM, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J. Transmission of Rift Valley fever virus from European-breed lambs to Culex pipiens mosquitoes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006145. [PMID: 29281642 PMCID: PMC5760105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne bunyavirus of the genus Phlebovirus that is highly pathogenic to ruminants and humans. The disease is currently confined to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, but globalization and climate change may facilitate introductions of the virus into currently unaffected areas via infected animals or mosquitoes. The consequences of such an introduction will depend on environmental factors, the availability of susceptible ruminants and the capacity of local mosquitoes to transmit the virus. We have previously demonstrated that lambs native to the Netherlands are highly susceptible to RVFV and we here report the vector competence of Culex (Cx.) pipiens, the most abundant and widespread mosquito species in the country. Vector competence was first determined after artificial blood feeding of laboratory-reared mosquitoes using the attenuated Clone 13 strain. Subsequently, experiments with wild-type RVFV and mosquitoes hatched from field-collected eggs were performed. Finally, the transmission of RVFV from viremic lambs to mosquitoes was studied. Principal findings Artificial feeding experiments using Clone 13 demonstrated that indigenous, laboratory-reared Cx. pipiens mosquitoes are susceptible to RVFV and that the virus can be transmitted via their saliva. Experiments with wild-type RVFV and mosquitoes hatched from field-collected eggs confirmed the vector competence of Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from the Netherlands. To subsequently investigate transmission of the virus under more natural conditions, mosquitoes were allowed to feed on RVFV-infected lambs during the viremic period. We found that RVFV is efficiently transmitted from lambs to mosquitoes, although transmission was restricted to peak viremia. Interestingly, in the mosquito-exposed skin samples, replication of RVFV was detected in previously unrecognized target cells. Significance We here report the vector competence of Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from the Netherlands for RVFV. Both laboratory-reared mosquitoes and well as those hatched from field-collected eggs were found to be competent vectors. Moreover, RVFV was transmitted efficiently from indigenous lambs to mosquitoes, although the duration of host infectivity was found to be shorter than previously assumed. Interestingly, analysis of mosquito-exposed skin samples revealed previously unidentified target cells of the virus. Our findings underscore the value of including natural target species in vector competence experiments. The consequences of first introductions of mosquito-borne viruses into previously unaffected areas depend on environmental factors, the availability of susceptible hosts and local vector populations. We have previously demonstrated that sheep breeds native to the Netherlands are highly susceptible to Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a mosquito-borne virus that causes severe outbreaks among domesticated ruminants and humans in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. To gain further insight into the risk of a future RVFV introduction into the Netherlands, we have now investigated the vector competence of Cx. pipiens, the most abundant mosquito species in the country. Vector competence was first determined after artificial blood feeding and subsequently after feeding on viremic lambs. The results from artificial feeding experiments suggested that indigenous Cx. pipiens mosquitoes are competent vectors. The vector competence of Cx. pipiens was confirmed after feeding on viremic lambs. Transmission from lambs to mosquitoes was found to be very efficient, although largely confined to peak viremia. The localized inflammatory response resulting from mosquito bites was associated with enhanced virus replication in the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianka P. M. Vloet
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jose L. Gonzales
- Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Vogels CBF, Göertz GP, Pijlman GP, Koenraadt CJM. Vector competence of northern and southern European Culex pipiens pipiens mosquitoes for West Nile virus across a gradient of temperatures. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 31:358-364. [PMID: 28752627 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In Europe, West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks have been limited to southern and central European countries. However, competent mosquito vectors and susceptible bird hosts are present in northern Europe. Differences in temperature and vector competence of mosquito populations may explain the absence of WNV outbreaks in northern Europe. The aim of the present study was to directly compare vector competence of northern and southern European Culex pipiens (Cx. p.) pipiens mosquitoes for WNV across a gradient of temperatures. WNV infection and transmission rates were determined for two Cx. p. pipiens populations originating from The Netherlands and Italy, respectively. Mosquitoes were orally exposed by providing an infectious bloodmeal, or by injecting WNV (lineage 2) in the thorax, followed by 14-day incubation at 18, 23, or 28 °C. No differences in infection or transmission rates were found between the Cx. p. pipiens populations with both infection methods, but WNV transmission rates were significantly higher at temperatures above 18 °C. The absence of WNV outbreaks in northern Europe cannot be explained by differences in vector competence between Cx. p. pipiens populations originating from northern and southern Europe. This study suggests that low temperature is a key limiting factor for WNV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- C B F Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - G P Göertz
