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Lamsal A, Tryland M, Paulsen KM, Romano JS, Nymo IH, Stiasny K, Soleng A, Vikse R, Andreassen ÅK. Serological screening for tick-borne encephalitis virus in eight Norwegian herds of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Zoonoses Public Health 2023; 70:692-698. [PMID: 37259822 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13060] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is found in Ixodes ricinus ticks throughout the area where viable tick populations exist. In Norway, TBEV is found in I. ricinus from the south coast until Brønnøy municipality in Nordland County and the range of the vector is expanding due to changes in climate, vegetation, host animals and environmental conditions. TBEV might thus have the potential to establish in new areas when I. ricinus expand its geographical distribution. At present, there is little knowledge on the status of the virus in high-altitude areas of inland regions in Norway. It has previously been indicated that reindeer may be an important sentinel species and indicator of the spread of ticks and TBEV in high-altitude regions. In this study, 408 semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from eight herds, from Tana in Troms and Finnmark County in northern Norway to Filefjell in Innlandet and Viken Counties in southern Norway, were screened for TBEV antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found 16 TBEV reactive reindeer samples by ELISA; however, these results could not be confirmed by the serum neutralization test (SNT). This could indicate that a flavivirusand not necessarily TBEV, may be circulating among Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer. The results also indicate that TBEV was not enzootic in Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer in 2013-2015. This knowledge is important as an information base for future TBEV and flavivirus surveillance in Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaka Lamsal
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Campus Bø, Norway
| | - Morten Tryland
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Evenstad, Norway
| | - Katrine M Paulsen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Javier Sánchez Romano
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ingebjørg H Nymo
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Section for Food Safety and Animal Health, The Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rose Vikse
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Campus Bø, Norway
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Wallin Philippot K, Baron J, Sánchez Romano J, Rautiainen H, Frössling J, Nymo IH, Persson Y, Omazic A, Tryland M. Infectious keratoconjunctivitis in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus): a questionnaire-based study among reindeer herders in Norway and Sweden. Acta Vet Scand 2023; 65:34. [PMID: 37438784 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-023-00694-x] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of climate change, loss of pastureland to other land usage and presence of large carnivores are the main reasons for the increase in supplementary feeding of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Fennoscandia over the last decades. Feeding might expose reindeer to stress and increased animal-to-animal contact, leading to an increased risk of infectious disease transmission, such as infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC). As it can develop rapidly and be very painful, IKC is described as an important animal welfare concern and a potential source of economic loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the current presence of IKC and potential associations between IKC and supplementary feeding through an online questionnaire survey, distributed among reindeer herders in Norway and Sweden in 2021. RESULTS Seventy-six reindeer herders (33 from Norway and 43 from Sweden) responded to the questionnaire, representing 6% and 4% of the registered reindeer herding groups in Norway and Sweden, respectively. Infectious keratoconjunctivitis was common, with 54 (71%) of the 76 herders that responded having observed clinical signs during the past 10 years. These signs were mainly observed as increased lacrimation, causing "wet cheeks", but also as keratitis and conjunctivitis. Autumn and winter were the seasons in which IKC was observed most. The herders reported several measures, such as slaughter and isolation of affected reindeer, to counteract the spread of disease. The herding year 2019/2020 was associated with reports of outbreaks of IKC in herds as well as being the herding year where most herders (80%) had performed supplementary feeding. A significant association was found between IKC and feeding performed in an enclosure (odds ratio = 15.20), while feeding on free-range areas had a non-significant, negative, relationship with the appearance of IKC outbreaks (odds ratio = 0.29). Finally, there was a trend in the data suggesting that IKC affected calves especially. CONCLUSIONS Infectious keratoconjunctivitis is a common disease, mainly observed in winter and autumn. It usually has mild to moderately severe clinical signs. Our results imply that IKC is associated with stress and feeding situations and that calves might be more susceptible than adults, however, this needs to be confirmed with further studies, preferably at an individual animal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Wallin Philippot
- Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jerome Baron
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Javier Sánchez Romano
- Vascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Heidi Rautiainen
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Frössling
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23, Skara, Sweden
| | - Ingebjørg Helena Nymo
- Research Group Food Safety and Animal Health, The Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9016, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ylva Persson
- Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Omazic
- Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Morten Tryland
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480, Koppang, Norway
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Tryland M, Cunha CW, Fuchs B, Breines EM, Li H, Jokelainen P, Laaksonen S. A serological screening for potential viral pathogens among semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Finland. Acta Vet Scand 2023; 65:8. [PMID: 36814283 PMCID: PMC9948369 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-023-00671-4] [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: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reindeer herding and husbandry is a traditional and important livelihood in Fennoscandia, and about 200,000 semi-domesticated reindeer are herded in Finland. Climatic changes, leading to ice-locked winter pastures, and encroachment of pasture-land have led to changes in reindeer husbandry, increasing the extent of supplementary or full ration feeding, which has become very common in Finland. Keeping reindeer in corrals or gathering them at permanent feeding sites will increase nose-to-nose contact between animals and they may be exposed to poor hygienic conditions. This may impact the epidemiology of infectious diseases, such as viral infections. The aim of this study was to investigate Finnish semi-domesticated reindeer for exposure to viral pathogens. Blood samples were collected from 596 reindeer (358 calves, 238 adults) in 2015, from nine reindeer slaughterhouses, representing most of the reindeer herding regions in Finland. Plasma samples were investigated for antibodies against a selection of known and potential reindeer viral pathogens by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS The screening suggested that alphaherpesvirus and gammaherpesvirus (malignant catarrhal fever virus group; MCFV) were enzootic in the reindeer population, with a seroprevalence of 46.5% (range at slaughterhouse level 28.6-64.3%) and 29.0% (range 3.5-62.2%), respectively. Whereas the seroprevalence was significantly higher for alphaherpesvirus among adult reindeer (91.2%) as compared to calves (16.8%), no age difference was revealed for antibodies against gammaherpesvirus. For alphaherpesvirus, the seroprevalence in the northernmost region, having the highest animal density (animals/km2), was significantly higher (55.6%) as compared to the southernmost region (36.2%), whereas the seroprevalence pattern for gammaherpesvirus indicated the opposite, with 8.1% in the north and 50.0% in the south. Four reindeer (0.7%) had antibodies against Pestivirus, whereas no antibodies were detected against Bluetongue virus or Schmallenbergvirus. CONCLUSIONS Alphaherpesvirus and gammaherpesvirus (MCFV) seems to be enzootic in the Finnish reindeer population, similar to other reindeer herds in Fennoscandia, whereas the exposure to Pestivirus was low compared to findings in Norway and Sweden. The ongoing changes in the reindeer herding industry necessitate knowledge on reindeer health and diseases that may impact animal welfare and health of reindeer as well as the economy of the reindeer herding industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morten Tryland
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480, Koppang, Norway. .,Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, Breivika, 9019, Tromsö, Norway.
| | - Cristina Wetzel Cunha
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Animal Disease Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Boris Fuchs
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, Breivika, 9019 Tromsö, Norway
| | - Eva Marie Breines
- grid.477237.2Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Hong Li
- grid.30064.310000 0001 2157 6568Animal Disease Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- grid.6203.70000 0004 0417 4147Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark ,grid.7737.40000 0004 0410 2071Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sauli Laaksonen
- grid.7737.40000 0004 0410 2071Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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A Screening for Virus Infections among Wild Eurasian Tundra Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Iceland, 2017-2019. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020317. [PMID: 36851530 PMCID: PMC9961133 DOI: 10.3390/v15020317] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A winter population of around 4000-5000 wild Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer t. tarandus) in the eastern part of Iceland represents descendants from 35 semi-domesticated reindeer imported to Iceland from Finnmark county, Norway, in 1787. While previous studies have indicated that they host fewer parasite species as compared to reindeer in Fennoscandia, little information exists on their exposure to reindeer viral pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate blood from hunted reindeer for antibodies against alphaherpesvirus and gammaherpesviruses (malignant catarrhal fever viruses, MCFV), pestivirus, bluetongue virus, and Schmallenberg virus, and to investigate nasal and oral mucosal membrane swab samples for the presence of parapoxvirus-specific DNA. Blood samples collected during the hunting seasons in 2017 (n = 40), 2018 (n = 103), and 2019 (n = 138) were tested for viral antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Screening for parapoxvirus DNA was conducted on swab samples from 181 reindeer by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), targeting the B2L and GIF genes. Antibodies against pestivirus were detected in two animals from 2017, and antibodies against MCFV were detected in two reindeer from 2018. No antibodies were detected against the other viruses tested. Parapoxvirus-specific DNA was detected in nasal swab samples from two animals sampled in 2019. This study suggests that the investigated viral infections are either not present or present at a low prevalence only, probably not representing a major health threat to this reindeer population. The lack of exposure to alphaherpesvirus, an enzootic pathogen in most investigated Rangifer populations, was unexpected.
