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Simonin Y. Circulation of West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus in Europe: Overview and Challenges. Viruses 2024; 16:599. [PMID: 38675940 PMCID: PMC11055060 DOI: 10.3390/v16040599] [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] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) and Usutu Virus (USUV) are both neurotropic mosquito-borne viruses belonging to the Flaviviridae family. These closely related viruses mainly follow an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes as vectors and birds as amplifying hosts, but humans and other mammals can also be infected through mosquito bites. WNV was first identified in Uganda in 1937 and has since spread globally, notably in Europe, causing periodic outbreaks associated with severe cases of neuroinvasive diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis. USUV was initially isolated in 1959 in Swaziland and has also spread to Europe, primarily affecting birds and having a limited impact on human health. There has been a recent expansion of these viruses' geographic range in Europe, facilitated by factors such as climate change, leading to increased human exposure. While sharing similar biological traits, ecology, and epidemiology, there are significant distinctions in their pathogenicity and their impact on both human and animal health. While WNV has been more extensively studied and is a significant public health concern in many regions, USUV has recently been gaining attention due to its emergence in Europe and the diversity of its circulating lineages. Understanding the pathophysiology, ecology, and transmission dynamics of these viruses is important to the implementation of effective surveillance and control measures. This perspective provides a brief overview of the current situation of these two viruses in Europe and outlines the significant challenges that need to be addressed in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Simonin
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France
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2
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Miranda LS, Rudd SR, Mena O, Hudspeth PE, Barboza-Corona JE, Park HW, Bideshi DK. The Perpetual Vector Mosquito Threat and Its Eco-Friendly Nemeses. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:182. [PMID: 38534451 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are the most notorious arthropod vectors of viral and parasitic diseases for which approximately half the world's population, ~4,000,000,000, is at risk. Integrated pest management programs (IPMPs) have achieved some success in mitigating the regional transmission and persistence of these diseases. However, as many vector-borne diseases remain pervasive, it is obvious that IPMP successes have not been absolute in eradicating the threat imposed by mosquitoes. Moreover, the expanding mosquito geographic ranges caused by factors related to climate change and globalization (travel, trade, and migration), and the evolution of resistance to synthetic pesticides, present ongoing challenges to reducing or eliminating the local and global burden of these diseases, especially in economically and medically disadvantaged societies. Abatement strategies include the control of vector populations with synthetic pesticides and eco-friendly technologies. These "green" technologies include SIT, IIT, RIDL, CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive, and biological control that specifically targets the aquatic larval stages of mosquitoes. Regarding the latter, the most effective continues to be the widespread use of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ls) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti). Here, we present a review of the health issues elicited by vector mosquitoes, control strategies, and lastly, focus on the biology of Ls and Bti, with an emphasis on the latter, to which no resistance has been observed in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Silva Miranda
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Sarah Renee Rudd
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Integrated Biomedical Graduate Studies, and School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Oscar Mena
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Piper Eden Hudspeth
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - José E Barboza-Corona
- Departmento de Alimentos, Posgrado en Biociencias, Universidad de Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato 36500, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Dennis Ken Bideshi
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
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3
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Magallanes S, Llorente F, Ruiz-López MJ, Martínez-de la Puente J, Soriguer R, Calderon J, Jímenez-Clavero MÁ, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Figuerola J. Long-term serological surveillance for West Nile and Usutu virus in horses in south-West Spain. One Health 2023; 17:100578. [PMID: 38024263 PMCID: PMC10665154 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emerging zoonotic pathogen with increasing incidence in Europe, producing a recent outbreak in 2020 in Spain with 77 human cases and eight fatalities. However, the factors explaining the observed changes in the incidence of WNV in Europe are not completely understood. Longitudinal monitoring of WNV in wild animals across Europe is a useful approach to understand the eco-epidemiology of WNV in the wild and the risk of spillover into humans. However, such studies are very scarce up to now. Here, we analysed the occurrence of WNV and Usutu virus (USUV) antibodies in 2102 samples collected between 2005 and 2020 from a population of feral horses in Doñana National Park. The prevalence of WNV antibodies varied between years, with a mean seroprevalence of 8.1% (range 0%-25%) and seasonally. Climate conditions including mean minimum annual temperatures and mean rainy days per year were positively correlated with WNV seroprevalence, while the annual rainfall was negatively. We also detected the highest incidence of seroconversions in 2020 coinciding with the human outbreak in southern Spain. Usutu virus-specific antibodies were detected in the horse population since 2011. The WNV outbreak in humans was preceded by a long period of increasing circulation of WNV among horses with a very high exposure in the year of the outbreak. These results highlight the utility of One Health approaches to better understand the transmission dynamics of zoonotics pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Magallanes
