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Bakker JW, Pascoe EL, van de Water S, van Keulen L, de Vries A, Woudstra LC, Esser HJ, Pijlman GP, de Boer WF, Sprong H, Kortekaas J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Koenraadt CJM. Infection of wild-caught wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and yellow-necked mice (A. flavicollis) with tick-borne encephalitis virus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21627. [PMID: 38062065 PMCID: PMC10703896 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47697-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The distribution of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is expanding to Western European countries, including the Netherlands, but the contribution of different rodent species to the transmission of TBEV is poorly understood. We investigated whether two species of wild rodents native to the Netherlands, the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus and the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis, differ in their relative susceptibility to experimental infection with TBEV. Wild-caught individuals were inoculated subcutaneously with the classical European subtype of TBEV (Neudoerfl) or with TBEV-NL, a genetically divergent TBEV strain from the Netherlands. Mice were euthanised and necropsied between 3 and 21 days post-inoculation. None of the mice showed clinical signs or died during the experimental period. Nevertheless, TBEV RNA was detected up to 21 days in the blood of both mouse species and TBEV was also isolated from the brain of some mice. Moreover, no differences in infection rates between virus strains and mouse species were found in blood, spleen, or liver samples. Our results suggest that the wood mouse and the yellow-necked mouse may equally contribute to the transmission cycle of TBEV in the Netherlands. Future experimental infection studies that include feeding ticks will help elucidate the relative importance of viraemic transmission in the epidemiology of TBEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian W Bakker
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Emily L Pascoe
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Conservation Genomics Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Trento, Italy
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics Development, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lianne C Woudstra
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem F de Boer
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Saint Priest, France
| | - Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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de Cock MP, de Vries A, Fonville M, Esser HJ, Mehl C, Ulrich RG, Joeres M, Hoffmann D, Eisenberg T, Schmidt K, Hulst M, van der Poel WHM, Sprong H, Maas M. Increased rat-borne zoonotic disease hazard in greener urban areas. Sci Total Environ 2023; 896:165069. [PMID: 37392874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Urban greening has benefits for both human and environmental health. However, urban greening might also have negative effects as the abundance of wild rats, which can host and spread a great diversity of zoonotic pathogens, increases with urban greenness. Studies on the effect of urban greening on rat-borne zoonotic pathogens are currently unavailable. Therefore, we investigated how urban greenness is associated with rat-borne zoonotic pathogen prevalence and diversity, and translated this to human disease hazard. We screened 412 wild rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) from three cities in the Netherlands for 18 different zoonotic pathogens: Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Spiroplasma spp., Streptobacillus moniliformis, Coxiella burnetii, Salmonella spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli, rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV), Seoul orthohantavirus, Cowpox virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia spp. We modelled the relationships between pathogen prevalence and diversity and urban greenness. We detected 13 different zoonotic pathogens. Rats from greener urban areas had a significantly higher prevalence of Bartonella spp. and Borrelia spp., and a significantly lower prevalence of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli and ratHEV. Rat age was positively correlated with pathogen diversity while greenness was not related to pathogen diversity. Additionally, Bartonella spp. occurrence was positively correlated with that of Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp. occurrence was also positively correlated with that of Rickettsia spp. Our results show an increased rat-borne zoonotic disease hazard in greener urban areas, which for most pathogens was driven by the increase in rat abundance rather than pathogen prevalence. This highlights the importance of keeping rat densities low and investigating the effects of urban greening on the exposure to zoonotic pathogens in order to make informed decisions and to take appropriate countermeasures preventing zoonotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke P de Cock
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, the Netherlands.
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, the Netherlands.
| | - Calvin Mehl
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Germany; Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Germany; Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Maike Joeres
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Donata Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Tobias Eisenberg
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hessian State Laboratory, Giessen, Hessen, Germany.
| | - Katja Schmidt
- Microbiological Diagnostics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
| | - Marcel Hulst
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, Flevoland, the Netherlands.
| | - Wim H M van der Poel
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, the Netherlands; Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, Flevoland, the Netherlands.