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - G P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - C J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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35
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Vogels CB, Göertz GP, Pijlman GP, Koenraadt CJ. Vector competence of European mosquitoes for West Nile virus. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017; 6:e96. [PMID: 29116220 PMCID: PMC5717085 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus of high medical and veterinary importance. The main vectors for WNV are mosquito species of the Culex genus that transmit WNV among birds, and occasionally to humans and horses, which are ‘dead-end’ hosts. Recently, several studies have been published that aimed to identify the mosquito species that serve as vectors for WNV in Europe. These studies provide insight in factors that can influence vector competence of European mosquito species for WNV. Here, we review the current knowledge on vector competence of European mosquitoes for WNV, and the molecular knowledge on physical barriers, anti-viral pathways and microbes that influence vector competence based on studies with other flaviviruses. By comparing the 12 available WNV vector competence studies with European mosquitoes we evaluate the effect of factors such as temperature, mosquito origin and mosquito biotype on vector competence. In addition, we propose a standardised methodology to allow for comparative studies across Europe. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps regarding vector competence that, once addressed, will provide important insights into WNV transmission and ultimately contribute to effective strategies to control WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Bf Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Giel P Göertz
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus Jm Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Möhlmann TWR, Wennergren U, Tälle M, Favia G, Damiani C, Bracchetti L, Koenraadt CJM. Community analysis of the abundance and diversity of mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in three European countries at different latitudes. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:510. [PMID: 29061177 PMCID: PMC5653988 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2481-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on mosquito species diversity in Europe often focus on a specific habitat, region or country. Moreover, different trap types are used for these sampling studies, making it difficult to compare and validate results across Europe. To facilitate comparisons of trapping sites and community analysis, the present study used two trap types for monitoring mosquito species diversity in three habitat types for three different countries in Europe. METHODS Mosquitoes were trapped using Biogents Sentinel (BGS), and Mosquito Magnet Liberty Plus (MMLP) traps at a total of 27 locations in Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy, comprising farm, peri-urban and wetland habitats. From July 2014 to June 2015 all locations were sampled monthly, except for the winter months. Indices of species richness, evenness and diversity were calculated, and community analyses were carried out with non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) techniques. RESULTS A total of 11,745 female mosquitoes were trapped during 887 collections. More than 90% of the mosquitoes belonged to the genera Culex and Aedes, with Culex pipiens being the most abundant species. The highest mosquito diversity was found in Sweden. Within Sweden, species diversity was highest in wetland habitats, whereas in the Netherlands and Italy this was highest at farms. The NMDS analyses showed clear differences in mosquito communities among countries, but not among habitat types. The MMLP trapped a higher diversity of mosquito species than the BGS traps. Also, MMLP traps trapped higher numbers of mosquitoes, except for the genera Culex and Culiseta in Italy. CONCLUSIONS A core mosquito community could be identified for the three countries, with Culex pipiens as the most abundant species. Differences in mosquito species communities were more defined by the three countries included in the study than by the three habitat types. Differences in mosquito community composition across countries may have implications for disease emergence and further spread throughout Europe. Future research should, therefore, focus on how field data of vector communities can be incorporated into models, to better assess the risk of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim W R Möhlmann
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 16, 6700, AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands. .,IFM Theory and Modelling, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Uno Wennergren
- IFM Theory and Modelling, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Malin Tälle
- IFM Theory and Modelling, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Guido Favia
- Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Claudia Damiani
- Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Luca Bracchetti
- Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Constantianus J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 16, 6700, AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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García-Bocanegra I, Belkhiria J, Napp S, Cano-Terriza D, Jiménez-Ruiz S, Martínez-López B. Epidemiology and spatio-temporal analysis of West Nile virus in horses in Spain between 2010 and 2016. Transbound Emerg Dis 2017; 65:567-577. [PMID: 29034611 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
During the last decade, West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks have increased sharply in both horses and human in Europe. The aims of this study were to evaluate characteristics and spatio-temporal distribution of WNV outbreaks in horses in Spain between 2010 and 2016 in order to identify the environmental variables most associated with WNV occurrence and to generate high-resolution WNV suitability maps to inform risk-based surveillance strategies in this country. Between August 2010 and November 2016, a total of 403 WNV suspected cases were investigated, of which, 177 (43.9%) were laboratory confirmed. Mean values of morbidity, mortality and case fatality rates were 7.5%, 1.6% and 21.2%, respectively. The most common clinical symptoms were as follows: tiredness/apathy, recumbency, muscular tremor, ataxia, incoordination and hyperaesthesia. The outbreaks confirmed during the last 7 years, with detection of WNV RNA lineage 1 in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, suggest an endemic circulation of the virus in Spain. The spatio-temporal distribution of WNV outbreaks in Spain was not homogeneous, as most of them (92.7%) were concentrated in western part of Andalusia (southern Spain) and significant clusters were detected in this region in two non-consecutive years. These findings were supported by the results of the space-time scan statistics permutation model. A presence-only MaxEnt ecological niche model was used to generate a suitability map for WNV occurrence in Andalusia. The most important predictors selected by the Ecological Niche Modeling were as follows: mean annual temperature (49.5% contribution), presence of Culex pipiens (19.5% contribution), mean annual precipitation (16.1% contribution) and distance to Ramsar wetlands (14.9% contribution). Our results constitute an important step for understanding WNV emergence and spread in Spain and will provide valuable information for the development of more cost-effective surveillance and control programmes and improve the protection of horse and human populations in WNV-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- I García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - J Belkhiria
- Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS), Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - S Napp
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA) - Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Cano-Terriza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - S Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - B Martínez-López
- Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS), Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Ciota AT. West Nile virus and its vectors. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 22:28-36. [PMID: 28805636 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV Flaviviridae; Flavivrus) is the most geographically widespread arbovirus in the world and the leading cause of arboviral encephalitis globally. Worldwide, WNV is maintained in an enzootic cycle between primarily Culex spp. mosquitoes and birds, with human infection and disease resulting from enzootic spillover. Dynamic and complex intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to the temporal and spatial variability in WNV transmission. The most current information on the relative contribution of each of these factors is reviewed and a case to incorporate detailed and localized environmental and genetic data into predictive models is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Ciota
- The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY, USA.
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Modelling West Nile virus transmission risk in Europe: effect of temperature and mosquito biotypes on the basic reproduction number. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5022. [PMID: 28694450 PMCID: PMC5504010 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05185-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which has caused repeated outbreaks in humans in southern and central Europe, but thus far not in northern Europe. The main mosquito vector for WNV, Culex pipiens, consists of two behaviourally distinct biotypes, pipiens and molestus, which can form hybrids. Differences between biotypes, such as vector competence and host preference, could be important in determining the risk of WNV outbreaks. Risks for WNV establishment can be modelled with basic reproduction number (R0) models. However, existing R0 models have not differentiated between biotypes. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore the role of temperature-dependent and biotype-specific effects on the risk of WNV establishment in Europe. We developed an R0 model with temperature-dependent and biotype-specific parameters, and calculated R0 values using the next-generation matrix for several scenarios relevant for Europe. In addition, elasticity analysis was done to investigate the contribution of each biotype to R0. Global warming and increased mosquito-to-host ratios can possibly result in more intense WNV circulation in birds and spill-over to humans in northern Europe. Different contributions of the Cx. pipiens biotypes to R0 shows the importance of including biotype-specific parameters in models for reliable WNV risk assessments.