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Llorente
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, 28130, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Ruiz-López
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada E-18071, Spain
| | - Ramon Soriguer
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Juan Calderon
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Jímenez-Clavero
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, 28130, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | | | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
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Gothe LMR, Ganzenberg S, Ziegler U, Obiegala A, Lohmann KL, Sieg M, Vahlenkamp TW, Groschup MH, Hörügel U, Pfeffer M. Horses as Sentinels for the Circulation of Flaviviruses in Eastern-Central Germany. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051108. [PMID: 37243194 DOI: 10.3390/v15051108] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2018, autochthonous West Nile virus (WNV) infections have been regularly reported in eastern-central Germany. While clinically apparent infections in humans and horses are not frequent, seroprevalence studies in horses may allow the tracing of WNV and related flaviviruses transmission, such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Usutu virus (USUV), and consequently help to estimate the risk of human infections. Hence, the aim of our study was to follow the seropositive ratio against these three viruses in horses in Saxony, Saxony Anhalt, and Brandenburg and to describe their geographic distribution for the year 2021. In early 2022, i.e., before the virus transmission season, sera from 1232 unvaccinated horses were tested using a competitive pan-flavivirus ELISA (cELISA). In order to estimate the true seropositive ratio of infection with WNV, TBEV, and USUV for 2021, positive and equivocal results were confirmed by a virus neutralization test (VNT). In addition, possible risk factors for seropositivity using questionnaires were analyzed using logistic regression based on questionnaires similar to our previous study from 2020. In total, 125 horse sera reacted positive in the cELISA. Based on the VNT, 40 sera showed neutralizing antibodies against WNV, 69 against TBEV, and 5 against USUV. Three sera showed antibodies against more than one virus, and eight were negative based on the VNT. The overall seropositive ratio was 3.3% (95% CI: 2.38-4.40) for WNV, 5.6% (95% CI: 4.44-7.04) for TBEV, and 0.4% (95% CI: 0.14-0.98) for USUV infections. While age and number of horses on the holding were factors predicting TBEV seropositivity, no risk factors were discovered for WNV seropositivity. We conclude that horses are useful sentinels to determine the flavivirus circulation in eastern-central Germany, as long as they are not vaccinated against WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard M R Gothe
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefanie Ganzenberg
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Friedrich-Loeffler Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katharina L Lohmann
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Sieg
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas W Vahlenkamp
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Uwe Hörügel
- Animal Diseases Fund Saxony, Horse Health Service, 01099 Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Reinhardt NP, Köster J, Thomas A, Arnold J, Fux R, Straubinger RK. Bacterial and Viral Pathogens with One Health Relevance in Invasive Raccoons ( Procyon lotor, Linné 1758) in Southwest Germany. Pathogens 2023; 12:389. [PMID: 36986312 PMCID: PMC10054312 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, raccoons are invasive neozoons with their largest population in Germany. Globally, this mesocarnivore acts as a wildlife reservoir for many (non-)zoonotic (re-)emerging pathogens, but very little epidemiological data is available for southwest Germany. This exploratory study aimed to screen free-ranging raccoons in Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW, Germany) for the occurrence of selected pathogens with One Health relevance. Organ tissue and blood samples collected from 102 animals, obtained by hunters in 2019 and 2020, were subsequently analysed for two bacterial and four viral pathogens using a qPCR approach. Single samples were positive for the carnivore protoparvovirus-1 (7.8%, n = 8), canine distemper virus (6.9%, n = 7), pathogenic Leptospira spp. (3.9%, n = 4) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (15.7%, n = 16). West Nile virus and influenza A virus were not detected. Due to their invasive behaviour and synanthropic habit, raccoons may increase the risk of infections for wildlife, domestic animals, zoo animals and humans by acting as a link between them. Therefore, further studies should be initiated to evaluate these risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico P. Reinhardt
- Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Judith Köster
- Aulendorf State Veterinary Diagnostic Centre (STUA), 88326 Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Astrid Thomas
- Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Janosch Arnold
- Wildlife Research Unit, Agricultural Centre Baden-Wuerttemberg (LAZBW), 88326 Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Robert Fux
- Virology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Reinhard K. Straubinger
- Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
