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Rusenova N, Rusenov A, Chervenkov M, Sirakov I. Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus among Equids in Bulgaria in 2022 and Assessment of Some Risk Factors. Vet Sci 2024; 11:209. [PMID: 38787181 PMCID: PMC11126025 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11050209] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among equids in Bulgaria, confirm the results of a competitive ELISA versus the virus neutralization test (VNT) and investigate some predisposing factors for WNV seropositivity. A total of 378 serum samples from 15 provinces in northern and southern Bulgaria were tested. The samples originated from 314 horses and 64 donkeys, 135 males and 243 females, aged from 1 to 30 years. IgG and IgM antibodies against WNV protein E were detected by ELISA. ELISA-positive samples were additionally tested via VNT for WNV and Usutu virus. Thirty-five samples were WNV-positive by ELISA (9.26% [CI = 6.45-12.88]), of which 15 were confirmed by VNT; hence, the seroprevalence was 3.97% (CI = 2.22-6.55). No virus-neutralizing antibodies to Usutu virus were detected among the 35 WNV-ELISA-positive equids in Bulgaria. When compared with VNT, ELISA showed 100.0% sensitivity and 94.5% specificity. A statistical analysis showed that the risk factors associated with WNV seropositivity were the region (p < 0.0001), altitude of the locality (p < 0.0001), type of housing (p < 0.0001) and breed (p = 0.0365). The results of the study demonstrate, albeit indirectly, that WNV circulates among equids in northern and southern Bulgaria, indicating that they could be suitable sentinel animals for predicting human cases and determining the risk in these areas or regions of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolina Rusenova
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Anton Rusenov
- Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria;
| | - Mihail Chervenkov
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria;
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivo Sirakov
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Sofia, 2 Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria;
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Rusenova N, Rusenov A, Monaco F. A Retrospective Study on the Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus Among Donkeys and Mules in Bulgaria. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:274-277. [PMID: 38294797 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: West Nile virus (WNV) infection, caused by a flavivirus, emerged in Europe and America in the past two decades. The etiological agent causes asymptomatic to life-threatening infection in humans and in some animal species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV among donkeys and mules in Bulgaria. Methods: A total of 200 archived serum samples were tested by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive samples were additionally analyzed by virus neutralization assay. Results: Seroprevalence of 7% (14/200) was established among tested animals by ELISA. Two samples were subsequently verified for the presence of virus neutralizing antibodies; thus, the seroprevalence against WNV was determined to be 1% (2/200 [confidence interval = 0.12-3.61]). Positive results among mules included in the study were not found. Conclusion: The findings in the present research demonstrate that donkeys are exposed to WNV infection and seroconvert, which adds to the understanding of virus circulation among donkeys in settlements in north and south Bulgaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolina Rusenova
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Anton Rusenov
- Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Federica Monaco
- Department of Diagnostics and Surveillance of Exotic Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," Teramo, Italy
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Topp AK, Springer A, Mischke R, Rieder J, Feige K, Ganter M, Nagel-Kohl U, Nordhoff M, Boelke M, Becker S, Pachnicke S, Schunack B, Dobler G, Strube C. Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in wild and domestic animals in northern Germany. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102220. [PMID: 37356181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102220] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a tick-transmitted flavivirus, which can infect humans and animals, sometimes even with a fatal outcome. Since many decades, TBEV is endemic in southern Germany, while only sporadic occurrence has been noted in northern parts of the country so far. Nevertheless, autochthonous human clinical cases are increasing in the federal state of Lower Saxony in north-western Germany, and several natural foci of TBEV transmission have recently been detected in this federal state. In order to shed more light on the current distribution of TBEV in Lower Saxony, the present study examined blood samples from wild and domestic animals for antibodies against TBEV. Overall, samples from 4,085 animals were tested by ELISA, including wild boar (N = 1,208), roe deer (N = 149), red deer (N = 61), fallow deer (N = 18), red foxes (N = 9), nutria (N = 9), raccoon dogs (N = 3), raccoons (N = 3), badgers (N = 1), European pine martens (N = 1), horses (N = 574), sheep (N = 266), goats (N = 67), dogs (N = 1,317) and cats (N = 399). Samples with an ELISA result of ≥60 Vienna units (VIEU)/ml were subjected to confirmatory serum neutralization tests (SNT). In total, 343 of 4,085 (8.4%) animals tested positive for anti-TBEV-IgG by ELISA, of which 60 samples were confirmed by SNT. Samples of 89 animals showed a cytotoxic effect in the SNT and were excluded from seroprevalence calculation, resulting in an overall seroprevalence of 1.5% (60/3,996). Seroprevalence was higher among wild animals (wild boar: 2.9% [34/1,190], roe deer: 2.7% [4/149], red deer: 1.7% [1/60], fallow deer: 5.6% [1/18]) than among domestic animals (dogs: 1.1% [15/1,317], horses: 0.8% [4/505], sheep: 0.4% [1/266]). No anti-TBEV-antibodies were detected in the other wild animal species as well as goats and cats. A notable clustering of positive samples was observed in districts where TBEV transmission foci have been described. Further clusters in other districts suggest the existence of so far undetected transmission foci, underlining the fact that both wild and domestic animals are useful sentinels for monitoring the spread of TBEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Katharina Topp
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | - Reinhard Mischke
- Clinic for Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | - Johanna Rieder
- Clinic for Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | - Karsten Feige
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30173, Germany
| | - Uschi Nagel-Kohl
- Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Veterinary Institute Hannover, Hannover 30173, Germany
| | - Marcel Nordhoff
- Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Food and Veterinary Institute Oldenburg, Oldenburg 26133, Germany
| | - Matthias Boelke
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | - Stefanie Becker
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | | | - Bettina Schunack
- Elanco Animal Health, Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Monheim 40789, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- National Reference Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich 80937, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany.