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Lim SM, Geervliet M, Verhagen JH, Müskens GJDM, Majoor FA, Osterhaus ADME, Martina BEE. Serologic evidence of West Nile virus and Usutu virus infections in Eurasian coots in the Netherlands. Zoonoses Public Health 2017; 65:96-102. [PMID: 28688117 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are arboviruses that are maintained in enzootic transmission cycles between mosquitoes and birds and are occasionally transmitted to mammals. As arboviruses are currently expanding their geographic range and emerging in often unpredictable locations, surveillance is considered an important element of preparedness. To determine whether sera collected from resident and migratory birds in the Netherlands as part of avian influenza surveillance would also represent an effective source for proactive arbovirus surveillance, a random selection of such sera was screened for WNV antibodies using a commercial ELISA. In addition, sera of jackdaws and carrion crows captured for previous experimental infection studies were added to the selection. Of the 265 screened serum samples, 27 were found to be WNV-antibody-positive, and subsequent cross-neutralization experiments using WNV and USUV confirmed that five serum samples were positive for only WNV-neutralizing antibodies and seven for only USUV. The positive birds consisted of four Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) and one carrion crow (Corvus corone) for WNV, of which the latter may suggest local presence of the virus, and only Eurasian coots for USUV. As a result, the screening of a small selection of serum samples originally collected for avian influenza surveillance demonstrated a seroprevalence of 1.6% for WNV and 2.8% for USUV, suggesting that this sustained infrastructure could serve as a useful source for future surveillance of arboviruses such as WNV and USUV in the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Lim
- Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - M Geervliet
- Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Delft, the Netherlands.,Animal Sciences, Cell Biology and Immunology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J H Verhagen
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Centre for Ecology and Evolution for Microbial Model Systems Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - G J D M Müskens
- Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - F A Majoor
- Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - A D M E Osterhaus
- Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Delft, the Netherlands.,Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - B E E Martina
- Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Delft, the Netherlands.,Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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41
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More S, Bicout D, Bøtner A, Butterworth A, Calistri P, De Koeijer A, Depner K, Edwards S, Garin-Bastuji B, Good M, Gortazar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda MA, Nielsen SS, Raj M, Sihvonen L, Spoolder H, Thulke HH, Velarde A, Willeberg P, Winckler C, Bau A, Beltran-Beck B, Carnesecchi E, Casier P, Czwienczek E, Dhollander S, Georgiadis M, Gogin A, Pasinato L, Richardson J, Riolo F, Rossi G, Watts M, Lima E, Stegeman JA. Vector-borne diseases. EFSA J 2017; 15:e04793. [PMID: 32625493 PMCID: PMC7009857 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
After a request from the European Commission, EFSA's Panel on Animal Health and Welfare summarised the main characteristics of 36 vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in https://efsa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicGallery/index.html?appid=dfbeac92aea944599ed1eb754aa5e6d1. The risk of introduction in the EU through movement of livestock or pets was assessed for each of the 36 VBDs individually, using a semiquantitative Method to INTegrate all relevant RISK aspects (MINTRISK model), which was further modified to a European scale into the http://www3.lei.wur.nl/mintrisk/ModelMgt.aspx. Only eight of the 36 VBD-agents had an overall rate of introduction in the EU (being the combination of the rate of entry, vector transmission and establishment) which was estimated to be above 0.001 introductions per year. These were Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, bluetongue virus, West Nile virus, Schmallenberg virus, Hepatozoon canis, Leishmania infantum, Bunyamwera virus and Highlands J. virus. For these eight diseases, the annual extent of spread was assessed, assuming the implementation of available, authorised prevention and control measures in the EU. Further, the probability of overwintering was assessed, as well as the possible impact of the VBDs on public health, animal health and farm production. For the other 28 VBD-agents for which the rate of introduction was estimated to be very low, no further assessments were made. Due to the uncertainty related to some parameters used for the risk assessment or the instable or unpredictability disease situation in some of the source regions, it is recommended to update the assessment when new information becomes available. Since this risk assessment was carried out for large regions in the EU for many VBD-agents, it should be considered as a first screening. If a more detailed risk assessment for a specific VBD is wished for on a national or subnational level, the EFSA-VBD-RISK-model is freely available for this purpose.