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García-Romero C, Carrillo Bilbao GA, Navarro JC, Martin-Solano S, Saegerman C. Arboviruses in Mammals in the Neotropics: A Systematic Review to Strengthen Epidemiological Monitoring Strategies and Conservation Medicine. Viruses 2023; 15:417. [PMID: 36851630 PMCID: PMC9962704 DOI: 10.3390/v15020417] [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] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are a diverse group of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses, with the exception of African swine fever virus, that are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods to a vertebrate host. They are the important cause of many diseases due to their ability to spread in different environments and their diversity of vectors. Currently, there is no information on the geographical distribution of the diseases because the routes of transmission and the mammals (wild or domestic) that act as potential hosts are poorly documented or unknown. We conducted a systematic review from 1967 to 2021 to identify the diversity of arboviruses, the areas, and taxonomic groups that have been monitored, the prevalence of positive records, and the associated risk factors. We identified forty-three arboviruses in nine mammalian orders distributed in eleven countries. In Brazil, the order primates harbor the highest number of arbovirus records. The three most recorded arboviruses were Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus. Serum is the most used sample to obtain arbovirus records. Deforestation is identified as the main risk factor for arbovirus transmission between different species and environments (an odds ratio of 1.46 with a 95% confidence interval: 1.34-1.59). The results show an increase in the sampling effort over the years in the neotropical region. Despite the importance of arboviruses for public health, little is known about the interaction of arboviruses, their hosts, and vectors, as some countries and mammalian orders have not yet been monitored. Long-term and constant monitoring allows focusing research on the analysis of the interrelationships and characteristics of each component animal, human, and their environment to understand the dynamics of the diseases and guide epidemiological surveillance and vector control programs. The biodiversity of the Neotropics should be considered to support epidemiological monitoring strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinthya García-Romero
- Maestría en Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático, Facultad de Ciencias del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito 170521, Ecuador
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Gabriel Alberto Carrillo Bilbao
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULiege), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Department of Infections and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
- Facultad de Filosofía, Letras y Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Juan-Carlos Navarro
- Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Ecoepidemiología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Internacional SEK, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Sarah Martin-Solano
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Humana (GISAH), Carrera Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas—ESPE, P.O. Box 171-5-231B, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULiege), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Department of Infections and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
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Höche J, House RV, Heinrich A, Schliephake A, Albrecht K, Pfeffer M, Ellenberger C. Pathogen Screening for Possible Causes of Meningitis/Encephalitis in Wild Carnivores From Saxony-Anhalt. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:826355. [PMID: 35464387 PMCID: PMC9021439 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.826355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation in meninges and/or brain is regularly noticed in red foxes and other wild carnivores during rabies control programs. Despite negative rabies virus (RABV) results, the etiologies of these cases remain unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide an overview of the occurrence of pathogens that may cause diseases in the brains of wild carnivores and pose a risk to humans and other animals. In addition to RABV and canine distemper virus (CDV), a variety of pathogens, including members of Flaviviridae, Bornaviridae, Herpesviridae, Circoviridae, as well as bacteria and parasites can also cause brain lesions. In 2016 and 2017, brain samples of 1,124 wild carnivores were examined by direct fluorescent antibody test for RABV as well as (reverse-transcriptase) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of CDV as part of a monitoring program in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Here, we applied similar methods to specifically detect suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1), West Nile virus (WNV), Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), canid alphaherpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1), canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), fox circovirus (FoxCV), and Neospora caninum (N. caninum). Further, bacteriogical examination for the existence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) and immunohistochemistry of selected cases to detect Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) antigen were performed. Of all pathogens studied, CDV was found most frequently (31.05%), followed by FoxCV (6.80%), CPV-2 (6.41%), T. gondii (4/15; 26.67%), nematode larvae (1.51%), L. monocytogenes (0.3%), and various other bacterial pathogens (1.42%). In 68 of these cases (6.05%), multiple pathogen combinations were present simultaneously. However, RABV, WNV, BoDV-1, SuHV-1, CaHV-1, and N. caninum were not detected. The majority of the histopathological changes in 440 animals were inflammation (320/440; 72.73%), predominantly non-suppurative in character (280/320; 87.50%), and in many cases in combination with gliosis, satellitosis, neuronophagia, neuronal necrosis, and/or vacuolization/demyelination, or in single cases with malacia. Thus, it could be shown that wild carnivores in Saxony-Anhalt are carriers mainly for CDV and sometimes also for other, partly zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, the existing monitoring program should be expanded to assess the spill-over risk from wild carnivores to humans and other animals and to demonstrate the role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of these zoonotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Höche
