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Bamunuarachchi G, Najera F, Aziati ID, Palmer JL, Biro EG, Wang D, Deem SL, Boon ACM, Adalsteinsson SA. Serosurveillance and the first detection of Bourbon virus RNA in a wildlife host. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.04.597417. [PMID: 38895490 PMCID: PMC11185598 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Bourbon virus (BRBV) is an emerging pathogen that can cause severe and fatal disease in humans. BRBV is vectored by Amblyomma americanum (lone star ticks), which are widely distributed across the central, southern, and eastern United States. Wildlife species are potentially important for the maintenance and transmission of BRBV, but little is known about which species are involved, and what other factors play a role in the exposure to BRBV. To assess the exposure risk to BRBV among wildlife in the St. Louis area, we collected sera from 98 individuals, representing 6 different mammalian species from two locations in St. Louis County: Tyson Research Center (TRC) and WildCare Park (WCP) from fall 2021 to spring 2023. The sera were used in a BRBV neutralization assay to detect neutralizing antibodies and RT-qPCR for viral RNA analysis. We also sampled and compared the abundance of A. americanum ticks at the two locations and modeled which factors influenced BRBV seropositivity across species. In TRC, we observed a high rate of seropositivity in raccoons (Procyon lotor, 23/25), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, 18/27), but a low rate in opossums (Didelphis virginiana, 1/18). Neutralizing antibodies were also detected in sampled TRC bobcats (Lynx rufus, 4/4), coyotes (Canis latrans, 3/3), and a red fox (Vulpes vulpes, 1/1). The virological analysis identified BRBV RNA in one of the coyote serum samples. In contrast to TRC, all sera screened from WCP were negative for BRBV-specific neutralizing antibodies, and significantly fewer ticks were collected at WCP (31) compared to TRC (2,316). Collectively, these findings suggest that BRBV circulates in multiple wildlife species in the St. Louis area and that tick density and host community composition may be important factors in BRBV ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayan Bamunuarachchi
- Department of Medicine, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. USA
| | | | - Ishmael D. Aziati
- Department of Medicine, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. USA
| | | | | | - Dave Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. USA
| | - Sharon L. Deem
- Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis Zoo. USA
| | - Adrianus C. M. Boon
- Department of Medicine, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. USA
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2
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Garba A, Riley J, Lahmers KK, Eastwood G. Widespread Circulation of Tick-Borne Viruses in Virginia-Evidence of Exposure to Heartland, Bourbon, and Powassan Viruses in Wildlife and Livestock. Microorganisms 2024; 12:899. [PMID: 38792729 PMCID: PMC11124039 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging tick-borne viruses such as Powassan virus (POWV), Bourbon virus (BRBV), and Heartland virus (HRTV), whilst rare, can cause severe health problems in humans. While limited clinical cases have been reported thus far in Virginia, the presence of tick-borne viruses poses a serious health threat, and the extent of their prevalence in Virginia is unknown. Here, we sought evidence of POWV, BRBV, and HRTV exposure in Virginia via a serological assessment of wildlife and livestock. Wildlife in Virginia were found to be seropositive against POWV (18%), BRBV (8%), and HRTV (5%), with western and northern regions of the state having a higher prevalence. Multiple wildlife species were shown to have been exposed to each virus examined. To a lesser extent, cattle also showed exposure to tick-borne viruses, with seroprevalences of 1%, 1.2%, and 8% detected in cattle against POWV, BRBV, and HRTV, respectively. Cross-reactivity against other known circulating mosquito-borne flaviviruses was ruled out. In conclusion, there is widespread exposure to tick-borne viruses in western and northern Virginia, with exposure to a diverse range of animal populations. Our study provides the first confirmation that HRTV is circulating in the Commonwealth. These findings strengthen the existing evidence of emerging tick-borne viruses in Virginia and highlight the need for public health vigilance to avoid tick bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Garba
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | | | - Kevin K. Lahmers
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Gillian Eastwood
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens (CeZAP), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- The Global Change Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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3
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Dupuis AP, Lange RE, Ciota AT. Emerging tickborne viruses vectored by Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae): Heartland and Bourbon viruses. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1183-1196. [PMID: 37862097 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Heartland (HRTV) and Bourbon (BRBV) viruses are newly identified tick-borne viruses, isolated from serious clinical cases in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Both viruses originated in the lower Midwest United States near the border of Missouri and Kansas, cause similar disease manifestations, and are presumably vectored by the same tick species, Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus (Ixodida: Ixodidae). In this article, we provide a current review of HRTV and BRBV, including the virology, epidemiology, and ecology of the viruses with an emphasis on the tick vector. We touch on current challenges of vector control and surveillance, and we discuss future directions in the study of these emergent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan P Dupuis
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
| | - Rachel E Lange