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Baryshnikova V, Turchenko Y, Tuchynskaya K, Belyaletdinova I, Butenko A, Dereventsova A, Ignatiev G, Kholodilov I, Larichev V, Lyapeykova E, Rogova A, Shakaryan A, Shishova A, Gmyl A, Karganova G. Recombinant TBEV Protein E of the Siberian Subtype Is a Candidate Antigen in the ELISA Test System for Differential Diagnosis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3277. [PMID: 37892100 PMCID: PMC10606673 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13203277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the most common members of the Orthoflavivirus genus, which comprises the causative agents of severe diseases in humans and animals. Due to the expanding areas of orthoflavivirus infection, its differential diagnosis is highly demanded. Commercial test kits based on inactivated TBEV may not provide reliable differentiation between flaviviruses because of serological crossover in this genus. Application of recombinant domains (sE and dIII) of the TBEV Sukhar-strain protein E as antigens in an ELISA test system allowed us to identify a wide range of antibodies specific to different TBEV strains. We tested 53 sera from human patients with confirmed TBE diagnosis (the efficacy of our test system based on sE protein was 98%) and 56 sera from patients with other orthoflavivirus infections in which no positive ones were detected using our ELISA test system, thus being indicative of its 100% specificity. We also tested mouse and rabbit sera containing antibodies specific to 17 TBEV strains belonging to different subtypes; this assay exhibited high efficacy and differentiation ability in detecting antibodies against TBEV from other orthoflaviviruses such as Omsk hemorrhagic fever, Powassan, yellow fever, dengue, West Nile, Zika, and Japanese encephalitis viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Baryshnikova
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Yuriy Turchenko
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Ksenia Tuchynskaya
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Ilmira Belyaletdinova
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Alexander Butenko
- D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology Division of N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia
| | - Alena Dereventsova
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Georgy Ignatiev
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Ivan Kholodilov
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Victor Larichev
- D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology Division of N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Lyapeykova
- Infectious Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Moscow City Health Department, Moscow 125310, Russia;
| | - Anastasiya Rogova
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Armen Shakaryan
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases in Children, Faculty of Pediatrics, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Anna Shishova
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Anatoly Gmyl
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Galina Karganova
- FSASI “Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow 108819, Russia (Y.T.); (I.B.); (A.S.); (A.S.)
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
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de Heus P, Bagó Z, Weidinger P, Lale D, Trachsel DS, Revilla-Fernández S, Matiasek K, Nowotny N. Severe Neurologic Disease in a Horse Caused by Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus, Austria, 2021. Viruses 2023; 15:2022. [PMID: 37896799 PMCID: PMC10611255 DOI: 10.3390/v15102022] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As evidenced by sero-epidemiological studies, infections of horses with the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) occur frequently in TBEV-endemic areas. However, there are only very few reports of clinical cases. A possible underreporting may be due to a variety of diagnostic challenges. In this study, ELISA and neutralization tests were applied to serum samples. Brain tissue samples were investigated for the presence of nucleic acids of TBEV, Equid alphaherpesvirus 1, Borna disease virus 1, West Nile and Usutu viruses, rustrela virus, as well as Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses with RT-qPCR, RT-PCR, and qPCR, respectively. TBEV-specific amplification products were subjected to Sanger sequencing. In addition, a direct fluorescent antibody test for rabies was performed. Clinical and patho-histological findings are reported. Using specific RT-qPCR and RT-PCR assays, TBEV nucleic acids were demonstrated in brain tissue samples. Sequencing revealed the Western (formerly Central) European subtype of TBEV as the etiological agent. A high titer of TBEV-specific neutralizing antibodies was found in the serum. RNAscope in situ hybridization revealed TBEV RNA confined to neuronal cell bodies and processes. No other pathogens or nucleic acids thereof could be detected. Diagnostic procedures need to be carried out early after the onset of neurological signs to allow for a final etiological diagnosis of acute TBEV infections in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phebe de Heus
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.d.H.); (D.L.); (D.S.T.)
| | - Zoltán Bagó
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd. (AGES), Robert Koch-Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria; (Z.B.); (S.R.-F.)
| | - Pia Weidinger
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Dilara Lale
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.d.H.); (D.L.); (D.S.T.)
| | - Dagmar S. Trachsel
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.d.H.); (D.L.); (D.S.T.)
| | - Sandra Revilla-Fernández
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd. (AGES), Robert Koch-Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria; (Z.B.); (S.R.-F.)