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jennifer Höche
| | - Robert Valerio House
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Anja Heinrich
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Annette Schliephake
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Kerstin Albrecht
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Centre of Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christin Ellenberger
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
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Laredo-Tiscareño SV, Garza-Hernandez JA, Rodríguez-Alarcón CA, Adame-Gallegos JR, Beristain-Ruiz DM, Barajas-López IN, González-Peña R, Baylon-Jaquez D, Camacho-Perea A, Vega-Durán A, Rubio-Tabares E, Rivera-Barreno R, Montelongo-Ponce C, Tangudu CS, Blitvich BJ. Detection of Antibodies to Lokern, Main Drain, St. Louis Encephalitis, and West Nile Viruses in Vertebrate Animals in Chihuahua, Guerrero, and Michoacán, Mexico. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:884-891. [PMID: 34652234 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted serologic surveillance for flaviviruses and orthobunyaviruses in vertebrate animals in Mexico in 2018-2019. Sera were collected from 856 vertebrate animals, including 323 dogs, 223 horses, and 121 cows, from 16 species. The animals were from 3 states: Chihuahua in northwest Mexico (704 animals) and Guerrero and Michoacán on the Pacific Coast (27 and 125 animals, respectively). Sera were assayed by plaque reduction neutralization test using four flaviviruses (dengue type 2, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile, and Zika viruses) and six orthobunyaviruses from the Bunyamwera (BUN) serogroup (Cache Valley, Lokern, Main Drain, Northway, Potosi, and Tensaw viruses). Antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) were detected in 154 animals of 9 species, including 89 (39.9%) horses, 3 (21.4%) Indian peafowl, and 41 (12.7%) dogs. Antibodies to St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) were detected in seven animals, including three (0.9%) dogs. Antibodies to Lokern virus (LOKV) were detected in 22 animals: 19 (8.5%) horses, 2 (1.7%) cows, and a dog (0.3%). Antibodies to Main Drain virus (MDV) were detected in three (1.3%) horses. WNV and LOKV activity was detected in all three states, SLEV activity was detected in Chihuahua and Michoacán, and MDV activity was detected in Chihuahua. None of the animals was seropositive for Cache Valley virus, the most common and widely distributed BUN serogroup virus in North America. In conclusion, we provide serologic evidence that select flaviviruses and BUN serogroup viruses infect vertebrate animals in Chihuahua, Guerrero, and Michoacán. We also provide the first evidence of LOKV and MDV activity in Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier A Garza-Hernandez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | - Carlos A Rodríguez-Alarcón
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | | | - Diana M Beristain-Ruiz
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | | | | | - David Baylon-Jaquez
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | - Adriana Camacho-Perea
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, México
| | - Alfonso Vega-Durán
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | - Ezequiel Rubio-Tabares
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | - Ramón Rivera-Barreno
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | - Carolina Montelongo-Ponce
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, México
| | - Chandra S Tangudu
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Bradley J Blitvich
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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Watts MJ, Sarto i Monteys V, Mortyn PG, Kotsila P. The rise of West Nile Virus in Southern and Southeastern Europe: A spatial-temporal analysis investigating the combined effects of climate, land use and economic changes. One Health 2021; 13:100315. [PMID: 34485672 PMCID: PMC8408625 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) has recently emerged as a major public health concern in Europe; its recent expansion also coincided with some remarkable socio-economic and environmental changes, including an economic crisis and some of the warmest temperatures on record. Here we empirically investigate the drivers of this phenomenon at a European wide scale by constructing and analyzing a unique spatial–temporal data-set, that includes data on climate, land-use, the economy, and government spending on environmental related sectors. Drivers and risk factors of WNV were identified by building a conceptual framework, and relationships were tested using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM), which could capture complex non-linear relationships and also account for spatial and temporal auto-correlation. Some of the key risk factors identified in our conceptual framework, such as a higher percentage of wetlands and arable land, climate factors (higher summer rainfall and higher summer temperatures) were positive predictors of WNV infections. Interestingly, winter temperatures of between 2 °C and 6 °C were among some of the strongest predictors of annual WNV infections; one possible explanation for this result is that successful overwintering of infected adult mosquitoes (likely Culex pipiens) is key to the intensity of outbreaks for a given year. Furthermore, lower surface water extent over the summer is also associated with more intense outbreaks, suggesting that drought, which is known to induce positive changes in WNV prevalence in mosquitoes, is also contributing to the upward trend in WNV cases in affected regions. Our indicators representing the economic crisis were also strong predictors of WNV infections, suggesting there is an association between austerity and cuts to key sectors, which could have benefited vector species and the virus during this crucial period. These results, taken in the context of recent winter warming due to climate change, and more frequent droughts, may offer an explanation of why the virus has become so prevalent in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Watts
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
- Corresponding author.