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Alexander T Ciota
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
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4
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Bendl E, Fuchs J, Kochs G. Bourbon virus, a newly discovered zoonotic thogotovirus. J Gen Virol 2023; 104. [PMID: 37643129 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent discovery of Bourbon virus (BRBV) put a new focus on the genus of thogotoviruses as zoonotic, tick-transmitted pathogens within the orthomyxovirus family. Since 2014, BRBV has been linked to several human cases in the Midwest United States with severe acute febrile illness and a history of tick bites. The detection of the virus in the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, and a high sero-prevalence in wild animals suggest widespread circulation of BRBV. Phylogenetic analysis of the viral RNA genome classified BRBV into the subgroup of Dhori-like thogotoviruses. Strikingly, BRBV is apathogenic in mice, contrasting not only with the fatal disease in affected patients but also with the severe disease in mice caused by other members of the thogotovirus genus. To gain insights into this intriguing discrepancy, we will review the molecular biology and pathology of BRBV and its unique position within the thogotovirus genus. Lastly, we will discuss the zoonotic threat posed by this newly discovered pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Bendl
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Fuchs
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Georg Kochs
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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5
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Lange RE, Dupuis AP, Ciota AT. Diversification of Bourbon Virus in New York State. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1590. [PMID: 37375092 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bourbon virus (BRBV, family Orthomyxoviridae) is a tickborne virus recently detected in the United States (US). BRBV was first identified from a fatal human case in 2014 in Bourbon County, Kansas. Enhanced surveillance in Kansas and Missouri implicated Amblyomma americanum as the primary vector for BRBV. Historically, BRBV was only detected in the lower midwestern US, but since 2020 it has been reported in North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York State (NYS). This study aimed to elucidate genetic and phenotypic characteristics of BRBV strains from NYS through whole genome sequencing and the assessment of replication kinetics in mammalian cultures and A. americanum nymphs. Sequence analysis revealed the existence of two divergent BRBV clades circulating in NYS. BRBV NY21-2143 is closely related to the midwestern BRBV strains but has unique substitutions in the glycoprotein. Two other NYS BRBV strains, BRBV NY21-1814 and BRBV NY21-2666, form a distinct clade unique from previously sequenced BRBV strains. Phenotypic diversification was also detected in NYS BRBV strains compared to each other and midwestern BRBV strains, with BRBV NY21-2143 displaying attenuation in rodent-derived cell culture and a fitness advantage in experimentally infected A. americanum. These data suggest genetic and phenotypic diversification of emergent BRBV strains circulating in NYS that could contribute to increased spread of BRBV in the northeastern US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Lange
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
| | - Alan P Dupuis
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
| | - Alexander T Ciota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
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6
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Shah T, Li Q, Wang B, Baloch Z, Xia X. Geographical distribution and pathogenesis of ticks and tick-borne viral diseases. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1185829. [PMID: 37293222 PMCID: PMC10244671 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1185829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory hematophagous arthropods that harbor and transmit infectious pathogens to humans and animals. Tick species belonging to Amblyomma, Ixodes, Dermacentor, and Hyalomma genera may transmit certain viruses such as Bourbon virus (BRBV), Dhori virus (DHOV), Powassan virus (POWV), Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV), Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Heartland virus (HRTV), Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), etc. that affect humans and certain wildlife. The tick vectors may become infected through feeding on viraemic hosts before transmitting the pathogen to humans and animals. Therefore, it is vital to understand the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne viruses and their pathogenesis to optimize preventive measures. Thus this review summarizes knowledge on some medically important ticks and tick-borne viruses, including BRBV, POWV, OHFV, CTFV, CCHFV, HRTV, and KFDV. Further, we discuss these viruses' epidemiology, pathogenesis, and disease manifestations during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taif Shah
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Qian Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Binghui Wang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Zulqarnain Baloch
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Xueshan Xia
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