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Surveillance of Arthropod-Borne Viruses and Their Vectors in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions Within the MediLabSecure Network. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2017; 4:27-39. [PMID: 28386524 PMCID: PMC5362652 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-017-0101-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Arboviruses, viruses transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and fleas are a significant threat to public health because of their epidemic and zoonotic potential. The geographical distribution of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile (WN), Rift Valley fever (RVF), Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika has expanded over the last decades. Countries of the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions are not spared. Outbreaks of WN are repeatedly reported in the Mediterranean basin. Human cases of RVF were reported at the southern borders of the Maghreb region. For this reason, establishing the basis for the research to understand the potential for the future emergence of these and other arboviruses and their expansion into new geographic areas became a public health priority. In this context, the European network "MediLabSecure" gathering laboratories in 19 non-EU countries from the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions seeks to improve the surveillance (of animals, humans, and vectors) by reinforcing capacity building and harmonizing national surveillance systems to address this important human and veterinary health issue. The aim of this review is to give an exhaustive overview of arboviruses and their vectors in the region. RECENT FINDINGS The data presented underline the importance of surveillance in the implementation of more adapted control strategies to combat vector-borne diseases. Partner laboratories within the MediLabSecure network present a wide range of infrastructures and have benefited from different training programs. SUMMARY Although reporting of arboviral presence is not carried out in a systematic manner, the expansion of the area where arboviruses are present cannot be disputed. This reinforces the need for increasing surveillance capacity building in this region to prevent future emergences.
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43
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Vogels CBF, Möhlmann TWR, Melsen D, Favia G, Wennergren U, Koenraadt CJM. Latitudinal Diversity of Culex pipiens Biotypes and Hybrids in Farm, Peri-Urban, and Wetland Habitats in Europe. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166959. [PMID: 27870890 PMCID: PMC5117740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the presence of Culex (Cx.) pipiens mosquitoes and circulation of West Nile virus (WNV), WNV outbreaks have so far not occurred in northern Europe. The species Cx. pipiens consists of two morphologically identical biotypes, pipiens and molestus, which can form hybrids. Until now, population dynamic studies of Cx. pipiens have not differentiated between biotypes and hybrids at the European scale, nor have they used comparative surveillance approaches. We therefore aimed to elucidate the relative abundance of Cx. pipiens biotypes and hybrids in three habitat types at different latitudes across Europe, using two different surveillance traps. BG-Sentinel and Mosquito-Magnet Liberty Plus traps were placed in three habitat types (farms, peri-urban, wetlands), in three European countries (Sweden, The Netherlands, Italy). Collected Cx. pipiens mosquitoes were identified to biotype with real-time PCR. Both trap types collected equal ratios of the biotypes and their hybrids. From northern to southern latitudes there was a significant decrease of pipiens and an increase of molestus. Habitat types influenced the relative ratios of biotypes and hybrids, but results were not consistent across latitudes. Our results emphasize the need to differentiate Cx. pipiens to the biotype level, especially for proper future WNV risk assessments for Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B. F. Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Tim W. R. Möhlmann
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- IFM Theory and Modelling, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Diede Melsen
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guido Favia
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Uno Wennergren
- IFM Theory and Modelling, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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44
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Noncoding Subgenomic Flavivirus RNA Is Processed by the Mosquito RNA Interference Machinery and Determines West Nile Virus Transmission by Culex pipiens Mosquitoes. J Virol 2016; 90:10145-10159. [PMID: 27581979 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00930-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses, such as Zika virus, yellow fever virus, dengue virus, and West Nile virus (WNV), are a serious concern for human health. Flaviviruses produce an abundant noncoding subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) in infected cells. sfRNA results from stalling of the host 5'-3' exoribonuclease XRN1/Pacman on conserved RNA structures in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the viral genomic RNA. sfRNA production is conserved in insect-specific, mosquito-borne, and tick-borne