| | - Victor Sarto i Monteys
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
- Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca, Alimentació i Medi Natural, Generalitat de Catalunya, Avinguda Meridiana, Barcelona, Spain
| | - P. Graham Mortyn
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
- Department of Geography, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Panagiota Kotsila
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
- Barcelona Laboratory for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability (BCNEJ), Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
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10
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Exposure to Select Pathogens in an Expanding Moose (Alces alces) Population in North Dakota, USA. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:648-651. [PMID: 33857323 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Forty female moose (Alces alces) captured in North Dakota, US, in March 2014 were tested for antibodies to a variety of pathogens. Antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) were detected in 39 (98%) moose following a year with a high number of human cases, suggesting the population accurately reflects WNV activity. Fifteen percent of moose (6/40) had antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, implying expansion of the tick vector into the area. Antibodies to Anaplasma spp. were detected in 55% of moose (22/40), a higher rate than previously detected in cattle from the region. Low titers (100-400) to one or more serovars of Leptospira spp. were detected in 23% of moose (9/40), a common finding in wild ruminants. Exposure to other pathogens was uncommon (<8%; <3/40) or not documented. Survival and recruitment were high during the study period, suggesting a limited population-level impact at current levels of exposure and environmental co-stressors.
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11
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Chowdhury P, Khan SA. Global emergence of West Nile virus: Threat & preparedness in special perspective to India. Indian J Med Res 2021; 154:36-50. [PMID: 34782529 PMCID: PMC8715705 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_642_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne single-stranded RNA neurotropic virus within the family Flaviviridae. The virus was first reported in the West Nile province of Uganda in 1937. Since then, sporadic cases have been reported until the last two decades when it has emerged as a threat to public health. The emergence of WNV with more severity in recent times is intriguing. Considering this phenomenon, the WNV-affected areas of the world were distinguished as old versus new in a depicted world map. The present review showcases the historical and epidemiological perspectives of the virus, genetic diversity of prevailing lineages and clinical spectrum associated with its infection. Emergence of the virus has been discussed in special context to India because of co-circulation of different WNV lineages/strains along with other flaviviruses. Recent laboratory diagnostics, vaccine development and clinical management associated with WNV infection have also been discussed. Further, the research gaps, especially in context to India have been highlighted that may have a pivotal role in combating the spread of WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritom Chowdhury
- Department of Biotechnology, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Tea Research Association, Jorhat, Assam, India
| | - Siraj Ahmed Khan
- Division of Medical Entomology, Arbovirology & Rickettsial Diseases, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Northeast Region, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
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12
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SENTINEL COYOTE PATHOGEN SURVEY TO ASSESS DECLINING BLACK-FOOTED FERRET (MUSTELA NIGRIPES) POPULATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA, USA. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:264-272. [PMID: 33822142 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00015] [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: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
As part of the national recovery effort, endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) were reintroduced to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, US in 2000. Despite an encouraging start, numbers of ferrets at the site have declined. In an effort to determine possible causes of the population decline, we undertook a pathogen survey in 2012 to detect exposure to West Nile virus (WNV), canine distemper virus (CDV), plague (Yersinia pestis), tularemia (Francisella tularensis), and heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) using coyotes (Canis latrans) as a sentinel animal. The highest seroprevalence was for WNV with 71% (20/28) of coyotes testing antibody-positive. Seroprevalence of CDV and plague were lower, 27% and 13%, respectively. No evidence of active infection with tularemia or heartworm was seen in the coyotes sampled. As this study did not sample black-footed ferrets themselves, the definitive cause for the decline of this population cannot be determined. However, the presence of coyotes seropositive for two diseases, plague and CDV, lethal to black-footed ferrets, indicated the potential for exposure and infection. The high seroprevalence of WNV in the coyotes indicated a wide exposure to the virus; therefore, exposure of black-footed ferrets to the virus is also likely. Due to the ability of WNV to cause fatal disease in other species, studies may be useful to elucidate the impact that WNV could have on the success of reintroduced black-footed ferrets as well as factors influencing the spread and incidence of the disease in a prairie ecosystem.
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13
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Screening of Eurasian Tundra Reindeer for Viral Sequences by Next-Generation Sequencing. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126561. [PMID: 34207171 PMCID: PMC8296488 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Reindeer husbandry is essential for the livelihood and culture of indigenous people in the Arctic. Parts of the herding areas are also used as pastures for farm animals, facilitating potential transmission of viruses between species. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, viruses circulating in the wild are receiving increased attention, since they might pose a potential threat to human health. Climate change will influence the prevalence of infectious diseases of both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to detect known and previously unknown viruses in Eurasian tundra reindeer. In total, 623 nasal and 477 rectal swab samples were collected from reindeer herds in Fennoscandia, Iceland, and Eastern Russia during 2016–2019. Next-generation sequencing analysis and BLAST-homology searches indicated the presence of viruses of domesticated and wild animals, such as bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine papillomavirus, alcephaline herpesvirus 1 and 2, deer mastadenovirus B, bovine rotavirus, and roe deer picobirnavirus. Several viral species previously found in reindeer and some novel species were detected, although the clinical relevance of these viruses in reindeer is largely unknown. These results indicate that it should be possible to find emerging viruses of relevance for both human and animal health using reindeer as a sentinel species.
