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Bergmann F, Holicki CM, Michel F, Bock S, Scuda N, Priemer G, Kenklies S, Siempelkamp T, Skuballa J, Sauerwald C, Herms L, Muluneh A, Peters M, Hlinak A, Groschup MH, Sadeghi B, Ziegler U. Reconstruction of the molecular evolution of Usutu virus in Germany: Insights into virus emersion and circulation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011203. [PMID: 37782665 PMCID: PMC10569574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011203] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is widely distributed in southern and central Europe. The zoonotic virus circulates primarily between birds and mosquitoes, can, however, in rare cases infect other mammals including humans. In the past, USUV has been repeatedly associated with mass mortalities in birds, primarily blackbirds and owls. Birds commonly succumb either due to the peracute nature of the infection or due to severe encephalitis. In Germany, USUV has spread rapidly since its first detection in 2010 in mosquitoes under the presence of susceptible host and vector species. Nonetheless, there is to date limited access to whole genome sequences resulting in the absence of in-depth phylogenetic and phylodynamic analyses. In this study, 118 wild and captive birds were sequenced using a nanopore sequencing platform with prior target enrichment via amplicons. Due to the high abundancy of Europe 3 and Africa 3 in Germany an ample quantity of associated whole genome sequences was generated and the most recent common ancestor could be determined for each lineage. The corresponding clock phylogeny revealed an introduction of USUV Europe 3 and Africa 3 into Germany three years prior to their first isolation in the avifauna in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Based on the clustering and temporal history of the lineages, evidence exists for the genetic evolution of USUV within Germany as well as new introductions thereof into the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Bergmann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Cora M. Holicki
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Friederike Michel
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Sabine Bock
- Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
| | - Nelly Scuda
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Grit Priemer
- State Office of Agriculture, Food Safety and Fisheries Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LALLF), Rostock, Germany
| | - Susanne Kenklies
- State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt (LAV), Stendal, Germany
| | - Timo Siempelkamp
- Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection, Bad Langensalza, Germany
| | - Jasmin Skuballa
- State Institute for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Claudia Sauerwald
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hessian State Laboratory, Gießen, Germany
| | - Louise Herms
- Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Hannover, Germany
| | - Aemero Muluneh
- Saxon State Laboratory of Health and Veterinary Affairs, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Peters
- Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA), Arnsberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Hlinak
- Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Center of Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Balal Sadeghi
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Center of Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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Bergmann F, Schmoock-Wellhausen M, Fast C, Holicki CM, Michel F, Wysocki P, Sadeghi B, Groschup MH, Ziegler U. Longitudinal Study of the Occurrence of Usutu Virus and West Nile Virus Infections in Birds in a Zoological Garden in Northern Germany. Pathogens 2023; 12:753. [PMID: 37375443 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060753] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are known to cause diseases and mortalities in bird populations. Since 2010/2011, USUV has circulated in Germany and spread nationwide, while WNV was only introduced into East Germany in 2018. The zoological garden investigated is located in Northern Germany, where USUV infections in wild birds have been detected for several years. In this longitudinal study conducted over a four-year period, zoo birds were sampled biannually and screened for molecular and serological evidence of USUV and WNV. USUV genomes were detected in eight of the sampled birds and whole-genome sequences revealed the circulation of USUV lineages Europe 3 and Africa 3. Of the eight birds infected with USUV during the study period, four died after the infection, while four survived without displaying clinical signs. Furthermore, in a few of the birds, a USUV (re-)infection was confirmed on a serological level with three birds producing USUV-neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) over a period of four years. Nonetheless, in two birds sampled throughout this longitudinal study, neither a USUV nor a WNV infection was evident. In 2022, WNV nAbs were detected for the first time in a juvenile zoo bird, indicating the introduction of the virus into this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Bergmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martina Schmoock-Wellhausen
- Wildpark Schwarze Berge GmbH & Co. KG, Am Wildpark 1, 21224 Rosengarten, Germany
- Tiermedizin am Rothenbaum, Rothenbaumchaussee 195, 20149 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christine Fast
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Cora M Holicki
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Friederike Michel
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Patrick Wysocki
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Balal Sadeghi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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Bergmann F, Fischer D, Fischer L, Maisch H, Risch T, Dreyer S, Sadeghi B, Geelhaar D, Grund L, Merz S, Groschup MH, Ziegler U. Vaccination of Zoo Birds against West Nile Virus—A Field Study. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030652. [PMID: 36992236 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is known to cause disease and death in humans and various animals worldwide. WNV has circulated in Germany since 2018. In 2020, four birds tested positive for the WNV genome at Zoopark Erfurt (Thuringia). Moreover, virus neutralization assays detected neutralizing antibodies (nAb) against WNV in 28 birds. In addition, nAb against WNV and Usutu virus (USUV) were found in 14 birds. To protect valuable animals and to reduce the risk of viral transmission from birds to humans, we performed a field study on WNV vaccination at the zoo. To conduct the study, 61 birds from the zoo were categorized into three groups and subjected to a vaccination regimen, where each bird received either 1.0 mL, 0.5 mL, or 0.3 mL of a commercial inactivated WNV vaccine three times. The vaccinations were administered at three-week intervals, or as per modified vaccination schedules. Furthermore, 52 birds served as non-vaccinated controls. Adverse vaccination reactions were absent. The greatest increase in nAb titres was observed in birds that received 1.0 mL of vaccine. However, pre-existing antibodies to WNV and USUV appeared to have a major effect on antibody development in all groups and in all bird species, whereas sex and age had no effect. After vaccination, no death was detected in vaccinated birds for more than 1 year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Bergmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dominik Fischer
- Der Gruene Zoo Wuppertal, Hubertusallee 30, 42117 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Luisa Fischer
- Wildlife Research Institute, State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection North Rhine-Westphalia, Puetzchens Chaussee 228, 53229 Bonn, Germany
| | - Heike Maisch
- Thueringer Zoopark Erfurt, Am Zoopark 1, 99087 Erfurt, Germany
| | - Tina Risch
- Thueringer Zoopark Erfurt, Am Zoopark 1, 99087 Erfurt, Germany
| | - Saskia Dreyer
- Der Gruene Zoo Wuppertal, Hubertusallee 30, 42117 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Balal Sadeghi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Lisa Grund
- Der Gruene Zoo Wuppertal, Hubertusallee 30, 42117 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Sabine Merz
- Thueringer Zoopark Erfurt, Am Zoopark 1, 99087 Erfurt, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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