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Vaidya SR. Immuno-Colorimetric Neutralization Test: A Surrogate for Widely Used Plaque Reduction Neutralization Tests in Public Health Virology. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040939. [PMID: 37112919 PMCID: PMC10143445 DOI: 10.3390/v15040939] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Since their first documentation in 1952, plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) have become the choice of test for the measurement of neutralizing antibodies against a particular virus. However, PRNTs can be performed only against viruses that cause cytopathic effects (CPE). PRNTs also require skilled personnel and can be time-consuming depending on the time required for the virus to cause CPE. Hence, their application limits large-scale studies or epidemiological and laboratory investigations. Since 1978, many surrogate PRNTs or immunocolorimetric assay (ICA)-based focus reduction neutralization tests (FRNT) have been developed. In this article, ICAs and their utility in FRNTs for the characterization of neutralizing antibodies, homologous or heterologous cross-neutralization, and laboratory diagnosis of viruses of public health importance have been discussed. Additionally, possible advancements and automations have been described that may help in the development and validation of novel surrogate tests for emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil R Vaidya
- Virus Registry and Virus Repository, ICMR-National Institute of Virology, 20-A Dr. Ambedkar Road, Pune 411001, India
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8
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The Antiviral Activity of Equine Mx1 against Thogoto Virus Is Determined by the Molecular Structure of Its Viral Specificity Region. J Virol 2023; 97:e0193822. [PMID: 36749070 PMCID: PMC9972912 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01938-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian myxovirus resistance (Mx) proteins are interferon-induced, large dynamin-like GTPases with a broad antiviral spectrum. Here, we analyzed the antiviral activity of selected mammalian Mx1 proteins against Thogoto virus (THOV). Of those, equine Mx1 (eqMx1) showed antiviral activity comparable to that of the human MX1 gene product, designated huMxA, whereas most Mx1 proteins were antivirally inactive. We previously demonstrated that the flexible loop L4 protruding from the stalk domain of huMxA, and especially the phenylalanine at position 561 (F561), determines its antiviral specificity against THOV (P. S. Mitchell, C. Patzina, M. Emerman, O. Haller, et al., Cell Host Microbe 12:598-604, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2012.09.005). However, despite the similar antiviral activity against THOV, the loop L4 sequence of eqMx1 substantially differs from the one of huMxA. Mutational analysis of eqMx1 L4 identified a tryptophan (W562) and the adjacent glycine (G563) as critical antiviral determinants against THOV, whereas the neighboring residues could be exchanged for nonpolar alanines without affecting the antiviral activity. Further mutational analyses revealed that a single bulky residue at position 562 and the adjacent tiny residue G563 were sufficient for antiviral activity. Moreover, this minimal set of L4 amino acids transferred anti-THOV activity to the otherwise inactive bovine Mx1 (boMx1) protein. Taken together, our data suggest a fairly simple architecture of the antiviral loop L4 that could serve as a mutational hot spot in an evolutionary arms race between Mx-escaping viral variants and their hosts. IMPORTANCE Most mammals encode two paralogs of the interferon-induced Mx proteins: Mx1, with antiviral activity largely against RNA viruses, like orthomyxoviruses and bunyaviruses; and Mx2, which is antivirally active against HIV-1 and herpesviruses. The human Mx1 protein, also called huMxA, is the best-characterized example of mammalian Mx1 proteins and was recently shown to prevent zoonotic virus transmissions. To evaluate the antiviral activity of other mammalian Mx1 proteins, we used Thogoto virus, a tick-transmitted orthomyxovirus, which is efficiently blocked by huMxA. Interestingly, we detected antiviral activity only with equine Mx1 (eqMx1) but not with other nonprimate Mx1 proteins. Detailed functional analysis of eqMx1 identified amino acid residues in the unstructured loop L4 of the stalk domain critical for antiviral activity. The structural insights of the present study explain the unique position of eqMx1 antiviral activity within the collection of nonhuman mammalian Mx1 proteins.
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Roe MK, Huffman ER, Batista YS, Papadeas GG, Kastelitz SR, Restivo AM, Stobart CC. Comprehensive Review of Emergence and Virology of Tickborne Bourbon Virus in the United States. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:1-7. [PMID: 36573641 PMCID: PMC9796205 DOI: 10.3201/eid2901.212295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This novel human pathogenic tickborne thogotovirus is found in the eastern and central regions of the country. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic triggered considerable attention to the emergence and evolution of novel human pathogens. Bourbon virus (BRBV) was first discovered in 2014 in Bourbon County, Kansas, USA. Since its initial discovery, several cases of BRBV infection in humans have been identified in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. BRBV is classified within the Thogotovirus genus; these negative-strand RNA viruses appear to be transmitted by ticks, and much of their biology remains unknown. In this review, we describe the emergence, virology, geographic range and ecology, and human disease caused by BRBV and discuss potential treatments for active BRBV infections. This virus and other emerging viral pathogens remain key public health concerns and require continued surveillance and study to mitigate human exposure and disease.
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Dupuis AP, Prusinski MA, O’Connor C, Maffei JG, Koetzner CA, Zembsch TE, Zink SD, White AL, Santoriello MP, Romano CL, Xu G, Ribbe F, Campbell SR, Rich SM, Backenson PB, Kramer LD, Ciota AT. Bourbon Virus Transmission, New York, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:145-148. [PMID: 36573733 PMCID: PMC9796220 DOI: 10.3201/eid2901.220283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In July 2019, Bourbon virus RNA was detected in an Amblyomma americanum tick removed from a resident of Long Island, New York, USA. Tick infection and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) serosurvey results demonstrate active transmission in New York, especially Suffolk County, emphasizing a need for surveillance anywhere A. americanum ticks are reported.