flaviviruses and flaviviruses with no known vector, suggesting a pivotal role for sfRNA in the flavivirus life cycle. Here, we investigated the function of sfRNA during WNV infection of Culex pipiens mosquitoes and evaluated its role in determining vector competence. An sfRNA1-deficient WNV was generated that displayed growth kinetics similar to those of wild-type WNV in both RNA interference (RNAi)-competent and -compromised mosquito cell lines. Small-RNA deep sequencing of WNV-infected mosquitoes indicated an active small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based antiviral response for both the wild-type and sfRNA1-deficient viruses. Additionally, we provide the first evidence that sfRNA is an RNAi substrate in vivo Two reproducible small-RNA hot spots within the 3' UTR/sfRNA of the wild-type virus mapped to RNA stem-loops SL-III and 3' SL, which stick out of the three-dimensional (3D) sfRNA structure model. Importantly, we demonstrate that sfRNA-deficient WNV displays significantly decreased infection and transmission rates in vivo when administered via the blood meal. Finally, we show that transmission and infection rates are not affected by sfRNA after intrathoracic injection, thereby identifying sfRNA as a key driver to overcome the mosquito midgut infection barrier. This is the first report to describe a key biological function of sfRNA for flavivirus infection of the arthropod vector, providing an explanation for the strict conservation of sfRNA production. IMPORTANCE Understanding the flavivirus transmission cycle is important to identify novel targets to interfere with disease and to aid development of virus control strategies. Flaviviruses produce an abundant noncoding viral RNA called sfRNA in both arthropod and mammalian cells. To evaluate the role of sfRNA in flavivirus transmission, we infected mosquitoes with the flavivirus West Nile virus and an sfRNA-deficient mutant West Nile virus. We demonstrate that sfRNA determines the infection and transmission rates of West Nile virus in Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Comparison of infection via the blood meal versus intrathoracic injection, which bypasses the midgut, revealed that sfRNA is important to overcome the mosquito midgut barrier. We also show that sfRNA is processed by the antiviral RNA interference machinery in mosquitoes. This is the first report to describe a pivotal biological function of sfRNA in arthropods. The results explain why sfRNA production is evolutionarily conserved.
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45
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Vogels CBF, Fros JJ, Göertz GP, Pijlman GP, Koenraadt CJM. Vector competence of northern European Culex pipiens biotypes and hybrids for West Nile virus is differentially affected by temperature. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:393. [PMID: 27388451 PMCID: PMC4937539 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1677-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) have not occurred in northern Europe despite nearby circulation of WNV in the southern part of the continent. The main vector for WNV, the mosquito Culex (Cx.) pipiens, consists of two behaviorally distinct biotypes, pipiens and molestus, which can form hybrids. Although temperature has been shown to influence vector competence of Cx. pipiens for WNV and biotypes are differentially susceptible towards infection, the interaction between the two has not been elucidated. METHODS We determined vector competence of the Cx. pipiens biotypes and hybrids, after 14 days of incubation at 18, 23 and 28 °C. Mosquitoes were orally infected by providing an infectious blood meal or by injecting WNV directly in the thorax. Infection and transmission rates were determined by testing the bodies and saliva for WNV presence. In addition, titers of mosquitoes with WNV-positive bodies and saliva samples were determined. RESULTS Orally infected biotype pipiens and hybrids showed significantly increased transmission rates with higher temperatures, up to 32 and 14 %, respectively. In contrast, the molestus biotype had an overall transmission rate of 10 %, which did not increase with temperature. All mosquitoes that were infected via WNV injections had (close to) 100 % infection and transmission rates, suggesting an important role of the mosquito midgut barrier. We found no effect of increasing temperature on viral titers. CONCLUSIONS Temperature differentially affected vector competence of the Cx. pipiens biotypes. This shows the importance of accounting for biotype-by-temperature interactions, which influence the outcomes of vector competence studies. Vector competence studies with Cx. pipiens mosquitoes differentiated to the biotype level are essential for proper WNV risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B F Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jelke J Fros
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, England, UK
| | - Giel P Göertz