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Erdin M, Stanoeva KR, Mögling R, Korva M, Knap N, Resman Rus K, Domingo C, Reimerink JH, de Vries A, Alburkat H, Utriainen M, Gossner CM, Sironen T, Avšič-Županc T, Reusken CB, Vapalahti O. External quality assessment of orthohantavirus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus molecular detection and serology in Europe, 2021. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2300054. [PMID: 37796441 PMCID: PMC10557384 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.40.2300054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundRodent-borne viruses such as orthohantaviruses and arenaviruses cause considerable disease burden with regional and temporal differences in incidence and clinical awareness. Therefore, it is important to regularly evaluate laboratory diagnostic capabilities, e.g. by external quality assessments (EQA).AimWe wished to evaluate the performance and diagnostic capability of European expert laboratories to detect orthohantaviruses and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and human antibody response towards orthohantaviruses.MethodsWe conducted an EQA in 2021; molecular panels consisted of 12 samples, including different orthohantaviruses (Seoul, Dobrava-Belgrade (DOBV), Puumala (PUUV) and Hantaan orthohantavirus), LCMV and negative controls. Serological panels consisted of six human serum samples reactive to PUUV, DOBV or negative to orthohantaviruses. The EQA was sent to 25 laboratories in 20 countries.ResultsThe accuracy of molecular detection of orthohantaviruses varied (50‒67%, average 62%) among 16 participating laboratories, while LCMV samples were successfully detected in all 11 participating laboratories (91-100%, average 96%). The accuracy of serological diagnosis of acute and past orthohantavirus infections was on average 95% among 20 participating laboratories and 82% in 19 laboratories, respectively. A variety of methods was used, with predominance of in-house assays for molecular tests, and commercial assays for serological ones.ConclusionSerology, the most common tool to diagnose acute orthohantavirus infections, had a high accuracy in this EQA. The molecular detection of orthohantaviruses needs improvement while LCMV detection (performed in fewer laboratories) had 95% accuracy. Further EQAs are recommended to be performed periodically to monitor improvements and challenges in the diagnostics of rodent-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mert Erdin
- These authors contributed equally to the work and share the first authorship
- Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kamelia R Stanoeva
- These authors contributed equally to the work and share the first authorship
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ramona Mögling
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Miša Korva
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Knap
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katarina Resman Rus
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cristina Domingo
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Berlin, Germany. Current affiliation: Centre for International Health Protection, RKI, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johan Hj Reimerink
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hussein Alburkat
- Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mira Utriainen
- Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Céline M Gossner
- Diseases Programme Unit, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Solna, Sweden
| | - Tarja Sironen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatjana Avšič-Županc
- These authors contributed equally to the work and share the last authorship
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Chantal Bem Reusken
- These authors contributed equally to the work and share the last authorship
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- These authors contributed equally to the work and share the last authorship
- Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland
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Maas M, de Vries A, Cuperus T, van der Giessen J, Kruisheer M, Janse I, Swart A. A predictive risk map for human leptospirosis guiding further investigations in brown rats and surface water. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2023; 13:2229583. [PMID: 37398878 PMCID: PMC10308863 DOI: 10.1080/20008686.2023.2229583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by the spirochete Leptospira spp. It is often not clear why certain areas appear to be hotspots for human leptospirosis. Therefore, a predictive risk map for the Netherlands was developed and assessed, based on a random forest model for human leptospirosis incidence levels with various environmental factors and rat density as variables. Next, it was tested whether misclassifications of the risk map could be explained by the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in brown rats. Three recreational areas were chosen, and rats (≥25/location) were tested for Leptospira spp. Concurrently, it was investigated whether Leptospira spp. prevalence in brown rats was associated with Leptospira DNA concentration in surface water, to explore the usability of this parameter in future studies. Approximately 1 L of surface water sample was collected from 10 sites and was tested for Leptospira spp. Although the model predicted the locations of patients relatively well, this study showed that the prevalence of Leptospira spp. infection in rats may be an explaining variable that could improve the predictive model performance. Surface water samples were all negative, even if they had been taken at sites with a high Leptospira spp. prevalence in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Tryntsje Cuperus