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11
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Aziati ID, Jnr DM, Antia A, Joshi A, Aviles-Gamboa A, Lee P, Harastani H, Wang D, Adalsteinsson SA, Boon ACM. Prevalence of Bourbon and Heartland viruses in field collected ticks at an environmental field station in St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102080. [PMID: 36375268 PMCID: PMC9729426 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Heartland and Bourbon viruses are pathogenic tick-borne viruses putatively transmitted by Amblyomma americanum, an abundant tick species in Missouri. To assess the prevalence of these viruses in ticks, we collected 2778 ticks from eight sampling sites at Tyson Research Center, an environmental field station within St. Louis County and close to the City of St. Louis, from May - July in 2019 and 2021. Ticks were pooled according to life stage and sex, grouped by year and sampling site to create 355 pools and screened by RT-qPCR for Bourbon and Heartland viruses. Overall, 14 (3.9%) and 27 (7.6%) of the pools were positive for Bourbon virus and Heartland virus respectively. In 2019, 11 and 23 pools were positive for Bourbon and Heartland viruses respectively. These positives pools were of males, females and nymphs. In 2021, there were 4 virus positive pools out of which 3 were positive for both viruses and were comprised of females and nymphs. Five out of the 8 sampling sites were positive for at least one virus. This included a site that was positive for both viruses in both years. Detection of these viruses in an area close to a relatively large metropolis presents a greater public health threat than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Avan Antia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
| | - Astha Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
| | | | - Preston Lee
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
| | - Houda Harastani
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
| | - David Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
| | | | - Adrianus C M Boon
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
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Clarke LL, Mead DG, Ruder MG, Howerth EW, Stallknecht D. North American Arboviruses and White-Tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus): Associated Diseases and Role in Transmission. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2022; 22:425-442. [PMID: 35867036 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Arboviral disease is of increasing concern to human and animal health professionals as emerging and re-emerging arboviruses are more frequently recognized. Wildlife species are known to play a role in the transmission and maintenance of arboviruses and infections can result in morbidity and mortality in wildlife hosts. Materials and Methods: In this review, we detail existing evidence of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as an important host to a diverse collection of arboviruses and evaluate the utility of this species as a resource to better understand the epidemiology of related viral diseases. Results: Relevant veterinary and zoonotic viral pathogens endemic to North America include epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, bluetongue virus, orthobunyaviruses, vesicular stomatitis virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, and Powassan virus. Exotic viral pathogens that may infect white-tailed deer are also identified with an emphasis on zoonotic disease risks. The utility of this species is attributed to the high degree of contact with humans and domestic livestock and evidence of preferential feeding by various insect vectors. Conclusions: There is mounting evidence that white-tailed deer are a useful, widely available source of information regarding arboviral circulation, and that surveillance and monitoring of deer populations would be of value to the understanding of certain viral transmission dynamics, with implications for improving human and domestic animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorelei L Clarke
- Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel G Mead
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Mark G Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Elizabeth W Howerth
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - David Stallknecht
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Detection of Bourbon Virus-Specific Serum Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Serum in Missouri, USA. mSphere 2022; 7:e0016422. [PMID: 35607948 PMCID: PMC9241549 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00164-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bourbon virus (BRBV) was first discovered in 2014 in a fatal human case. Since then it has been detected in the tick Amblyomma americanum in the states of Missouri and Kansas in the United States. Despite the high prevalence of BRBV in ticks in these states, very few human cases have been reported, and the true infection burden of BRBV in the community is unknown. Here, we developed two virus neutralization assays, a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-BRBV pseudotyped rapid assay and a BRBV focus reduction neutralization assay, to assess the seroprevalence of BRBV neutralizing antibodies in human sera collected in 2020 in St. Louis, MO. Of 440 human serum samples tested, three (0.7%) were able to potently neutralize both VSV-BRBV and wild-type BRBV. These findings suggest that human infections with BRBV are more common than previously recognized. IMPORTANCE Since the discovery of the Bourbon virus (BRBV) in 2014, a total of five human cases have been identified, including two fatal cases. BRBV is thought to be transmitted by the lone star tick, which is prevalent in the eastern, southeastern, and midwestern United States. BRBV has been detected in ticks in Missouri and Kansas, and serological evidence suggests that it is also present in North Carolina. However, the true infection burden of BRBV in humans is not known. In the present study, we developed two virus neutralization assays to assess the seroprevalence of BRBV-specific antibodies in human sera collected in 2020 in St. Louis, MO. We found that a small subset of individuals are seropositive for neutralizing antibodies against BRBV. Our data suggest that BRBV infection in humans is more common than previously thought.
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Pathogen Spillover to an Invasive Tick Species: First Detection of Bourbon Virus in Haemaphysalis longicornis in the United States. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040454. [PMID: 35456129 PMCID: PMC9030182 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann, 1901) (Acari: Ixodidae), the Asian longhorned tick, is an invasive tick species present in the USA since at least 2017 and has been detected in one-third of Virginia counties. While this species is associated with the transmission of multiple pathogens in its native geographical range of eastern Asia, little is known about its ability to acquire and transmit pathogens in the USA, specifically those that are transmissible to humans, although from an animal health perspective, it has already been shown to vector Theileria orientalis Ikeda strains. Emerging tick-borne viruses such as Bourbon virus (genus: Thogotovirus) are of concern, as these newly discovered pathogenic agents have caused fatal clinical cases, and little is known about their distribution or enzootic maintenance. This study examined H. longicornis collected within Virginia (from ten counties) for Bourbon and Heartland viruses using PCR methods. All ticks tested negative for Heartland virus via qRT-PCR (S segment target). Bourbon-virus-positive samples were confirmed on two different gene targets and with Sanger sequencing of the PB2 (segment 1) gene. Bourbon virus RNA was detected in one nymphal stage H. longicornis from Patrick County, one nymph from Staunton City, and one larval pool and one adult female tick from Wythe County, Virginia. An additional 100 Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus 1758; lone star tick) collected at the same Patrick County site revealed one positive nymphal pool, suggesting that Bourbon virus may have spilled over from the native vector, potentially by co-feeding on a shared Bourbon-virus-infected vertebrate host. Blood tested from local harvested deer revealed a 11.1% antibody seroprevalence against Bourbon virus, exposure which further corroborates that this tick-borne virus is circulating in the southwest Virginia region. Through these results, it can be concluded that H. longicornis can carry Bourbon virus and that pathogen spillover may occur from native to invasive tick species.