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Section of Clinical & Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen Straße 23, 81377 Munich, Germany;
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Healthcare City, Building 14, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
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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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Cavalleri JV, Korbacska‐Kutasi O, Leblond A, Paillot R, Pusterla N, Steinmann E, Tomlinson J. European College of Equine Internal Medicine consensus statement on equine flaviviridae infections in Europe. Vet Med (Auckl) 2022; 36:1858-1871. [DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessika‐M. V. Cavalleri
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, Department for Companion Animals and Horses University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Orsolya Korbacska‐Kutasi
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, Department for Companion Animals and Horses University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences—Szent Istvan University (MTA‐SZIE) Large Animal Clinical Research Group Üllő Dóra major Hungary
| | - Agnès Leblond
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRAE, VetAgro Sup University of Lyon Marcy l'Etoile France
| | - Romain Paillot
- School of Equine and Veterinary Physiotherapy Writtle University College Chelmsford UK
| | - Nicola Pusterla
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis California USA
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine Ruhr University Bochum Bochum Germany
| | - Joy Tomlinson
- Baker Institute for Animal Health Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Ithaca New York USA
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Könenkamp L, Ziegler U, Naucke T, Groschup MH, Steffen I. Antibody ratios against NS1 antigens of tick-borne encephalitis and West Nile viruses support differential flavivirus serology in dogs. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2789-e2799. [PMID: 35704505 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Flavivirus diagnostics are complicated by substantial cross-reactivity of antibodies between different flavivirus species. This is of particular importance in regions with multiple endemic flaviviruses in co-circulation. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis, the most common infection of the central nervous system in endemic regions of Europe and Asia. Since 2018, the related West Nile virus (WNV) has spread to Germany where its geographic distribution overlaps with TBEV endemic regions. Besides humans, various animal species are susceptible to TBEV and WNV infection. To compare antibody responses against these flaviviruses and test for cross-reactivity, we developed a multi-species luciferase immunoprecipitation system antibody detection assay for several different antigens. We performed a serosurvey of 682 dogs from five different European countries to detect antibodies against TBEV and WNV. Twelve specimens were positive for TBEV NS1 only and seven for WNV NS1 only. Two specimens were reactive to both NS1 antigens and another two were equivocal for WNV NS1. Interestingly, 89.5% of positive specimens had TBEV/WNV or WNV/TBEV signal ratios of 10 to >300 between individual NS1 antigens, allowing for a clear distinction between the two viruses. The remaining 10.5% of reactive specimens showed a five- to 10-fold difference between the two viruses and included possible dual exposures to both viruses. In contrast, equivocal samples showed low signal ratios between the NS1 antigens, suggesting unspecific reactivity. Based on these data, we found the NS1 protein to be a suitable antigen to distinguish between TBEV- and WNV-specific antibodies in dogs with sensitivity and specificity similar to virus neutralization tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Könenkamp
- Institute for Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Imke Steffen
- Institute for Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
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Ganzenberg S, Sieg M, Ziegler U, Pfeffer M, Vahlenkamp TW, Hörügel U, Groschup MH, Lohmann KL. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Equine West Nile Virus Infections in Eastern Germany, 2020. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061191. [PMID: 35746662 PMCID: PMC9229339 DOI: 10.3390/v14061191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) infections were first detected in Germany in 2018, but information about WNV seroprevalence in horses is limited. The study’s overall goal was to gather information that would help veterinarians, horse owners, and veterinary-, and public health- authorities understand the spread of WNV in Germany and direct protective measures. For this purpose, WNV seroprevalence was determined in counties with and without previously registered WNV infections in horses, and risk factors for seropositivity were estimated. The cohort consisted of privately owned horses from nine counties in Eastern Germany. A total of 940 serum samples was tested by competitive panflavivirus ELISA (cELISA), and reactive samples were further tested by WNV IgM capture ELISA and confirmed by virus neutralization test (VNT). Information about potential risk factors was recorded by questionnaire and analyzed by logistic regression. A total of 106 serum samples showed antibodies against flaviviruses by cELISA, of which six tested positive for WNV IgM. The VNT verified a WNV infection for 54 samples (50.9%), while 35 sera neutralized tick-borne encephalitis virus (33.0%), and eight sera neutralized Usutu virus (7.5%). Hence, seroprevalence for WNV infection was 5.8% on average and was significantly higher in counties with previously registered infections (p = 0.005). The risk factor analysis showed breed type (pony), housing in counties with previously registered infections, housing type (24 h turn-out), and presence of outdoor shelter as the main significant risk factors for seropositivity. In conclusion, we estimated the extent of WNV infection in the resident horse population in Eastern Germany and showed that seroprevalence was higher in counties with previously registered equine WNV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Ganzenberg
- 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; (M.S.); (T.W.V.)
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Friedrich-Loeffler Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (U.Z.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Thomas W. Vahlenkamp
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.S.); (T.W.V.)
| | - Uwe Hörügel
- Animal Diseases Fund Saxony, Pferdegesundheitsdienst, 01099 Dresden, 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; (U.Z.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Katharina L. Lohmann
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-341-97-38224
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