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Joke van der Giessen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs Kruisheer
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ingmar Janse
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arno Swart
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Pascoe EL, de Vries A, Esser HJ, Koenraadt CJM, Sprong H. Detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ear tissue and dried blood spots from naturally infected wild rodents. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:103. [PMID: 36927723 PMCID: PMC10018976 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05717-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) can cause severe neurological disease in humans. Its geographical distribution is expanding in Western Europe with unresolved causes and spatial patterns, necessitating enhanced surveillance. Monitoring the virus in the environment is complicated, as it usually relies on destructive sampling of small rodents to test organs for TBEV, which in addition to ethical considerations also raises issues for long-term monitoring or longitudinal studies. Moreover, even when the virus is not detected in the blood or organs of the rodent, TBEV can still be transmitted from an infected tick to uninfected ticks feeding nearby. This is due to the ability of TBEV to replicate and migrate locally within the epidermis of small mammals, including those that do not appear to have systemic infection. This suggests that the virus may be detectable in skin biopsies, which has been confirmed in experimentally infected laboratory rodents, but it remains unknown if this sample type may be a viable alternative to destructively obtained samples in the monitoring of natural TBEV infection. Here we test ear tissue and dried blood spot (DBS) samples from rodents to determine whether TBEV-RNA can be detected in biological samples obtained non-destructively. METHODS Rodents were live-trapped and sampled at three woodland areas in The Netherlands where presence of TBEV has previously been recorded. Ear tissue (n = 79) and DBSs (n = 112) were collected from a total of 117 individuals and were tested for TBEV-RNA by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS TBEV-RNA was detected in five rodents (4.3% of tested individuals), all of which had a TBEV-positive ear sample, while only two out of four of these individuals (for which a DBS was available) had a positive DBS. This equated to 6.3% of ear samples and 1.8% of DBSs testing positive for TBEV-RNA. CONCLUSIONS We provide the first evidence to our knowledge that TBEV-RNA can be detected in samples obtained non-destructively from naturally infected wild rodents, providing a viable sampling alternative suitable for longitudinal surveillance of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Pascoe
- Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Cuperus T, de Vries A, Jaarsma RI, Sprong H, Maas M. Occurrence of Rickettsia spp., Hantaviridae, Bartonella spp. and Leptospira spp. in European Moles ( Talpa europaea) from the Netherlands. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010041. [PMID: 36677332 PMCID: PMC9861085 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The European mole (Talpa europaea) has a widespread distribution throughout Europe. However, little is known about the presence of zoonotic pathogens in European moles. We therefore tested 180 moles from the middle and the south of the Netherlands by (q)PCR for the presence of multiple (tick-borne) zoonotic pathogens. Spotted fever Rickettsia was found in one (0.6%), Leptospira spp. in three (1.7%), Bartonella spp. in 69 (38.3%) and Hantaviridae in 89 (49.4%) of the 180 moles. Infections with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia spp., Spiroplasma spp. and Francisella tularensis were not found. In addition, in a subset of 35 moles no antibodies against Tick-borne encephalitis virus were found. The obtained sequences of Bartonella spp. were closely related to Bartonella spp. sequences from moles in Spain and Hungary. The Hantaviridae were identified as the mole-borne Nova virus, with high sequence similarity to sequences from other European countries, and Bruges virus. Though the zoonotic risk from moles appears limited, our results indicate that these animals do play a role in multiple host-pathogen cycles.
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Esser HJ, Lim SM, de Vries A, Sprong H, Dekker DJ, Pascoe EL, Bakker JW, Suin V, Franz E, Martina BEE, Koenraadt CJM. Continued Circulation of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Variants and Detection of Novel Transmission Foci, the Netherlands. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:2416-2424. [PMID: 36288572 PMCID: PMC9707572 DOI: 10.3201/eid2812.220552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is an emerging pathogen that was first detected in ticks and humans in the Netherlands in 2015 (ticks) and 2016 (humans). To learn more about its distribution and prevalence in the Netherlands, we conducted large-scale surveillance in ticks and rodents during August 2018-September 2020. We tested 320 wild rodents and >46,000 ticks from 48 locations considered to be at high risk for TBEV circulation. We found TBEV RNA in 3 rodents (0.9%) and 7 tick pools (minimum infection rate 0.02%) from 5 geographically distinct foci. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that 3 different variants of the TBEV-Eu subtype circulate in the Netherlands, suggesting multiple independent introductions. Combined with recent human cases outside known TBEV hotspots, our data demonstrate that the distribution of TBEV in the Netherlands is more widespread than previously thought.