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14
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Torres-Castro M, Noh-Pech H, Hernández-Betancourt S, Peláez-Sánchez R, Lugo-Caballero C, Puerto FI. West Nile and Zika viruses in bats from a suburban area of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 68:834-841. [PMID: 33878223 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Infections with viruses of the Flavivirus genus were explored in 22 bats (Artibeus jamaicensis) from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The detection of the viral genus was performed by RT-PCR, and infections with dengue (DENV 1-4), West Nile (WNV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses were subsequently explored. Sequences from positive products were analysed using the BLAST algorithm to determine identity. In 7 (31.8%) and 2 (9.1%) bats, WNV and ZIKV were identified, respectively. The bioinformatic analysis showed 98%-100% coverage and identity for both viruses. Molecular evidence of WNV and ZIKV natural infection in bats from Yucatan, Mexico, is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Torres-Castro
- Regional Research Center "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Henry Noh-Pech
- Regional Research Center "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | | | | | - César Lugo-Caballero
- Regional Research Center "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Fernando I Puerto
- Regional Research Center "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
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15
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Sikkema RS, Schrama M, van den Berg T, Morren J, Munger E, Krol L, van der Beek JG, Blom R, Chestakova I, van der Linden A, Boter M, van Mastrigt T, Molenkamp R, Koenraadt CJ, van den Brand JM, Oude Munnink BB, Koopmans MP, van der Jeugd H. Detection of West Nile virus in a common whitethroat ( Curruca communis) and Culex mosquitoes in the Netherlands, 2020. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 25. [PMID: 33034280 PMCID: PMC7545818 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.40.2001704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
On 22 August, a common whitethroat in the Netherlands tested positive for West Nile virus lineage 2. The same bird had tested negative in spring. Subsequent testing of Culex mosquitoes collected in August and early September in the same location generated two of 44 positive mosquito pools, providing first evidence for enzootic transmission in the Netherlands. Sequences generated from the positive mosquito pools clustered with sequences that originate from Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maarten Schrama
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tijs van den Berg
- Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jolien Morren
- Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Louie Krol
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Rody Blom
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Marjan Boter
- Viroscience, ErasmusMC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tjomme van Mastrigt
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, the Netherlands.,Wildlife Ecology and Conservation group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.,Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Judith Ma van den Brand
- Division of Pathology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Henk van der Jeugd
- Vogeltrekstation -Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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16
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Constant O, Bollore K, Clé M, Barthelemy J, Foulongne V, Chenet B, Gomis D, Virolle L, Gutierrez S, Desmetz C, Moares RA, Beck C, Lecollinet S, Salinas S, Simonin Y. Evidence of Exposure to USUV and WNV in Zoo Animals in France. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9121005. [PMID: 33266071 PMCID: PMC7760666 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9121005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are zoonotic arboviruses. These flaviviruses are mainly maintained in the environment through an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes and birds. Horses and humans are incidental, dead-end hosts, but can develop severe neurological disorders. Nevertheless, there is little data regarding the involvement of other mammals in the epidemiology of these arboviruses. In this study, we performed a serosurvey to assess exposure to these viruses in captive birds and mammals in a zoo situated in the south of France, an area described for the circulation of these two viruses. A total of 411 samples comprising of 70 species were collected over 16 years from 2003 to 2019. The samples were first tested by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The positive sera were then tested using virus-specific microneutralization tests against USUV and WNV. USUV seroprevalence in birds was 10 times higher than that of WNV (14.59% versus 1.46%, respectively). Among birds, greater rhea (Rhea Americana) and common peafowl (Pavo cristatus) exhibited the highest USUV seroprevalence. Infections occurred mainly between 2016-2018 corresponding to a period of high circulation of these viruses in Europe. In mammalian species, antibodies against WNV were detected in one dama gazelle (Nanger dama) whereas serological evidence of USUV infection was observed in several Canidae, especially in African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). Our study helps to better understand the exposure of captive species to WNV and USUV and to identify potential host species to include in surveillance programs in zoos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orianne Constant
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France; (O.C.); (K.B.); (M.C.); (J.B.); (V.F.); (S.S.)
| | - Karine Bollore
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France; (O.C.); (K.B.); (M.C.); (J.B.); (V.F.); (S.S.)
| | - Marion Clé
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France; (O.C.); (K.B.); (M.C.); (J.B.); (V.F.); (S.S.)
| | - Jonathan Barthelemy
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France; (O.C.); (K.B.); (M.C.); (J.B.); (V.F.); (S.S.)
| | - Vincent Foulongne
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France; (O.C.); (K.B.); (M.C.); (J.B.); (V.F.); (S.S.)