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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McMahon DP, Natsopoulou ME, Doublet V, Fürst M, Weging S, Brown MJF, Gogol-Döring A, Paxton RJ. Elevated virulence of an emerging viral genotype as a driver of honeybee loss. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20160811. [PMID: 27358367 PMCID: PMC4936039 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) have contributed significantly to the current biodiversity crisis, leading to widespread epidemics and population loss. Owing to genetic variation in pathogen virulence, a complete understanding of species decline requires the accurate identification and characterization of EIDs. We explore this issue in the Western honeybee, where increasing mortality of populations in the Northern Hemisphere has caused major concern. Specifically, we investigate the importance of genetic identity of the main suspect in mortality, deformed wing virus (DWV), in driving honeybee loss. Using laboratory experiments and a systematic field survey, we demonstrate that an emerging DWV genotype (DWV-B) is more virulent than the established DWV genotype (DWV-A) and is widespread in the landscape. Furthermore, we show in a simple model that colonies infected with DWV-B collapse sooner than colonies infected with DWV-A. We also identify potential for rapid DWV evolution by revealing extensive genome-wide recombination in vivo The emergence of DWV-B in naive honeybee populations, including via recombination with DWV-A, could be of significant ecological and economic importance. Our findings emphasize that knowledge of pathogen genetic identity and diversity is critical to understanding drivers of species decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dino P McMahon
- School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK Institute of Biology, Free University Berlin, Schwendenerstrasse 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Myrsini E Natsopoulou
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Vincent Doublet
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Fürst
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX, UK IST Austria (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Silvio Weging
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Institute of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Mark J F Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX, UK
| | - Andreas Gogol-Döring
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Institute of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert J Paxton
- School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
- James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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48
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Leggewie M, Badusche M, Rudolf M, Jansen S, Börstler J, Krumkamp R, Huber K, Krüger A, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Tannich E, Becker SC. Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium populations from Central Europe are susceptible to West Nile virus infection. One Health 2016; 2:88-94. [PMID: 28616480 PMCID: PMC5462652 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a Flavivirus with an avian primary host, is already widespread in Europe and might also pose an infection risk to Germany, should competent mosquito vectors be present. Therefore, we analysed the ability of WNV to infect German Culex mosquitoes with special emphasis on field collected specimens of Culex torrentium and Culex pipiens biotype pipiens. We collected egg rafts of Culex mosquitoes over two subsequent seasons at two geographically distinct sampling areas in Germany and differentiated the samples by molecular methods. Adult females, reared from the various egg rafts, were challenged with WNV by feeding of artificial blood meals. WNV infection was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and virus titration. The results showed that field collected C. pipiens biotype pipiens and C. torrentium mosquitoes native to Germany are susceptible to WNV infection at 25 °C as well as 18 °C incubation temperature. C. torrentium mosquitoes, which have not been established as WNV vector so far, were the most permissive species tested with maximum infection rates of 96% at 25 °C. Furthermore, a disseminating infection was found in up to 94% of tested C. pipiens biotype pipiens and 100% of C. torrentium. Considering geographical variation of susceptibility, C. pipiens biotype pipiens mosquitoes from Southern Germany were more susceptible to WNV infection than corresponding populations from Northern Germany. All in all, we observed high infection and dissemination rates even at a low average ambient temperature of 18 °C. The high susceptibility of German Culex populations for WNV indicates that an enzootic transmission cycle in Germany could be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayke Leggewie
- Molecular Entomology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlis Badusche
- Molecular Entomology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Rudolf
- Molecular Entomology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Jansen
- Molecular Entomology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Börstler
- Arbovirology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Krumkamp
- Research Group Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Huber
- Molecular Entomology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- KABS e.V., Ludwigstrasse 99, 67165 Waldsee, Germany
| | - Andreas Krüger
- Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Department Tropical Medicine, Entomology Group, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Arbovirology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Egbert Tannich
- German Centre for Infection Research, partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie C. Becker
- Molecular Entomology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30599 Hannover, Germany
- Corresponding author.