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de Cock M, Fonville M, de Vries A, Bossers A, van den Bogert B, Hakze-van der Honing R, Koets A, Sprong H, van der Poel W, Maas M. Screen the unforeseen: Microbiome-profiling for detection of zoonotic pathogens in wild rats. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:3881-3895. [PMID: 36404584 PMCID: PMC10099244 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Wild rats can host various zoonotic pathogens. Detection of these pathogens is commonly performed using molecular techniques targeting one or a few specific pathogens. However, this specific way of surveillance could lead to (emerging) zoonotic pathogens staying unnoticed. This problem may be overcome by using broader microbiome-profiling techniques, which enable broad screening of a sample's bacterial or viral composition. In this study, we investigated if 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing would be a suitable tool for the detection of zoonotic bacteria in wild rats. Moreover, we used virome-enriched (VirCapSeq) sequencing to detect zoonotic viruses. DNA from kidney samples of 147 wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and 42 black rats (Rattus rattus) was used for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region. Blocking primers were developed to reduce the amplification of rat host DNA. The kidney bacterial composition was studied using alpha- and beta-diversity metrics and statistically assessed using PERMANOVA and SIMPER analyses. From the sequencing data, 14 potentially zoonotic bacterial genera were identified from which the presence of zoonotic Leptospira spp. and Bartonella tribocorum was confirmed by (q)PCR or Sanger sequencing. In addition, more than 65% of all samples were dominated (>50% reads) by one of three bacterial taxa: Streptococcus (n = 59), Mycoplasma (n = 39) and Leptospira (n = 25). These taxa also showed the highest contribution to the observed differences in beta diversity. VirCapSeq sequencing in rat liver samples detected the potentially zoonotic rat hepatitis E virus in three rats. Although 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was limited in its capacity for species level identifications and can be more difficult to interpret due to the influence of contaminating sequences in these low microbial biomass samples, we believe it has potential to be a suitable pre-screening method in the future to get a better overview of potentially zoonotic bacteria that are circulating in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke de Cock
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Bossers
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), Lelystad, The Netherlands.,Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Ad Koets
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), Lelystad, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Wim van der Poel
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Cuperus T, de Vries A, Hoornweg TE, Fonville M, Jaarsma RI, Opsteegh M, Maas M. Seoul Virus in Pet and Feeder Rats in The Netherlands. Viruses 2021; 13:443. [PMID: 33801789 PMCID: PMC8002128 DOI: 10.3390/v13030443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Seoul virus (SEOV) is a zoonotic orthohantavirus carried by rats. In humans, SEOV can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Recent human SEOV cases described in the USA, United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands were associated with contact with pet or feeder rats. The prevalence of SEOV in these types of rats is unknown. We collected 175 pet and feeder rats (Rattus norvegicus) from private owners, ratteries and commercial breeders/traders in the Netherlands. Lung tissue of the rats was tested using a SEOV real-time RT-qPCR and heart fluid was tested for the presence of antibodies against SEOV. In all three investigated groups, RT-qPCR-positive rats were found: in 1/29 rats from private owners (3.6%), 2/56 rats from ratteries (3.4%) and 11/90 rats from commercial breeders (12.2%). The seroprevalence was largely similar to the prevalence calculated from RT-qPCR-positive rats. The SEOV sequences found were highly similar to sequences previously found in domesticated rats in Europe. In conclusion, SEOV is spread throughout different populations of domesticated rats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Postbus 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; (T.C.); (A.d.V.); (T.E.H.); (M.F.); (R.I.J.); (M.O.)
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10
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Hoornweg TE, Zutt I, de Vries A, Maas M, Hoogerwerf MN, Avšič-Županc T, Korva M, Reimerink JHJ, Reusken CBEM. Development of a Comparative European Orthohantavirus Microneutralization Assay With Multi- Species Validation and Evaluation in a Human Diagnostic Cohort. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:580478. [PMID: 33415084 PMCID: PMC7783042 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.580478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthohantaviruses (family Hantaviridae, order Bunyavirales) can cause two serious syndromes in humans: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), associated with the Old World orthohantaviruses, and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), associated with orthohantaviruses in the Americas. In Europe, four different orthohantaviruses (DOBV, PUUV, SEOV, and TULV) are associated with human disease. As disease severity and zoonotic source differ between orthohantavirus species, conclusive determination of the infecting species by either RT-PCR or comparative virus neutralization test (VNT) is of importance. Currently, the focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) is considered the ‘Gold Standard’ for orthohantavirus VNTs, however this test is laborious and time-consuming. Consequently, more high-throughput alternatives are needed. In this study, we developed a comparative orthohantavirus microneutralization test (MNT) including all four human pathogenic orthohantavirus species circulating in Europe. The assay was validated using RT-PCR-confirmed rodent (n=17) and human sera (n=17), DOBV-suspected human sera (n=3) and cohorts of orthohantavirus-negative rodent (n=3) and human sera (n=85). 