| | - Baptiste Chenet
- Parc de Lunaret—Zoo de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (B.C.); (D.G.); (L.V.)
| | - David Gomis
- Parc de Lunaret—Zoo de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (B.C.); (D.G.); (L.V.)
| | - Laurie Virolle
- Parc de Lunaret—Zoo de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (B.C.); (D.G.); (L.V.)
| | | | - Caroline Desmetz
- bBioCommunication en CardioMétabolique (BC2M), Montpellier University, 34000 Montpellier, France;
| | - Rayane Amaral Moares
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRAE, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, EURL for Equine Diseases, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France; (R.A.M.); (C.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Cécile Beck
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRAE, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, EURL for Equine Diseases, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France; (R.A.M.); (C.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Sylvie Lecollinet
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRAE, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, EURL for Equine Diseases, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France; (R.A.M.); (C.B.); (S.L.)
| | - Sara Salinas
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France; (O.C.); (K.B.); (M.C.); (J.B.); (V.F.); (S.S.)
| | - Yannick Simonin
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, EFS, 34000 Montpellier, France; (O.C.); (K.B.); (M.C.); (J.B.); (V.F.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-(0)4-3435-9114
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17
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Allen SE, Jardine CM, Hooper-McGrevy K, Ambagala A, Bosco-Lauth AM, Kunkel MR, Mead DG, Nituch L, Ruder MG, Nemeth NM. Serologic Evidence of Arthropod-Borne Virus Infections in Wild and Captive Ruminants in Ontario, Canada. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:2100-2107. [PMID: 32815506 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are globally widespread, and their transmission cycles typically involve numerous vertebrate species. Serologic testing of animal hosts can provide a routine surveillance approach to monitoring animal disease systems, can provide a surveillance alternative to arthropod testing and human case reports, and may augment knowledge of epizootiology. Wild and captive ruminants represent good candidate sentinels to track geographic distribution and prevalence of select arboviruses. They often are geographically widespread and abundant, inhabit areas shared by humans and domestic animals, and are readily fed on by various hematophagous arthropod vectors. Ontario, Canada, is home to high densities of coexisting humans, livestock, and wild cervids, as well as growing numbers of arthropod vectors because of the effects of climate change. We collected blood samples from 349 livestock (cattle/sheep) and 217 cervids (wild/farmed/zoo) in Ontario (2016-2019) to assess for antibodies to zoonotic and agriculturally important arboviruses. Livestock sera were tested for antibodies to bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). Sera from cervids were tested for antibodies to BTV, EHDV, West Nile virus (WNV), eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Powassan virus (POWV), and heartland virus (HRTV). Fifteen (9.0%) cattle were seropositive for EHDV-serotype 2. Nine (4.2%) cervids were seropositive for arboviruses; three confirmed as WNV, three as EEEV, and one as POWV. All animals were seronegative for BTV and HRTV. These results reveal low seroprevalence of important agricultural, wildlife, and zoonotic pathogens and underline the need for continued surveillance in this and other regions in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E Allen
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Kathleen Hooper-McGrevy
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Aruna Ambagala
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Angela M Bosco-Lauth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Melanie R Kunkel
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Daniel G Mead
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Larissa Nituch
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Mark G Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Nicole M Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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18
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Palermo PM, Orbegozo J, Morrill JC, Watts DM. Serological Evidence of West Nile Virus Infection in White-Tailed Deer in Central Texas. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:850-854. [PMID: 32746746 PMCID: PMC7698975 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
White-tailed deer (WTD) are abundant mammals widely distributed across the United States. As a result, WTD are considered to be excellent sentinels for detecting arboviral activity in certain geographic areas. Evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) antibody in WTD has been reported previously in several states. However, WNV infection in WTD has not been reported from Texas, where the incidence of human West Nile (WN) cases is among the highest in the United States. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of WNV antibody in WTD in central Texas. Sera samples (n = 644) were collected from deer during the fall and winter in western Travis County, Texas from 2014 to 2018 and tested for WNV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA antibody-positive samples were further tested for WNV and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) antibodies by an 80% plaque-reduction neutralization tests (PRNT80). Overall, 9% (n = 58) and 0.31% (n = 2) of the deer samples had serological evidence of WNV and SLEV infections, respectively. WNV seroprevalence differed significantly by age (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between sex. Interestingly, 3.1% (n = 20) of the samples were positive for Flavivirus IgG antibody by ELISA, but negative for SLEV and WNV antibodies, suggesting that other Flaviviruses may be circulating among WTD in Texas. Finally, these results supported WNV infection among WTD and highlight their potential role as sentinels for the detection of WNV in Texas and warrant further studies to determine the role WTD play in the maintenance and transmission of WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M. Palermo