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15
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Yamaoka S, Weisend CM, Swenson VA, Ebihara H. Development of accelerated high-throughput antiviral screening systems for emerging orthomyxoviruses. Antiviral Res 2022; 200:105291. [PMID: 35296419 PMCID: PMC9259280 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Bourbon virus (BRBV) is an emerging tick-borne orthomyxovirus that causes severe febrile illness in humans. There are no specific treatments for BRBV disease currently available. Here, we developed a highly accessible and robust, quantitative fluorescence-based BRBV minigenome (MG) system and applied it to high-throughput antiviral drug screening. We demonstrated that human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors, hDHODH-IN-4 and brequinar, efficiently reduced BRBV RNA synthesis, and validated these findings using infectious BRBV in vitro. The DHODH inhibitors also exhibited high potency in inhibiting MG activities of other orthomyxoviruses with emerging zoonotic potential, including bat influenza A virus, swine influenza D virus, and Thogoto virus. Our newly developed MG system is a powerful platform for antiviral drug screening across the Orthomyxoviridae family, enabling rapid development and deployment of antivirals against future emerging orthomyxoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoko Yamaoka
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Carla M Weisend
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA; Mayo Clinic, Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Vaille A Swenson
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Virology and Gene Therapy Graduate Program, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Hideki Ebihara
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Virology I, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
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16
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Whitlow AM, Cumbie AN, Eastwood G. Pathogen prevalence in Amblyomma americanum and Ixodes scapularis ticks from central Appalachian Virginia, U.S.A. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2022; 47:51-60. [PMID: 35366679 DOI: 10.52707/1081-1710-47.1.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are known vectors of several viral, bacterial, and protozoal pathogens that cause disease in both humans and animals. While pathogen prevalence has been studied extensively in other portions of the United States, pathogen surveillance studies within tick populations in the central Appalachian region of Virginia is almost nonexistent. Two prominent species in this region are Ixodes scapularis (the blacklegged tick) and Amblyomma americanum (the lone star tick). In this study, we collected ticks biweekly from three habitat types (forest, urban, and pasture) across eight counties in southwest Virginia from June, 2019-November, 2020. Ixodes scapularis and A. americanum captures were screened for evidence of associated tick-borne pathogens. In this region, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (15.3% in nymphs and 37.6% in adults), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1.9% in nymphs and 12.2% in adults), and Borrelia miyamotoi (2.97% in nymphs and 2.33% in adults) were detected in I. scapularis ticks. Aside from two previously reported Powassan-positive I. scapularis ticks from Floyd County, VA, no additional Powassan-positive ticks are reported here. No evidence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Heartland virus (HRTV), or Bourbon virus (BRBV) was detected in collected A. americanum. Detection and confirmation of multiple emerging tick-borne pathogens in this region raises an increased concern for public health risk, calling for heightened awareness of tick-borne pathogen transmission and increased tick surveillance in understudied areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Whitlow
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg,VA 24061, U.S.A
| | - Alexandra N Cumbie
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg,VA 24061, U.S.A
- Center for Zoonotic & Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, U.S.A
| | - Gillian Eastwood
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg,VA 24061, U.S.A.,
- Center for Zoonotic & Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, U.S.A
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17
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Tran NTB, Shimoda H, Ishijima K, Yonemitsu K, Minami S, Kuroda Y, Tatemoto K, Mendoza MV, Kuwata R, Takano A, Muto M, Sawabe K, Isawa H, Hayasaka D, Maeda K. Zoonotic Infection with Oz Virus, a Novel Thogotovirus. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:436-439. [PMID: 35075999 PMCID: PMC8798690 DOI: 10.3201/eid2802.211270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Oz virus is a novel thogotovirus isolated from ticks that causes lethal infection in mice. We conducted serosurveillance of Oz virus infection among humans and wild mammals in Japan using virus-neutralization tests and ELISAs. Results showed that Oz virus may be naturally infecting humans and other mammalian hosts.
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18
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Mutebi JP, Mathewson AA, Elias SP, Robinson S, Graham AC, Casey P, Lubelczyk CB. Use of Cervid Serosurveys to Monitor Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Activity in Northern New England, United States, 2009-2017. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:49-55. [PMID: 34734629 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrate surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) activity usually focuses on three types of vertebrates: horses, passerine birds, and sentinel chicken flocks. However, there is a variety of wild vertebrates that are exposed to EEEV infections and can be used to track EEEV activity. In 2009, we initiated a pilot study in northern New England, United States, to evaluate the effectiveness of using wild cervids (free-ranging white-tailed deer and moose) as spatial sentinels for EEEV activity. In Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont during 2009-2017, we collected blood samples from hunter-harvested cervids at tagging stations and obtained harvest location information from hunters. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention processed the samples for EEEV antibodies using plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs). We detected EEEV antibodies in 6 to 17% of cervid samples in the different states and mapped cervid EEEV seropositivity in northern New England. EEEV antibody-positive cervids were the first detections of EEEV activity in the state of Vermont, in northern Maine, and northern New Hampshire. Our key result was the detection of the antibodies in areas far outside the extent of documented wild bird, mosquito, human case, or veterinary case reports of EEEV activity in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. These findings showed that cervid (deer and moose) serosurveys can be used to characterize the geographic extent of EEEV activity, especially in areas with low EEEV activity or with little or no EEEV surveillance. Cervid EEEV serosurveys can be a useful tool for mapping EEEV activity in areas of North America in addition to northern New England.