16/17 RT-PCR-confirmed rodent sera and 18/20 of the RT-PCR-confirmed and DOBV-suspected human sera were serotyped successfully, while for the remaining rodent (n=1) and human sera (n=2) no neutralizing titers could be detected. All negative control sera tested negative in the MNT. The assay was subsequently evaluated using a clinical cohort of 50 orthohantavirus patients. Orthohantavirus infection was confirmed in all 50 patients, and 47/50 (94%) sera were serotyped successfully, confirming PUUV as the major cause of orthohantavirus infections in Netherlands. Notably, two previously unrecognized SEOV cases from 2013 were diagnosed using the MNT, underlining the added value of the MNT in a diagnostic setting. In conclusion, we demonstrate the successful development and clinical implementation of a comparative European orthohantavirus MNT to determine the infecting virus species in European HFRS patients. Identification of the causative species is needed for an adequate Public Health response and can support individual patient care. For many labs, the implementation of orthohantavirus neutralization tests has not been a straightforward procedure. This issue will be addressed by the rollout of the comparative MNT to multiple European laboratories to support patient diagnostics, surveillance and Public Health responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabitha E Hoornweg
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Ilse Zutt
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Marieke N Hoogerwerf
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Tatjana Avšič-Županc
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miša Korva
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Johan H J Reimerink
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Chantal B E M Reusken
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
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11
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Rijks JM, Montizaan MGE, Bakker N, de Vries A, Van Gucht S, Swaan C, van den Broek J, Gröne A, Sprong H. Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Antibodies in Roe Deer, the Netherlands. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:342-345. [PMID: 30666954 PMCID: PMC6346459 DOI: 10.3201/eid2502.181386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To increase knowledge of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) circulation in the Netherlands, we conducted serosurveillance in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) during 2017 and compared results with those obtained during 2010. Results corroborate a more widespread occurrence of the virus in 2017. Additional precautionary public health measures have been taken.
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12
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Maas M, van Heteren M, de Vries A, Kuiken T, Hoornweg T, Veldhuis Kroeze E, Rockx B. Seoul Virus Tropism and Pathology in Naturally Infected Feeder Rats. Viruses 2019; 11:v11060531. [PMID: 31181690 PMCID: PMC6630879 DOI: 10.3390/v11060531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Seoul virus (SEOV) is a zoonotic orthohantavirus carried by black and brown rats, and can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans. Human cases of SEOV virus infection have most recently been reported in the USA, United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands and were primarily associated with contact with pet rats and feeder rats. Infection of rats results in an asymptomatic but persistent infection. Little is known about the cell tropism of SEOV in its reservoir and most available data is based on experimental infection studies in which rats were inoculated via a route which does not recapitulate virus transmission in nature. Here we report the histopathological analysis of SEOV cell tropism in key target organs following natural infection of a cohort of feeder rats, comprising 19 adults and 11 juveniles. All adult rats in this study were positive for SEOV specific antibodies and viral RNA in their tissues. One juvenile rat was seropositive, but negative in the rRT-PCR. Of the 19 adult rats of which subsequently additional organs were tested, SEOV RNA was detected in all lungs, followed by kidney (79%) and liver (74%). Histopathologic changes associated with SEOV infection were primarily found in the liver, consistent with a pathological diagnosis of a mild hepatitis. In conclusion, natural SEOV infection results in mild inflammation of the liver in the absence of clinical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Maas
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Melanie van Heteren
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Thijs Kuiken
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Tabitha Hoornweg
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Edwin Veldhuis Kroeze
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Barry Rockx
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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13
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Swanink C, Reimerink J, Gisolf J, de Vries A, Claassen M, Martens L, Waegemaekers T, Rozendaal H, Valkenburgh S, Hoornweg T, Maas M. Autochthonous Human Case of Seoul Virus Infection, the Netherlands. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 24:2158-2163. [PMID: 30067176 PMCID: PMC6256391 DOI: 10.3201/eid2412.180229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Orthohantaviruses are a group of rodentborne viruses with a worldwide distribution. The orthohantavirus Seoul virus (SEOV) can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans and is distributed worldwide, like its reservoir host, the rat. Cases of SEOV in wild and pet rats have been described in several countries, and human cases have been reported in the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and the United States. In the Netherlands, SEOV has previously been found in wild brown rats. We describe an autochthonous human case of SEOV infection in the Netherlands. This patient had nonspecific clinical symptoms of an orthohantavirus infection (gastrointestinal symptoms and distinct elevation of liver enzymes). Subsequent source investigation revealed 2 potential sources, the patient’s feeder rats and a feeder rat farm. At both sources, a high prevalence of SEOV was found in the rats. The virus closely resembled the Cherwell and Turckheim SEOV strains that were previously found in Europe.