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49
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Vogels CB, van de Peppel LJ, van Vliet AJ, Westenberg M, Ibañez-Justicia A, Stroo A, Buijs JA, Visser TM, Koenraadt CJ. Winter Activity and Aboveground Hybridization Between the Two Biotypes of the West Nile Virus VectorCulex pipiens. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015; 15:619-26. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B.F. Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Arnold J.H. van Vliet
- Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Westenberg
- Dutch National Plant Protection Organization, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Adolfo Ibañez-Justicia
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), National Reference Centre (NRC), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Stroo
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), National Reference Centre (NRC), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A. Buijs
- Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa M. Visser
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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50
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Fros JJ, Miesen P, Vogels CB, Gaibani P, Sambri V, Martina BE, Koenraadt CJ, van Rij RP, Vlak JM, Takken W, Pijlman GP. Comparative Usutu and West Nile virus transmission potential by local Culex pipiens mosquitoes in north-western Europe. One Health 2015; 1:31-36. [PMID: 28616462 PMCID: PMC5441354 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Originating from Africa, Usutu virus (USUV) first emerged in Europe in 2001. This mosquito-borne flavivirus caused high mortality rates in its bird reservoirs, which strongly resembled the introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) in 1999 in the United States. Mosquitoes infected with USUV incidentally transmit the virus to other vertebrates, including humans, which can result in neuroinvasive disease. USUV and WNV co-circulate in parts of southern Europe, but the distribution of USUV extends into central and northwestern Europe. In the field, both viruses have been detected in the northern house mosquito Culex pipiens, of which the potential for USUV transmission is unknown. To understand the transmission dynamics and assess the potential spread of USUV, we determined the vector competence of C. pipiens for USUV and compared it with the well characterized WNV. We show for the first time that northwestern European mosquitoes are highly effective vectors for USUV, with infection rates of 11% at 18 °C and 53% at 23 °C, which are comparable with values obtained for WNV. Interestingly, at a high temperature of 28 °C, mosquitoes became more effectively infected with USUV (90%) than with WNV (58%), which could be attributed to barriers in the mosquito midgut. Small RNA deep sequencing of infected mosquitoes showed for both viruses a strong bias for 21-nucleotide small interfering (si)RNAs, which map across the entire viral genome both on the sense and antisense strand. No evidence for viral PIWI-associated RNA (piRNA) was found, suggesting that the siRNA pathway is the major small RNA pathway that targets USUV and WNV infection in C. pipiens mosquitoes. Northwestern European mosquitoes are highly effective vectors for USUV. Culex pipiens is significantly more competent for USUV than for WNV at 28 °C. The siRNA but not the piRNA pathway targets USUV and WNV infections in C. pipiens. USUV may be a prelude to WNV transmission in northwestern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelke J Fros
- Laboratory of Virology Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pascal Miesen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal B Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paolo Gaibani
- Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), Microbiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sambri
- Unit of Microbiology, The Greater Romagna Area Hub Laboratory, Piazza della Liberazione, 60, 47522 Pievesestina, FC, Italy
| | - Byron E Martina
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Artemis One Health, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus J Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald P van Rij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Just M Vlak
- Laboratory of Virology Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Takken
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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