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Affiliation(s)
- John-Paul Mutebi
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD), Arboviral Diseases Branch (ADB), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3150 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Abigail A Mathewson
- Surveillance Epidemiology Program, Infectious Disease Surveillance Section, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301-6504, USA
| | - Susan P Elias
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Sara Robinson
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 286 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04333, USA
| | - Alan C Graham
- Environmental Surveillance Program, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-2901, USA
| | - Patti Casey
- Environmental Surveillance Program, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-2901, USA
| | - Charles B Lubelczyk
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
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19
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Comparative study of ten thogotovirus isolates and their distinct in vivo characteristics. J Virol 2022; 96:e0155621. [PMID: 35019718 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01556-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Thogotoviruses are tick-borne arboviruses that comprise a unique genus within the Orthomyxoviridae family. Infections with thogotoviruses primarily cause disease in livestock with occasional reports of human infections suggesting a zoonotic potential. In the past, multiple genetically distinct thogotoviruses were isolated mostly from collected ticks. However, many aspects regarding their phylogenetic relationships, morphological characteristics and virulence in mammals remain unclear. For the present comparative study, we used a collection of ten different thogotovirus isolates from different geographic areas. Next generation sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analyses revealed a distinct separation of these viruses into two major clades - the Thogoto-like and Dhori-like viruses. Electron microscopy demonstrated a heterogeneous morphology with spherical and filamentous particles being present in virus preparations. To study their pathogenicity, we analyzed the viruses in a small animal model system. In intraperitoneally infected C57BL/6 mice, all isolates showed a tropism for liver, lung and spleen. Importantly, we did not observe horizontal transmission to uninfected, highly susceptible contact mice. The isolates enormously differed in their capacity to induce disease, ranging from subclinical to fatal outcomes. In vivo multi-step passaging experiments of two low-pathogenic isolates showed no increased virulence and sequence analyses of the passaged viruses indicated a high stability of the viral genomes after ten mouse passages. In summary, our analysis demonstrates the broad genetic and phenotypic variability within the thogotovirus genus. Moreover, thogotoviruses are well adapted to mammals but their horizontal transmission seems to depend on ticks as their vectors. Importance Since their discovery over sixty years ago, fifteen genetically distinct members of the thogotovirus genus have been isolated. These arboviruses belong to the Orthomyxovirus family and share many features with influenza viruses. However, numerous of these isolates have not been characterized in depth. In the present study, we comparatively analyzed a collection of ten different thogotovirus isolates to answer basic questions about their phylogenetic relationships, morphology and pathogenicity in mice. Our results highlight shared and unique characteristics of this diverse genus. Taken together, these observations provide a framework for the phylogenic classification and phenotypic characterization of newly identified thogotovirus isolates that could potentially cause severe human infections as exemplified by the recently reported, fatal Bourbon virus cases in the United States.
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20
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Hao S, Ning K, Küz ÇA, McFarlin S, Cheng F, Qiu J. Eight years' advances on Bourbon virus, a tick-born Thogotovirus of the Orthomyxovirus family. ZOONOSES (BURLINGTON, MASS.) 2022; 2:18. [PMID: 35727718 PMCID: PMC9206863 DOI: 10.15212/zoonoses-2022-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bourbon virus (BRBV) was first isolated from a blood sample collected from a male patient living in Bourbon county, Kansas, during the spring of 2014. The patient later died due to complications associated with multiorgan failure. Currently, several BRBV infection-caused deaths have been reported in the United States, and misdiagnosed cases are often undercounted. BRBV is a member of the genus Thogotovirus of the Orthomyxoviridae family, and is transmitted through the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma Americanum, in North America. Currently, there are no specific antivirals or vaccinations available to treat or prevent BRBV infection. Several small molecular compounds have been identified to effectively inhibit BRBV infection of in vitro cell cultures at a single- or sub-micromolar level. Favipiravir, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor, prevented the death of Type I interferon receptor knockout mice infected with BRBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jianming Qiu
- Corresponding author: Jianming Qiu, Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Mail Stop 3029, 3901 Rainbow Blvd. Kansas City, KS 66160, Phone: (913) 588-4329, Fax: (913) 588-7295,
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21
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Higuita NIA, Franco-Paredes C, Henao-Martínez AF. The expanding spectrum of disease caused by the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA 2021; 29:378-385. [PMID: 35146342 PMCID: PMC8805489 DOI: 10.53854/liim-2903-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are remarkable vectors of a diverse and growing list of infectious agents of importance to both medical and veterinary disciplines. The tick Amblyomma americanum is one of the most frequently identified ticks in the United States with an expanding spectrum of human disease given its vast geographic range. The recently described Bourbon and Heartland viruses are likely transmitted by the Lone Star tick and are just two of the several novel tick-borne pathogens discovered in recent decades. The review will focus on these two viruses that can cause illness with similar characteristics to other diseases transmitted by the Lone Star tick. Healthcare professionals should consider these viruses in patients presenting with an ailment suggestive of a tick-born rickettsial disease that fails to improve with treatment with doxycycline. Additionally, some individuals may develop life-threatening allergic reactions triggered by the bite of the Lone Star tick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Iván Agudelo Higuita
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Carlos Franco-Paredes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrés F. Henao-Martínez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