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14
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Dekker M, Laverman GD, de Vries A, Reimerink J, Geeraedts F. Emergence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Netherlands. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:176-179. [PMID: 30385073 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recently, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was detected in the Netherlands for the first time, in ticks collected in 2015 in the National Park Sallandse heuvelrug in response to the detection of anti-TBEV antibodies in roe deer. Hereafter, two human cases of autochthonous TBE have been reported, occurring in 2016. One case was geographically linked to the area of the previously reported ticks, which harbored a genetically divergent TBEV-Eu strain variant (TBEV-NL). So far these are the few reported events that point to endemic transmission of TBEV in the Netherlands and the true prevalence of TBEV and TBE disease in the Netherlands and its impact on the human population remains to be determined. We describe the third human case, identified in 2017, which geographically clusters with the aforementioned case and TBEV-positive ticks. We also describe the identification of another TBEV-NL-positive tick in the Netherlands, collected 2 years after the initial find in that same region (in 2017). These observations support the concept of continued circulation of TBEV-NL and the presence of a possible TBEV hot spot in the Sallandse Heuvelrug region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margriet Dekker
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ziekenhuis Groep Twente, Almelo, Hengelo, the Netherlands
| | - Gozewijn Dirk Laverman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ziekenhuis Groep Twente, Almelo, Hengelo, the Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Johan Reimerink
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Felix Geeraedts
- Laboratory for Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Hengelo, the Netherlands.
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15
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Jahfari S, de Vries A, Rijks JM, Van Gucht S, Vennema H, Sprong H, Rockx B. Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Ticks and Roe Deer, the Netherlands. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:1028-1030. [PMID: 28518024 PMCID: PMC5443429 DOI: 10.3201/eid2306.161247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in the Netherlands. Serologic screening of roe deer found TBEV-neutralizing antibodies with a seroprevalence of 2%, and TBEV RNA was detected in 2 ticks from the same location. Enhanced surveillance and awareness among medical professionals has led to the identification of autochthonous cases.
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16
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Swart A, Bekker DL, Maas M, de Vries A, Pijnacker R, Reusken CBEM, van der Giessen JWB. Modelling human Puumala hantavirus infection in relation to bank vole abundance and masting intensity in the Netherlands. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2017; 7:1287986. [PMID: 28567209 PMCID: PMC5443058 DOI: 10.1080/20008686.2017.1287986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper deals with modelling the relationship between human Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) infection, the abundance and prevalence of infection of the host (the bank vole), mast, and temperature. These data were used to build and parametrise generalised regression models, and parametrise them using datasets on these factors pertaining to the Netherlands. The performance of the models was assessed by considering their predictive power. Models including mast and monthly temperature performed well, and showed that mast intensity influences vole abundance and hence human exposure for the following year. Thus, the model can aid in forecasting of human illness cases, since (1) mast intensity influences the vole abundance and hence human exposure for the following year and (2) monitoring of mast is much more feasible than determining bank vole abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arno Swart
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Dick L Bekker
- Dutch Mammal Society, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,Detail 2.0 - Faunistical Research, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Roan Pijnacker
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal B E M Reusken
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joke W B van der Giessen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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de Graaf JA, Reimerink JHJ, Voorn GP, Bij de Vaate EA, de Vries A, Rockx B, Schuitemaker A, Hira V. First human case of tick-borne encephalitis virus infection acquired in the Netherlands, July 2016. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 21:30318. [PMID: 27562931 PMCID: PMC4998423 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.33.30318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In July 2016, the first autochthonous case of tick-borne encephalitis was diagnosed in the Netherlands, five days after a report that tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) had been found in Dutch ticks. A person in their 60s without recent travel history suffered from neurological symptoms after a tick bite. TBEV serology was positive and the tick was positive in TBEV qRT-PCR. TBEV infection should be considered in patients with compatible symptoms in the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris A de Graaf
- Department of Neurology, Zuwe Hofpoort Hospital, Woerden, The Netherlands
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18