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Jeanette Orbegozo
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - John C. Morrill
- Orion Research and Management Services, Gatesville, Texas, USA
| | - Douglas M. Watts
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
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19
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Azeem S, Bengis R, Van Aarde R, Bastos AD. Mass Die-Off of African Elephants in Botswana: Pathogen, Poison or a Perfect Storm? AFRICAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.3957/056.050.0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shahan Azeem
- Virology Section, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. Pakistan
| | - Roy Bengis
- Retired Chief State Veterinarian, Kruger National Park, South Africa
| | - Rudi Van Aarde
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Armanda D.S. Bastos
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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20
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Caballero-Gómez J, Cano-Terriza D, Lecollinet S, Carbonell MD, Martínez-Valverde R, Martínez-Nevado E, García-Párraga D, Lowenski S, García-Bocanegra I. Evidence of exposure to zoonotic flaviviruses in zoo mammals in Spain and their potential role as sentinel species. Vet Microbiol 2020; 247:108763. [PMID: 32768215 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A serosurvey was carried out to assess emerging flavivirus exposure in zoo mammals in Spain and to determine the dynamics of seropositivity in species that were longitudinally sampled during the study period. Sera from 570 zoo animals belonging to 120 mammal species were collected at ten zoos (A-J) in Spain between 2002 and 2019. Twenty-one of these animals, belonging to ten different species, were sampled longitudinally at four of the zoos during the study period. Antigenically-related flavivirus antibodies were detected in 19 (3.3 %; 95 %CI: 2.0-5.2) of the 570 animals analyzed using bELISA. Seropositivity was observed in ten (8.3 %) of the 120 species tested. Five (23.8 %) of the 21 animals sampled more than once presented seropositivity in all samplings whereas seroconversion was only observed in one white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Flavivirus antibodies were found at six of the ten sampled zoos and in consecutive years between 2008 and 2018. Virus neutralization tests confirmed West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in ten (1.8 %; 95 %CI: 0.7-2.8), five (0.9 %; 95 %CI: 0.1-1.6) and one (0.2 %; 95 %CI: 0.0-0.5) animal, respectively. Antibodies against Meaban virus (0 %; 95 %CI: 0.0-0.7 %) were not found in the tested sera. The results demonstrate WNV, USUV and TBEV exposure in zoo mammals, which may be of public health and conservation concern. Seropositivity to WNV and USUV was detected in regions where these viruses have not been reported previously. Anti-WNV antibodies found in zoo animals sampled in 2009 point to WNV circulation at least one year before the first outbreaks were reported in horses and humans in Spain. Our results indicate that zoo mammals could be useful sentinel species for monitoring emerging flavivirus activity in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Caballero-Gómez
- Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, 14014, Cordoba, Spain; Infectious Diseases Unit, Clinical Virology and Zoonoses Research Group, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Cordoba, 14006, Cordoba, Spain
| | - D Cano-Terriza
- Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, 14014, Cordoba, Spain.
| | - S Lecollinet
- ANSES Laboratoire de Santé Animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR 1161 Virologie, INRAE, ANSES, ENVA, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - R Martínez-Valverde
- Veterinary and Conservation Department, Bioparc Fuengirola, 29640, Malaga, Spain
| | | | - D García-Párraga
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunidad Valenciana, 46005, Valencia, Spain
| | - S Lowenski
- ANSES Laboratoire de Santé Animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR 1161 Virologie, INRAE, ANSES, ENVA, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - I García-Bocanegra
- Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, 14014, Cordoba, Spain
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Yakass MB, Franco D, Quaye O. Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling and Protein Inhibitors of Activated Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcriptions As Therapeutic Targets in Flavivirus Infections. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2019; 40:1-18. [PMID: 31436502 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2019.0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses cause significant human diseases putting more than 400 million people at risk annually worldwide. Because of migration and improved transportation, these viruses can be found on all continents (except Antarctica). Although a majority of the viruses are endemic in the tropics, a few [West Nile virus (WNV) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV)] have shown endemicity in Europe and North America. Currently, there are vaccines for the Yellow fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and TBEV, but there is no effective vaccine and/or therapy against all other flaviviruses. Although there are intensive efforts to develop vaccines for Zika viruses, dengue viruses, and WNVs, there is the need for alternative or parallel antiviral therapeutic approaches. Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) and protein inhibitors of activated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STATs; PIAS), both regulatory proteins of the Janus kinase/STAT signaling pathway, have been explored as therapeutic targets in herpes simplex and vaccinia viruses, as well as in cancer therapy. In this review, we briefly describe the function of SOCS and PIAS and their therapeutic potential in flaviviral infections. [Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bright Yakass
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Osbourne Quaye
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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