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Shakya R, Tryland M, Vikse R, Romano JS, Åsbakk K, Nymo IH, Mehl R, Evander M, Ahlm C, Vapalahti O, Lwande OW, Putkuri N, Johansen W, Soleng A, Edgar KS, Andreassen ÅK. Inkoo and Sindbis viruses in blood sucking insects, and a serological study for Inkoo virus in semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer in Norway. Virol J 2022; 19:99. [PMID: 35659694 PMCID: PMC9166600 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01815-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito-borne viruses pose a serious threat to humans worldwide. There has been an upsurge in the number of mosquito-borne viruses in Europe, mostly belonging to the families Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus (Sindbis, Chikungunya), Flaviviridae (West Nile, Usutu, Dengue), and Peribunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus, California serogroup (Inkoo, Batai, Tahyna). The principal focus of this study was Inkoo (INKV) and Sindbis (SINV) virus circulating in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and some parts of Russia. These viruses are associated with morbidity in humans. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding reservoirs and transmission. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of INKV and SINV in blood sucking insects and seroprevalence for INKV in semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Norway. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 213 pools containing about 25 blood sucking insects (BSI) each and 480 reindeer sera were collected in eight Norwegian reindeer summer pasture districts during 2013-2015. The pools were analysed by RT-PCR to detect INKV and by RT-real-time PCR for SINV. Reindeer sera were analysed for INKV-specific IgG by an Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (n = 480, IIFA) and a Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (n = 60, PRNT). RESULTS Aedes spp. were the most dominant species among the collected BSI. Two of the pools were positive for INKV-RNA by RT-PCR and were confirmed by pyrosequencing. The overall estimated pool prevalence (EPP) of INKV in Norway was 0.04%. None of the analysed pools were positive for SINV. Overall IgG seroprevalence in reindeer was 62% positive for INKV by IIFA. Of the 60 reindeer sera- analysed by PRNT for INKV, 80% were confirmed positive, and there was no cross-reactivity with the closely related Tahyna virus (TAHV) and Snowshoe hare virus (SSHV). CONCLUSION The occurrence and prevalence of INKV in BSI and the high seroprevalence against the virus among semi-domesticated reindeer in Norway indicate that further studies are required for monitoring this virus. SINV was not detected in the BSI in this study, however, human cases of SINV infection are yearly reported from other regions such as Rjukan in south-central Norway. It is therefore essential to monitor both viruses in the human population. Our findings are important to raise awareness regarding the geographical distribution of these mosquito-borne viruses in Northern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchika Shakya
- Virology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
| | - Morten Tryland
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Evenstad, Norway
| | - Rose Vikse
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Javier Sánchez Romano
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kjetil Åsbakk
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ingebjørg H Nymo
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Section for Food Safety and Animal Health, The Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Reidar Mehl
- Section of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Magnus Evander
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Clas Ahlm
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Niina Putkuri
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Wenche Johansen
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Section of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin S Edgar
- Section of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.
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Serological Evidence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Norway. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121542. [PMID: 34959497 PMCID: PMC8709481 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of viral hepatitis in humans. In developing countries, HEV-infections seem to be mainly associated with pigs, but other animal species may be involved in viral transmission. Recently, anti-HEV antibodies were detected in Norwegian wild reindeer. Here, we investigated anti-HEV seroprevalence in Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer, animals in closer contact with humans than their wild counterparts. Blood samples (n = 516) were obtained from eight reindeer herds during the period 2013–2017 and analysed with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay designed for detecting anti-HEV antibodies in livestock. Antibodies were found in all herds and for all sampling seasons. The overall seroprevalence was 15.7% (81/516), with adults showing a slightly higher seroprevalence (18.0%, 46/256) than calves (13.5%, 35/260, p = 0.11). The seroprevalence was not influenced by gender or latitude, and there was no temporal trend (p > 0.15). A positive association between the presence of anti-HEV antibodies and antibodies against alphaherpesvirus and pestivirus, detected in a previous screening, was found (p < 0.05). We conclude that Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer are exposed to HEV or an antigenically similar virus. Whether the virus is affecting reindeer health or infects humans and poses a threat for human health remains unknown and warrants further investigations.
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