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22
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Sosa JP, Ferreira Caceres MM, Agadi K, Pandav K, Mehendale M, Mehta JM, Go CC, Matos WF, Guntipalli P, Belizaire MPE. Diseases Transmitted by the Black-Legged Ticks in the United States: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Cureus 2021; 13:e17526. [PMID: 34471586 PMCID: PMC8403000 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The black-legged tick is endemic to the midwestern, northeastern, western, south-eastern, and southern regions of the United States. There has been an increased burden of black-legged ticks in humans in recent years. COVID-19 pandemic has further heightened this burden. We thereby reviewed the literature to discuss the seasonality, infections, and clinical spectrum of diseases transmitted by the black-legged ticks. We also discuss the reported delay in the diagnosis of these diseases during the pandemic situation, the alpha-gal syndrome, the importance of prompt diagnosis, and early medical intervention with an aim to increase awareness of the black-legged tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Sosa
- Division of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, USA
| | | | - Kuchalambal Agadi
- Division of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, USA
| | - Krunal Pandav
- Division of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, USA
| | - Meghana Mehendale
- Division of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, USA
| | - Jayati M Mehta
- Division of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, USA
| | | | | | - Prathima Guntipalli
- Division of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, USA
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23
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Glass GE, Ganser C, Kessler WH. Validating Species Distribution Models With Standardized Surveys for Ixodid Ticks in Mainland Florida. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1345-1351. [PMID: 33386731 PMCID: PMC8122235 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens are of growing concern. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidelines standardizing surveys of tick vectors to better monitor the changes in their occurrences. Unbiased surveillance data, from standardized surveys, are presumed critical to generate valid species distribution models (SDMs). We tested previously generated SDMs from standardized protocols for three medically important ticks [Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus, Ixodida, Ixodidae), Ixodes scapularis (Say, Ixodida, Ixodidae), and Dermacentor variabilis (Say, Ixodida, Ixodidae)]. These previous models ruled out a quarter to half of the state as having these species, with consensus occurrence in about a quarter of the state. New surveys performed throughout 2019 on 250 transects at 43 sites indicated the rule-out functions were 100% accurate for I. scapularis and D. variabilis and 91.9% for A. americanum. As SDM concordance increased, the proportion of transects yielding ticks increased. Independent surveys of SDMs provide external validation-an aspect missing from many SDM studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory E Glass
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Claudia Ganser
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - William H Kessler
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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24
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Godsey MS, Rose D, Burkhalter KL, Breuner N, Bosco-Lauth AM, Kosoy OI, Savage HM. Experimental Infection of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) With Bourbon Virus (Orthomyxoviridae: Thogotovirus). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:873-879. [PMID: 33710315 PMCID: PMC7955107 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Following the recent discovery of Bourbon virus (BRBV) as a human pathogen, and the isolation of the virus from Amblyomma americanum (L.) collected near the location of a fatal human case, we undertook a series of experiments to assess the laboratory vector competence of this tick species for BRBV. Larval ticks were infected using an immersion technique, and transstadial transmission of virus to the nymphal and then to the adult stages was demonstrated. Transstadially infected nymphs transmitted virus to adult ticks at very high rates during cofeeding, indicating the presence of infectious virus in the saliva of engorging ticks. Vertical transmission by transstadially infected females to their progeny occurred, but at a low rate. Rabbits fed on by infected ticks of all active life stages developed high titers of antibody to the virus, demonstrating host exposure to BRBV antigens/live virus during tick blood feeding. These results demonstrate that A. americanum is a competent vector of BRBV and indicate that cofeeding could be critical for enzootic maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin S. Godsey
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Dominic Rose
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Kristin L. Burkhalter
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Nicole Breuner
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Angela M. Bosco-Lauth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, ARBL, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Olga I. Kosoy
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Harry M. Savage
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
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25
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Saleh MN, Allen KE, Lineberry MW, Little SE, Reichard MV. Ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America: Biology, geographic distribution, and pathogen transmission. Vet Parasitol 2021; 294:109392. [PMID: 33971481 PMCID: PMC9235321 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A diverse array of ixodid and argasid ticks infest dogs and cats in North America, resulting in skin lesions, blood loss, and disease. The ticks most commonly found on pets in this region are hard ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus, as well as the more recently established Haemaphysalis longicornis. Soft tick genera, especially Otobius and Ornithodoros, are also reported from pets in some regions. In this review, we provide a summary of the complex and diverse life histories, distinct morphologies, and questing and feeding behaviors of the more common ticks of dogs and cats in North America with a focus on recent changes in geographic distribution. We also review pathogens of dogs and cats associated with the different tick species, some of which can cause serious, potentially fatal disease, and describe the zoonotic risk posed by ticks of pets. Understanding the natural history of ticks and the maintenance cycles responsible for providing an ongoing source of tick-borne infections is critical to effectively combatting the challenges ticks pose to the health of pets and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriam N Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States.