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Maas M, de Vries A, van Roon A, Takumi K, van der Giessen J, Rockx B. High Prevalence of Tula Hantavirus in Common Voles in The Netherlands. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:200-205. [PMID: 28112627 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tula virus (TULV) is a zoonotic hantavirus. Knowledge about TULV in the Netherlands is very scarce. Therefore in 2014, 49 common voles (Microtus arvalis) from a region in the south of the Netherlands, and in 2015, 241 common voles from regions in the north of the Netherlands were tested with the TULV quantitative RT-PCR. In the southern region, prevalence of TULV was 41% (20/49). In the northern regions, prevalence ranged from 12% (4/34) to 45% (17/38). Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences showed that the regions fall within different clusters. Voles from the south were also tested on-site for the presence of hantavirus antibodies, but serology results were poorly associated with qRT-PCR results. These findings suggest that TULV may be more widespread than previously thought. No human TULV cases have been reported thus far in the Netherlands, but differentiation between infection by TULV or the closely related Puumala virus is not made in humans in the Netherlands, thus cases may be misdiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Annika van Roon
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Katsuhisa Takumi
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Joke van der Giessen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Barry Rockx
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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Reusken C, van den Wijngaard C, van Beek P, Beer M, Bouwstra R, Godeke GJ, Isken L, van den Kerkhof H, van Pelt W, van der Poel W, Reimerink J, Schielen P, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Vellema P, de Vries A, Wouters I, Koopmans M. Lack of evidence for zoonotic transmission of Schmallenberg virus. Emerg Infect Dis 2013; 18:1746-54. [PMID: 23092696 PMCID: PMC3559138 DOI: 10.3201/eid1811.120650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk to public health is absent or extremely low. The emergence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a novel orthobunyavirus, in ruminants in Europe triggered a joint veterinary and public health response to address the possible consequences to human health. Use of a risk profiling algorithm enabled the conclusion that the risk for zoonotic transmission of SBV could not be excluded completely. Self-reported health problems were monitored, and a serologic study was initiated among persons living and/or working on SBV-affected farms. In the study set-up, we addressed the vector and direct transmission routes for putative zoonotic transfer. In total, 69 sheep farms, 4 goat farms, and 50 cattle farms were included. No evidence for SBV-neutralizing antibodies was found in serum of 301 participants. The lack of evidence for zoonotic transmission from either syndromic illness monitoring or serologic testing of presumably highly exposed persons suggests that the public health risk for SBV, given the current situation, is absent or extremely low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Reusken
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
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20
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Liberman UA, Sperling O, Atsmon A, Frank M, Modan M, Vries AD. Metabolic and calcium kinetic studies in idiopathic hypercalciuria. J Clin Invest 2010; 47:2580-90. [PMID: 16695955 PMCID: PMC297428 DOI: 10.1172/jci105940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium balances and calcium kinetic studies using (47)Ca were performed in nine male patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria and in three normal male subjects. A sharp reduction in calcium intake in eight patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria caused a decrease in urinary calcium excretion, the latter remaining elevated above that reported for normal subjects on a low calcium diet. The hypercalciuric patients had an enlarged miscible calcium pool size, an increased calcium turnover rate, increased bone formation and bone resorption rates, and an elevated true intestinal calcium absorption rate, the increase of the latter three parameters being proportional to the increase of the turnover rate. The fraction of the calcium turnover rate excreted in the urine was elevated whereas that constituted by the endogenous fecal calcium excretion was decreased. Arguments are presented for the concept that the primary abnormality in idiopathic hypercalciuria is neither renal calcium hyperexcretion nor intestinal calcium hyperreabsorption, but a more fundamental disturbance in calcium metabolism of as yet unknown cause, leading to a high calcium turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- U A Liberman
- Metabolic Unit, Department of Medicine D, Tel-Aviv University Medical School, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel
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21
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Reusken CBEM, Lina PHC, Pielaat A, de Vries A, Dam-Deisz C, Adema J, Drexler JF, Drosten C, Kooi EA. Circulation of group 2 coronaviruses in a bat species common to urban areas in Western Europe. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 10:785-91. [PMID: 20055576 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fecal samples of 211 bats representing 13 different bat species from 31 locations in the Netherlands were analyzed for the presence of coronaviruses (CoV) using a genus-wide reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction. CoVs are known for their high potential for interspecies transmission, including zoonotic transmission with bats as reservoir hosts. For the first time, a group 2 CoV was found in a bat, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, in Europe. This is of particular interest for public health as the reservoir host is a species that is common to urban areas in most of Europe and notorious for its close interactions with humans. Four verspertilionid bat species were found to excrete group 1 CoVs, viz. Myotis daubentonii, M. dasycneme, P. pipistrellus, and Nyctalus noctula. The last species is a newly identified reservoir. The overall prevalence was 16.9% and positive bats were found at multiple widespread locations. The circulating group 1 CoV lineages were rather species associated than location associated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B E M Reusken
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