| | - Megan W Lineberry
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Mason V Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
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26
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Fuchs J, Oschwald A, Graf L, Kochs G. Tick-transmitted thogotovirus gains high virulence by a single MxA escape mutation in the viral nucleoprotein. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1009038. [PMID: 33196685 PMCID: PMC7704052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections with emerging and re-emerging arboviruses are of increasing concern for global health. Tick-transmitted RNA viruses of the genus Thogotovirus in the Orthomyxoviridae family have considerable zoonotic potential, as indicated by the recent emergence of Bourbon virus in the USA. To successfully infect humans, arboviruses have to escape the restrictive power of the interferon defense system. This is exemplified by the high sensitivity of thogotoviruses to the antiviral action of the interferon-induced myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) that inhibits the polymerase activity of incoming viral ribonucleoprotein complexes. Acquiring resistance to human MxA would be expected to enhance the zoonotic potential of these pathogens. Therefore, we screened a panel of 10 different thogotovirus isolates obtained from various parts of the world for their sensitivity to MxA. A single isolate from Nigeria, Jos virus, showed resistance to the antiviral action of MxA in cell culture and in MxA-transgenic mice, whereas the prototypic Sicilian isolate SiAr126 was fully MxA-sensitive. Further analysis identified two amino acid substitutions (G327R and R328V) in the viral nucleoprotein as determinants for MxA resistance. Importantly, when introduced into SiAr126, the R328V mutation resulted in complete MxA escape of the recombinant virus, without causing any viral fitness loss. The escape mutation abolished viral nucleoprotein recognition by MxA and allowed unhindered viral growth in MxA-expressing cells and in MxA-transgenic mice. These findings demonstrate that thogotoviruses can overcome the species barrier by escaping MxA restriction and reveal that these tick-transmitted viruses may have a greater zoonotic potential than previously suspected. Thogotovirus infections are known to cause isolated human fatalities, yet the zoonotic potential of these tick-transmitted pathogens is still largely unexplored. In the present study, we examined if these viruses are able to escape the interferon-induced human MxA, thereby overcoming the human innate antiviral defense. Mx proteins constitute a class of interferon-induced antiviral effector molecules that efficiently block the intracellular replication of many viruses. Here, we studied the MxA sensitivity of various thogotovirus isolates and identified two amino acid residues in the viral nucleoprotein that caused resistance to MxA. One of these exchanges was sufficient to enable an otherwise MxA-sensitive thogotovirus to fully escape MxA restriction without causing any fitness loss. Our study explores the interplay of thogotoviruses with the innate antiviral host defense and sheds light on their zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Fuchs
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Oschwald
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Graf
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Georg Kochs
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Hao S, Ning K, Wang X, Wang J, Cheng F, Ganaie SS, Tavis JE, Qiu J. Establishment of a Replicon Reporter of the Emerging Tick-Borne Bourbon Virus and Use It for Evaluation of Antivirals. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:572631. [PMID: 33013808 PMCID: PMC7506111 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.572631] [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: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bourbon virus (BRBV) was first isolated from a patient hospitalized at the University of Kansas Hospital in 2014. Since then, several deaths have been reported to be caused by BRBV infection in the Midwest and Southern United States. BRBV is a tick-borne virus that is widely carried by lone star ticks. It belongs to genus Thogotovirus of the Orthomyxoviridae family. Currently, there are no treatments or vaccines available for BRBV or thogotovirus infection caused diseases. In this study, we reconstituted a replicon reporter system, composed of plasmids expressing the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) complex (PA, PB1, and PB2), nucleocapsid (NP) protein, and a reporter gene flanked by the 3′ and 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the envelope glycoprotein (GP) genome segment. By using the luciferase reporter, we screened a few small molecule compounds of anti-endonuclease that inhibited the nicking activity by parvovirus B19 (B19V) NS1, as well as FDA-approved drugs targeting the RdRP of influenza virus. Our results demonstrated that myricetin, an anti-B19V NS1 nicking inhibitor, efficiently inhibited the RdRP activity of BRBV and virus replication. The IC50 and EC50 of myricetin are 2.22 and 4.6 μM, respectively, in cells. Myricetin had minimal cytotoxicity in cells, and therefore the therapeutic index of the compound is high. In conclusion, the BRBV replicon system is a useful tool to study viral RNA replication and to develop antivirals, and myricetin may hold promise in treatment of BRBV infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Hao
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Kang Ning
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Jianke Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Fang Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Safder S Ganaie
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jianming Qiu
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
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Ergünay K. Revisiting new tick-associated viruses: what comes next? Future Virol 2020. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2019-0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne viral infections continue to cause diseases with considerable impact on humans, livestock, companion animals and wildlife. Many lack specific therapeutics and vaccines are available for only a few. Tick-borne viruses will continue to emerge, facilitated by anthroponotic factors related to the modern lifestyle. We persistently identify and are obliged to cope with new examples of emerging tick-borne viral diseases and novel viruses today. Many new strains have been detected in vertebrates and arthropods, some causing severe diseases likely to challenge public and veterinary health. This manuscript aims to provide a narrative overview of recently-described tick-associated viruses, with perspectives on changing paradigms in identification, screening and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergünay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara 06100, Turkey
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