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Reusken C, de Vries A, Adema J, Vos W, van der Giessen J, Bekker D, Heyman P. First genetic detection of Tula hantavirus in wild rodents in the Netherlands. J Infect 2008; 57:500-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2008.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2008] [Accepted: 09/19/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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23
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Takumi K, de Vries A, Chu ML, Mulder J, Teunis P, van der Giessen J. Evidence for an increasing presence of Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes in The Netherlands. Int J Parasitol 2008; 38:571-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2007.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2007] [Revised: 09/03/2007] [Accepted: 09/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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24
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Wielinga PR, de Vries A, van der Goot TH, Mank T, Mars MH, Kortbeek LM, van der Giessen JWB. Molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium in humans and cattle in The Netherlands. Int J Parasitol 2007; 38:809-17. [PMID: 18054936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2007.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2007] [Revised: 10/12/2007] [Accepted: 10/16/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is found world-wide and can cause disease in both humans and animals. To study the zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium in The Netherlands we isolated this parasite from the faeces of infected humans and cattle and genotyped those isolates for several different markers. The overall genotyping results showed: for humans isolates, 70% Cryptosporidium hominis, 19% Cryptosporidium parvum, 10% a combination of C. hominis and C. parvum, and 1% Cryptosporidium felis; and for cattle isolates 100% C. parvum. Analysis of the genetic variants detected for the HSP70, ML1 and GP60 markers showed: for human isolates, one C. hominis and two C. parvum variants (C. parvum and C. parvum NL) for HSP70, one C. hominis and five C. parvum variants (C1, C2, C3, and C2 NL1 and C2 NL2) for ML1, four C. hominis (mainly IbA10G2) and four C. parvum variants (mainly IIaA15G2R1) for GP60; and the cattle isolates only C. parvum (not C. parvum NL1) for HSP70, C1 and C2 for ML1, and 17 different IIa sub-types (mainly IIaA15G2R1) for GP60. Molecular epidemiological analysis of the human data showed a C. hominis peak in autumn. The majority (80%) of the human cases were children aged between 0 and 9 years and >70% of these were caused by C. hominis. Patients >25 years of age were infected mainly with C. parvum. We conclude that C. hominis IbA10G2 is found at high frequencies in autumn in humans and not in cattle. The high prevalence of C. parvum IIaA15G2R1 in both humans and cattle indicates that cattle may be a reservoir for this sub-type in The Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Wielinga
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control (Cib), Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology (LZO), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
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Wielinga PR, Gaasenbeek C, Fonville M, de Boer A, de Vries A, Dimmers W, Akkerhuis Op Jagers G, Schouls LM, Borgsteede F, van der Giessen JWB. Longitudinal analysis of tick densities and Borrelia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia infections of Ixodes ricinus ticks in different habitat areas in The Netherlands. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 72:7594-601. [PMID: 17028227 PMCID: PMC1694262 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01851-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
From 2000 to 2004, ticks were collected by dragging a blanket in four habitat areas in The Netherlands: dunes, heather, forest, and a city park. Tick densities were calculated, and infection with Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species was investigated by reverse line blot analysis. The lowest tick density was observed in the heather area (1 to 8/100 m2). In the oak forest and city park, the tick densities ranged from 26 to 45/100 m2. The highest tick density was found in the dune area (139 to 551/100 m2). The infection rates varied significantly for the four study areas and years, ranging from 0.8 to 11. 5% for Borrelia spp. and 1 to 16% for Ehrlichia or Anaplasma (Ehrlichia/Anaplasma) spp. Borrelia infection rates were highest in the dunes, followed by the forest, the city park, and heather area. In contrast, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma was found most often in the forest and less often in the city park. The following Borrelia species were found: Borrelia sensu lato strains not identified to the species level (2.5%), B. afzelii (2.5%), B. valaisiana (0.9%), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (0.13%), and B. garinii (0.13%). For Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp. not identified to the species level (2.5%), Anaplasma schotti variant (3.5%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum variant (0.3%), and Ehrlichia canis (0.19%) were found. E. canis is reported for the first time in ticks in The Netherlands in this study. Borrelia lusitaniae, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and the human granylocytic anaplasmosis agent were not detected. About 1.6% of the ticks were infected with both Borrelia and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma, which was higher than the frequency predicted from the individual infection rates, suggesting hosts with multiple infections or a possible selective advantage of coinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Wielinga
- Microbiological Laboratory for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands.
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Vries AD, Weinberger A. King Asa's presumed gout. Twentieth century A.D discussion of ninth century B.C. biblical patient. N Y State J Med 1975; 75:452-5. [PMID: 1094338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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